In this month’s edition of Fire Wise, members will find a copy of the 16-page VFBV Quarterly Supplement. As well as the usual updates from our Joint Committees, we have also included the summary results of our most recent volunteer survey. 

Now in its eleventh year, our annual survey is the largest of its kind. The longitudinal nature of the survey along with its consistent questions and themes, provides a robust snapshot of volunteer views and opinions over time and allows for trend and other analysis to be conducted. 

At a high level the results give cause for optimism, with incremental improvement in volunteer satisfaction with CFA across most of the survey themes, with 22 questions recording an improvement. Five questions recorded a drop in satisfaction and six questions recorded no change. 

Not surprising, the main areas of volunteer dissatisfaction with CFA continues to be around training, consultation, and the need for greater support for recruitment and retention. 

This year we also piloted four new questions. Three of those questions help us delve a little deeper into the long-term dissatisfaction around training, and asked members if CFA’s training expectations were fair and reasonable for the roles that you perform; if CFA’s online training courses were easy to use and effective; and if members had access to adequate internet in order to participate in online training. 

On the internet question, 86% of survey respondents indicated they had access to adequate internet. And while this may sound like a good result, in an organisation the size of CFA, having 14% of members not able to access adequate internet is a reminder that CFA must continue to offer flexible ways for people to stay connected. 

While the survey results are highly credible from a sample size perspective, it should be noted that given most of our survey respondents choose to do the survey online, the number of people who still have trouble accessing online services is likely somewhat understated in these results. Even taking the 14% as a conservative figure, that still equates to more than 7,000 volunteers. 

This is precisely why when CFA advised they were moving to electronic multi-factor authentication for all CFA online services later this year, it was VFBV that was left to argue that while the majority of members were likely to have a mobile phone, not all would be capable of running an authenticator app, leaving potentially thousands who would be locked out of all CFA online systems. 

Rather than use this as a reason not to do something – we argued the case that it is incumbent on CFA to ensure it finds flexible ways for these members to remain connected without weakening security to ensure we don’t leave anyone behind. To its credit, CFA was able to identify an alternative method resulting in a good outcome. This again highlights not only VFBV’s commitment to working collaboratively with CFA to solve problems, but also highlights the importance of genuine and robust consultation with volunteers before CFA embarks on significant change. 

BUDGET WATCH 
VFBV remains highly vigilant in monitoring developments on CFA’s budget post fire services reform. With the Victorian Government handing down its state budget late last month, there was very little good news for CFA volunteers. For the first time in many years, there was no new funding for any new fire stations, trucks or equipment. The only announcement was for the redevelopment of three fire stations. 

This lack of capital funding is devastating given the poor shape of CFA’s capital works budget, and the unsustainability of CFA’s asset pool. Funding three fire stations out of 1,214 stations across the state means it will take 404 years to get around to all. Given we are now pushing fire trucks well past their 20-year age limit, with many well over 30- years old, CFA is facing a rapid deteriorating asset base that is very concerning. 

And while we hear a lot from the government about the $126 million that was provided to CFA back in 2020, there are a lot of little facts that keep being left off the brochure so to speak. First of all, it was $126 million over five years, so $25.2 million a year. Second of all, just weeks after making the announcement, the CFA annual budget from government grants went from $807 million, to $351 million, a reduction of $456 million dollars overnight. One needs to go back 14 years in time to 2009 to find government contributions to CFA dropping to this level. 

And thirdly, under the terms of fire services reform, CFA was forced to transfer another $229 million in property, plant and equipment off CFA’s books, and gifted free of charge to FRV to account for the 37 co-located fire stations, land, building and equipment. 

This marks a particularly poor record on funding for CFA over the last three years, and there is no way to spin it otherwise. 

Incidentally, FRV’s revenue grew from $461 million to $859 million over the same period. 

Now if we work that out by fire station, CFA runs 1,214 fire stations on its $351 million or approx. $290k per station per year, and FRV runs its 85 fire stations for $807 million working out at $9.5 million per station per year. 

The only highlight from this year’s budget papers was the output measurements of the fire services which confirmed CFA delivered a 90% outcome for response times to structure fires over the 2022/23 period, with FRV delivering an 87% outcome for structure fires. An interesting outcome for those who argue that response time performance measurements are the be all and end all. 

The government has not revealed CFA’s base budget for this year in the budget papers, so VFBV will continue to monitor developments closely. Volunteers will no doubt anxiously await confirmation of this year’s CFA budget and any impacts of reduced funding. Given the cuts already made, any further cuts will be nothing short of devastating, and will require strong volunteer advocacy. 

As the most efficient fire service in Victoria, and following decades of underinvestment, it would be irresponsible to think that the world class emergency service provided by volunteers could possibly be subjected to any further cuts or tightening. It a brave Government indeed to choose not to fund fire stations and fire trucks at a time where large scale emergencies like fire and flood are predicted to occur more often and with higher intensity due to a changing climate. On behalf of a future Royal Commission, allow me to pre-empt the very first question a future Commission is likely to ask – what were you thinking? 

