As this edition of Fire Wise goes to press, the Government’s contentious Fire Services (Reform) Bill is once again making its way through Parliament. Despite the deep concerns raised with the previous Bill, I am sorry to report that this year’s Bill is very similar to the previous.

The fate of community safety and CFA, a world-respected and highly successful emergency service, now rests on the checks and balances of the Legislative Council (Upper House), particularly the votes of the cross bench made up of the minor party and independent Members of Parliament who hold the balance of power.

By the time you are reading this, the outcome of the Bill may already be known.

Regardless of the outcome, I am committed to ensuring we come though this torrid chapter in CFA’s history stronger and together. History will be the ultimate judge of this chapter and I am immensely proud our organisation has had the integrity to stand up and speak up for what is right.

VFBV continues to respectfully call for evidence to support the Government’s case for change, including impact modelling, cost analysis and consultation. This will be the first time in Victoria’s history that our fire service legislation has not been through these basic prerequisites. The lack of detail, modelling or analysis is a significant impediment in winning the hearts and minds of volunteers and opens the State up to enormous risk of unintended consequences to what is essentially - critical public policy.

We must keep reminding people we are not opposed to change that improves our fire services in a demonstrable way, and for the benefit of our communities. Just ‘hoping’ this is the outcome of the proposed changes and crossing our fingers and hoping for the best just simply isn’t good enough.

We don’t go to a fire and just ‘hope’ to put it out. We plan; we train; we exercise; we study data and impact modelling; we collect intelligence from the field; and we communicate. These concepts should not be foreign when it comes to major structural change of our fire services.

Jack Rush QC reminds us of evidence presented to the Bushfires Royal Commission by Professor Leonard from Harvard University, Professor ‘t Hart former professor of the ANU and now Professor of Public Administration at Utrecht University and Associate Dean of the Netherlands School of Public Administration in The Hague and General Molan former Chief of the Allied Operations in Iraq.

All three warned of the dangers of radical change to organisations, and they drew on evidence of corporate takeovers where over half failed in terms of value creation with many ending up exacerbating rather than erasing tribal identities. Incremental change, they said, often produces far better results than radical change. I can think of no better analogy for what has been presented to us in this Bill.

Throughout the debate, I have heard many slurs on our CFA and the ability of volunteers to provide a world class service to urban communities. I have been saddened that these attacks have gone unanswered by those in positions of authority, and that response time data continues to be manipulated and misrepresented to the Victorian community to try and erode public confidence in CFA and CFA volunteers. Many commentators have unwittingly also criticised our respected career staff operating from the 38 integrated brigades when they say CFA simply isn’t up to it.

While much has been made of response times as seemingly one reason for the change, the fact remains that response times today are not based on modern data but have been inherited from outdated modelling and research from the United Kingdom in the 1950s. Targets have not been updated to cater for new building regulations nor the significant improvements to building materials or fire rating construction. Don’t just take my word for it, only four years ago, the Victorian Auditor General published his findings in 2015 that the current response time targets are outdated, not based on evidence or a clear rationale. The results of the audit found that current targets do not reflect best practice, optimal service efficiency or improved outcomes and are not appropriate standalone measures. The audit’s findings and recommendations from 2015 are amongst the plethora of previous review recommendations that the proposed ‘reform’ does not address.

Across the world, modern fire services have developed new and improved measures - putting more emphasis on outcome measurements such as loss of life, injury, preparedness and property damage, because these measurements better capture the impact of the whole range of fire service activity, including prevention, preparedness and response. Driving service delivery improvement through the narrow lens of just response times is not only short sighted but it is also not in the best interests of public safety nor public value.

We all want safe and resilient communities - and a strong and vibrant CFA goes hand in hand with that. And we all want to put public safety at the centre of everything we do. My hope is that one day legislators, agencies and all stakeholders find a way to put their differences aside and collaborate to develop real service improvements that will actually lead to lasting benefits for our communities. I am committed to this – and I know you are too. We will continue to advocate for reforms to be developed collaboratively, openly and most importantly – transparently. Reform that brings people along with it, rather than pits firefighter against firefighter and reform that actually benefits our communities.