Readers would recall our advice that the VFBV Board has now elevated EMV to an organisation of concern over their appalling record of noncompliance with their obligations under the volunteer charter and following their ill-advised disbanding of the volunteer consultative forum. Given the current financial environment, our investigations on the amount of money that is now being redirected from the fire services to EMV to fund this burgeoning bureaucracy remains a high priority. We will keep you updated on progress. 

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 
National Volunteer Week ran from 15–21 May this year. This year’s theme was ‘The Change Makers’ to recognise that volunteers dedicate their time and energy to effect real and positive change in their communities, a theme that CFA volunteers had no trouble identifying with. 

On behalf of VFBV I wish to pass on our deep gratitude and respect to all CFA volunteers and other emergency service volunteers across the sector. Over the last 12 months our members have dealt with fire and flood and everything in between. 

Victorians are safer because of the work you do each and every day, and we could not be more proud of you. 

Not only did we say thankyou to our volunteers during Volunteer Week, we took this opportunity to also thank all those who support and encourage CFA volunteers. In the words of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th American President “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity." 

PRESUMPTIVE LEGISLATION 
In breaking news, I am pleased to report that the Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Jaclyn Symes MP has announced she will be introducing legislation to expand the presumptive rights scheme to include the three female reproductive cancers to Victoria’s presumptive legislation scheme for firefighters. 

This is a change we have been advocating very strongly for and welcome this announcement. 

The proposed amendment will expand the scheme by adding cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers to the list of prescribed cancers covered under the scheme, and will be backdated to cover cancer diagnoses  on or after 1 June 2016 which aligns it with the other 12 existing cancers already covered. This change applies equally to volunteers and career staff.

Readers would recall that the topic of expanding the scheme to cover female reproductive cancers has been going on for several years now. Our advocacy followed the important work done in the United States and Canada that studied the impact of the under representation of women across the firefighting cohort used for previous cancer studies. Up until recently, female firefighter numbers were too low to determine conclusively the risks of developing female-specific cancers from their firefighting work.  Recent research has begun to reverse this anomaly, with the Commonwealth government recently accepting the evidence and adding cervical and uterine cancers to the commonwealth legislation.

I wish to commend the unflinching advocacy done by fellow CFA volunteer and former MP, Tania Maxwell who drafted an amendment back in October 2021 seeking for these cancers to be added to the scheme. Disappointed with progress, in May 2022 she put up a private members bill again seeking to add the cancers to the legislation, which was defeated. Her untiring support and advocacy has been instrumental in highlighting this issue and getting the requisite support.

This has been a long campaign, and VFBV has taken up the cause both publicly supporting Tania’s amendments and Bill, and privately by engaging in discussions directly with the Minister following the Bill’s defeat.

While we hope no firefighter ever has to use this legislation, it provides peace of mind and great comfort knowing that these protections have finally been realised. I also wish to acknowledge the work done by Melina Bath MP who worked with us many years ago in the early days to shine a light on the lack of female firefighters in the international study cohorts. 

I will have more to say about presumptive legislation down the track, but feel it would be ungracious to meet the announcement of this much anticipated expansion with simply a request for more. So, I will return to this topic at another time.

On behalf of the more than 4,300 female CFA volunteer firefighters across the State, I commend this amendment and congratulate Minister Symes on her announcement. I look forward to its passage in Parliament and urge all parties to support this Bill.  

Feedback is being sought on a proposed CFA Brigade/Group Finance Policy Suite.

The suite encompasses six draft policies that seek to clarify the processes surrounding the management of brigade and group finances.

The draft policies cover things like approvals required for purchases, restrictions on the number of bank accounts, how funds can be spent and records required etc.

While many of the topics covered are similar to those that currently exist in the brigade management manual, there are several areas of changed policy.

Brigades and groups are encouraged to go through the policies and provide any feedback to help inform VFBV response to CFA.

Feedback from members ultimately leads to either VFBV support or non-support for a specific policy, as well as contributing to our advocacy around amendments.

Feedback can be provided by individuals, brigades, groups and District Councils.

Please visit the VFBV website for more information, including copies of the draft policy.

Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2023. Of the four members whose terms are expiring, two are eligible for re-appointment.

VFBV invites applications from any CFA volunteer who is motivated by the prospect of making a difference and believes they have the skills to contribute to the VFBV Board. 

The role of a board member involves contributing to VFBV direction, policy determination and monitoring the performance and governance of the Association. This includes actively contributing to policy discussion, consulting with CFA volunteers and contributing to the identification and management of strategic issues.

VFBV is seeking applications from gender and culturally diverse candidates in addition to a diverse range of skills and experience including applications from diverse brigade types and classifications.

Members should familiarise themselves with the VFBV Board member role statement and key selection criteria available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.

Applications close on Monday 28th August 2023. 

Feedback Requested - Brigade Finance Policy Suite

Feedback Requested - Amendments to CFA policy for Working with Children Check Clearances

Nominations for CFA and Brigades Donations Fund

VFBV Board Vacancies - Invitation to Apply 

CFA Board Positions - Invitation to Apply

2023-24 VESEP Applications Now Open and VFBV Help Pack

King's Birthday Honours List 2023

International Firefighter's Day 2023 

National Volunteer Week 2023