NEW CFA CEO APPOINTED

I congratulate Steve Warrington AFSM on being appointed as CFA’s new CEO following the departure of Dr Paul Smith. I have worked with Steve over many years and have always appreciated his passion and enthusiasm. I wish him all the best and look forward to working with him in his new role. Combing the CEO role with the Chief Officer role will be a significant challenge for the organisation and will require all of us to lend our support to give this change the best opportunity for success. To this I, and the VFBV Board, are committed.

PRESUMPTIVE LEGISLATION

Recently I represented Victoria at CAVFA (the Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations). This national body was established to give volunteer firefighters a united voice in discussions and negotiations with governments and key stakeholders at a national level. These meetings provide a terrific forum for the State volunteer associations to come together and share information and advocate on matters of policy which impact volunteer firefighters across Australia.

It was with mixed emotions I heard the progress of presumptive legislation in the other States and Territories, with NSW recently passing fair and equal presumptive legislation. It is disheartening that Victoria is now the only State in Australia that does not have presumptive legislation for firefighters diagnosed with one of the 12 cancers that have been determined by scientists to be linked to firefighting. It is also sad that while almost all other States have introduced equal legislation that treats paid firefighters and volunteers the same, Victoria is still pursing legislation that discriminates against volunteers and proposes to treat them differently.

VFBV will continue its campaign for Presumptive Legislation that protects our firefighters and treats volunteers and staff equally. We will continue to campaign against unfair additional barriers and bureaucratic burdens for volunteer firefighters that are not applied to staff claims. We attend the same incidents, face the same risks and breathe the same smoke. Neither cancer nor smoke discriminates on the basis of if someone is paid or not – so neither should the legislation that protects us.

I have seen first hand during our support for a number of sick volunteers who have been forced to navigate arbitrary and bureaucratic barriers and drawn out legal processes only to be denied access to early, simple and compassionate support, and the terrible pain, suffering and heartache this inflicts on a person and their family at a time they are most vulnerable. It’s cruel, unfair and we must continue to do everything in our power to bring about change.

This isn’t just theoretical. Today, there are sick firefighters who need our help. People like CFA volunteer Rob Gibbs who has had to fight not only the cancer ravaging his body, but the bureaucrats and lawyers as well. At a time when he should be spending precious time with his family and concentrating on his health – he has had to deal with layer after layer of red tape, uncertainty and delays.

We must remove the proposed additional barriers that will only apply to volunteer firefighters. This is a moral issue – and one which we need to call out and stand up for. I call on all political parties, stakeholders and CFA members to unite on this most important issue and work together to deliver the presumptive legislation that Victorian firefighters deserve. Legislation that is fair and compassionate and that treats all firefighters equally and with respect. Victorian firefighters deserve no less.

LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER

I want to acknowledge how hard the last couple of years has been for you. I understand many of you are feeling disappointed and angry. Everyone is different and their reactions to potentially traumatic or stressful events will be different. Please look after yourselves and each other. Respect different opinions and viewpoints and offer your fellow members patience, empathy and solidarity as we move through this journey together.

The CFA Wellbeing Support Line is available 24/7 and can be reached on 1800 959 232. These services are available to all CFA members and their immediate families at no charge.

VFBV Media Release - 6 June 2019 

The contentious Fire Services Reform bill was today pushed through the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) at record pace, avoiding scrutiny or time for members of Parliament to read and consult with stakeholders and constituents on the legislation.

The fate of community safety and CFA, a world-respected and highly successful emergency service, now rests on the checks and balances in the Legislative Council (Upper House), particularly the votes of the cross bench made up of the minor party and independent Members of Parliament who hold the balance of power.

VFBV continues to hear from CFA volunteers around Victoria who are dismayed at the lack of process and scrutiny of what is essentially a piece of critical public policy that will significantly impact Victoria’s trusted and respected emergency services.

Adam Barnett, CEO of VFBV, said there was an overwhelming feeling of being bulldozed and disregarded over proposed changes, with CFA volunteers particularly angry with the repeated misrepresentations and falsehoods that CFA is not providing world class service to urban communities.

“No credible evidence has been provided to back those claims – and worse, the proposed changes add no additional capacity to the system. Changing logos on trucks, uniforms and payslips does not modernise or improve community safety.” he said.

VFBV continues to respectfully call for evidence to support the Government’s case for change, including impact modelling, cost analysis and consultation. The lack of detail, modelling or analysis is a significant impediment in winning the hearts and minds of volunteers, who are not opposed to change that improves the services in a demonstrable way, Mr Barnett added.

Limited debate on the proposed legislation has occurred in the Lower House this week, with MP’s provided no time between the legislation being tabled and made public. Volunteers have been particularly concerned by some of the uninformed comments from some commentators. The process was labelled undemocratic due to the lack of proper Parliamentary oversight and public and stakeholder scrutiny.

“I reject any implication that the proposed changes will modernise our fire services. The proposed Bill actually takes us backwards pre-CFA – reverting to a model similar to what existed at the time of the disastrous 1938/39 ‘Black Friday’ fires, that saw more than two million hectares destroyed and 71 people dead.

"Back then there was The Bush Fire Brigades and the Country Fire Brigades operating across regional and rural Victoria as two distinct fire services, together with the Forests Commission. These two services operated with inconsistent equipment, different operational doctrine, different chains of command and inconsistent equipment; and that cost lives.”

Mr Barnett pointed out that CFA was established to fix the problem of multiple services competing across the same geographic areas. CFA has successfully adapted and evolved to growing urbanisation for decades due to the flexibility delivered from its integrated model, where staff and volunteers train, respond and work as one under a common chain of command and operational doctrine.

“The existing CFA model is seen as highly successful and is envied around the world” Mr Barnett said, adding that New Zealand had recently followed Victoria’s lead to integrate paid and volunteer fire services.

“Every report and recommendation recently has said we should strengthen integration between staff and volunteers, but this Bill does the opposite, leaving us with a patchwork of boundaries across Victoria where two fire services will now cohabitate, with different training, equipment, operational doctrine, command structures and accountabilities, where there is currently one.”

“Morale is at an all-time low. Volunteers are telling us of their despondency that logic, evidence, common sense and decency do not seem to be factors driving this proposal.”

“We all want safe and resilient communities and a strong and vibrant CFA. And we all want to put public safety at the centre of everything we do. Our concern is the proposed legislation does none of those things.”

“Victoria currently has the ‘best of both worlds’, with career and volunteer firefighters working together, training together, using the same equipment and responding together.”

As a former justice and senior counsel to the Bushfires Royal Commission Jack Rush QC recently said, the whole-of-government submission made to the Royal Commission in 2009, boiled down to two key points in relation to structural change;

• a change to the metropolitan fire district boundaries would have a significant reduction on the critical surge capacity of the CFA; and 
• the cost of the CFA integrated stations was significantly less than comparable metropolitan fire stations. 

VFBV and CFA has commenced consultation on a number of SOP’s currently under review. Copies of each draft SOP is available via the VFBV website.

VFBV District Councils are now providing the opportunity for all members to review, discuss and provide feedback on CFA’s proposed changes. Any comments on suggested improvements or clarifications are welcome, as would any practical limitations or difficulties members may identify. Feedback via email or post would be most preferred, and feedback is welcome from any individual, brigade or group. Feedback will be used by VFBV to provide a formal response to CFA.

Feedback is requested no later than the 15th July 2019.

It would be preferred that members provide feedback ASAP, so that it can be received incrementally, allowing us enough time to consolidate, identify trends and research issues raised by members.

SOP’s being reviewed are 5.04 Service Hose Testing and Coupling Inspection; SOP 9.14 Low Voltage Fuse Removal; SOP 9.41 Safe Work at Heights; SOP 10.24 Emergency Medical Response; and SOP 10.27 Train Incidents.

CFA is also proposing to revoke two SOP’s - SOP 6.03 Derelict Structures – Burning Of and SOP 9.06 Fire Alarms – Monitoring and Logging of Tests.

Check the VFBV website for details.

VFBV has been working with Government on its election commitment for a Provisional Payments pilot. The pilot is part of the Governments Mental Health initiatives and will allow eligible emergency workers (including volunteers) to access payments for medical treatment and services while their compensation claim is being assessed. The pilot will focus on determining claims as quickly as possible, recognising the importance of early intervention.

A Governmental Steering Committee has been established to oversee and guide the pilot in making provisional payments to eligible volunteer emergency workers and it will operate in conjunction with a Steering Committee focused on the in scope paid workforces. The Steering Committee is made up of representatives including AV, CFA, SES, Victoria Police and VFBV. Government agencies are represented on the Committee including the Department of Premier and Cabinet – Justice -Treasury and Health, DELWP, EMV, and Worksafe.

VFBV is represented by CEO Adam Barnett who has reported very positive progress. “I commend the Government on this mental health initiative and see this as an extremely important project to improve early intervention for emergency service volunteers and staff alike. This is a very positive step in helping to remove the stigma around seeking assistance for mental health and providing members with compassionate and accessible options for support,” he said.

We will keep you updated on progress.

Volunteer and career firefighters attend the same types of incidents, are exposed to the same toxins and breathe the same smoke. They should be treated equally. The process for a sick firefighter to apply for support should be fair, simple and compassionate.

Presumptive Legislation is long overdue - and all Victorian firefighters should have equal protection under the law. The proposed legislation should be changed to provide equal protection to volunteers.

VFBV have released a news note that explains the main concerns VFBV have been raising around the proposed presumptive legislation, and a summary of what changes to the legislation we have been advocating for.

The news note can be downloaded from the VFBV website. The changes that VFBV are advocating for can be found on page 4 of the news note. 

The VFBV website also has a personal story of Rob Gibbs a CFA volunteer who has had his claim for compensation rejected by CFA after being diaganosed with a rare form of leukaemia.  

The VFBV Board is calling for nominations to the CFA and Brigades Donations Trust Fund.

Nominations close Friday 21st June 2019 and can be mailed to VFBV office 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East 3151 or emailed to vfbv@vfbv.com

Brigades or Groups that pay VFBV affiliations before 30 June 2019 will automatically go into the draw for a chance to win one of four great prizes!

The 2019/20 Affiliation notices for your Brigade/Group’s VFBV affiliation and VFBV Welfare Fund Subscriptions are with your Secretary now with a due date of 30 June 2019.

As a gesture of appreciation to Brigades and Groups that pay VFBV affiliation prior to 30th June, VFBV will automatically place your Brigade or Group into a draw for a chance to win one of these great prizes, kindly donated by GAAM Emergency Products and Powdersafe Pty. Ltd.

 

It was National Volunteer Week from 20 - 26 May and VFBV took the opportunity to showcase some of our great volunteer stories. The theme for the week was “making a world of difference” and it was great to see many brigades sharing their stories on Facebook and other media. You can find all these stories on the VFBV website.

On the final day of Volunteer Week, VFBV posted a special thank-you to our VFBV elected representatives across Victoria:

As National Volunteer Week 2019 draws to an end I want to close with a special thanks to the people who do so much to keep CFA brigades and groups connected – our VFBV elected representatives right across Victoria. I can’t thank them enough for the additional time and effort they dedicate to improving the welfare and efficiency of CFA brigades, groups and volunteers.

VFBV representatives are conditioned to put others first, whether it be their communities, other brigades, groups or their fellow volunteers. This culture of dedicated and selfless service is a proud tradition of the Association, and one in which we are rightfully proud. And this week’s celebration of National Volunteer Week has been no different, thanking and acknowledging the fantastic contributions of CFA volunteers. As the week draws to a close, I thought it fitting to save our last thank-you for all those that contribute directly to VFBV’s important work. Whether they are a VFBV Board Member, State Councillor, District Council Executive or Official, Brigade or Group Delegate, a member of our small staff team or any other volunteers, friends and supporters who contribute behind the scenes – they are what makes our large and diverse VFBV family so wonderful.

Without them, VFBV would be unable to do its work to provide a united voice for volunteers and volunteer brigades and groups. They spend every day - trying to make things better.

Through our VFBV network we gather the views of volunteers starting at brigade level, represent their interests up through the VFBV District and State Councils and to the Board through to CFA management and joint consultative committees, to other emergency and volunteer organisations, and to the Government and Victorian public.

VFBV is a critical feedback loop connecting brigades to each other and to CFA’s organisational structure. Our network of VFBV volunteer leaders ensure there is a united, coordinated and comprehensive view of what volunteers need, what they think of new initiatives and changes, and how those changes can impact at the ground and community level. They provide genuine, connected and credible advice on what CFA volunteers are thinking and what they need to be safe, supported and more effective. They also play a critical role in keeping brigades advised about what’s happening at CFA and how that impacts them.

They are champions of the CFA Volunteer Charter, and face the challenging and often frustrating task to hold others to account for the commitments they’ve made there.

Our representatives dedicate a lot of additional time and effort, invisible to most of us except maybe their families, to undertake that consultation and coordination role. They regularly deal with the urgent requests and frustrations of brigades and do their utmost to ensure they get resolved with CFA as quickly as possible. As such they are on the front line as a key conduit and coordination point for you, and for every CFA brigade and group.

Some might wonder why they do it given the workload and the sometimes thankless task of consulting and coordinating on behalf of others – but like every CFA volunteer they are committed to having the most efficient and effective fire service and the safest and most resilient communities possible. Even more, they are committed to ensuring that their fellow volunteers are looked after and that there is a realistic touchstone for local views ‘on the ground’, when at times CFA policies or priorities might seem a touch unrealistic or impractical with day-to-day brigade experiences.

As volunteers start working higher in the CFA structure, such as at Brigade, Group, District or State level, there are even more commitments and more energy put into making CFA the world-respected organisation it is today.

I am always impressed and humbled by the professionalism, the dedication and the sheer resilience of our VFBV representatives, given the issues that face CFA as an organisation and the sheer number of brigades and people they deal with in the course of their work. To maintain positive attitudes and a professional outlook when the majority of issues they are approached with are from volunteers having a negative experience – requires immense personal conviction and dedication and very strong personal values and empathy for their fellow volunteers.

So, on a very personal note, where no words will ever be enough - let me say a huge public thank-you for the work that my fellow VFBV representatives do. Many of them will feel embarrassed to be so publicly singled out for thanks, but now probably more than ever its important I thank and acknowledge the incredibly important work they do on behalf of all CFA volunteers.

To you our delegates I say thank-you and well done! Many will never know your full achievements or sacrifices in making CFA a better place – but rest assured the work you do is appreciated, valued and respected, and makes the world of difference to tens of thousands of volunteers and their communities across the State.

And while every CFA volunteer deserves thanks and recognition for the work they do – giving up their personal time for training, dropping everything to respond to emergencies and undertaking the myriad of activities from station-keeping to community education that contribute to safer Victorian communities, I save this last thank-you for those of you that always put others first.

From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the entire VFBV family and network – thank-you! It is a privilege and honour to work alongside you towards our vision for Strong Volunteerism, Embraced to Build Community Resilience for a Safer Victoria.

Adam Barnett
Chief Executive Officer
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria

Over the course of the National Volunteer Week (20 - 26 May 2019) VFBV has undertaken a number of activities to promote CFA volunteers, including re-tweeting and sharing CFA and other articles. We've shared and promoted the VicSES 'Wear Orange Wednesday' campaign, in recognition of the close bond we have with our colleagues in orange. And we've generated and shared a number of our own stories on Facebook, Twitter and to media around Victoria.

Check out some of the highlights from this showcase and feature stories via our website:

Monday, 20th May 2019

CFA Volunteers Make a World of Difference to Victoria

 

Tuesday, 21st May 2019

Melbourne Coast Guards - Not Your Average CFA Volunteer 

 

 

Wednesday, 22nd May 2019

CFA Volunteers rope in specialised skills to help save lives 

 

 

 

Thursday, 23rd May 2019

Lessons from history drive new approaches to planned burns

 

 

Friday, 24th May 2019

Volunteering 'just what you do' in your community says CFA Captain

 

 

Saturday, 25th May 2019

Recognising a life of volunteering and three generations of CFA people

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