CFA Amendment (Volunteer Charter) Bill 2011

Changes to the CFA Act that enshrine the CFA Volunteer Charter in law have been introduced into parliament and supported by both parties and will become law within weeks.

This is a significant forward step. It makes clear CFA’s responsibility to develop policy and organisational arrangements that encourage, maintain and strengthen the capacity of volunteer officers and members to provide the Authority's services.

The changes also mean VFBV’s representative role is more important than ever.  VFBV has worked hard to improve its connection with volunteers, to strengthen brigade engagement with District Councils and to become more proactive in raising concerns and solutions that affect the welfare and efficiency of volunteers.  More than ever we need to be well informed, ready to provide input, ready to speak up and to have the profile and relationships for our voice to be heard at every level.

The Act brings a terrific opportunity to shape a successful future for CFA.  And reinforcing the need for the volunteer voice to be heard in no way means we aren’t recognising the importance and role of paid staff in working with and in support of volunteers. The strength of CFA is that volunteers and staff work together as an integrated team, as equals, with mutual respect.

The amendments to the CFA Act;

• recognise CFA as a volunteer-based organisation where volunteers are supported by paid staff in a fully integrated manner;
• require the Government and CFA to consult with VFBV on any matter that might reasonably be expected to affect CFA volunteers;
• require CFA to have regard to the commitment and principles set out in the Charter; and
• require CFA to develop policy and organisational arrangements that maintain and strengthen the capacity of volunteers to deliver CFA services.

The full text of the legislation is available for download by clicking on the document image to your left.

CFA Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Policy

The Joint Equipment Review Committee’s (JERC) PPC/PPE Working Party has been busy working alongside CFA on the development of a revised CFA Policy on the acquisition and operation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Many members have long advocated the virtues of these life saving devices and the potential to treat firefighters who are often engaged in strenuous and high risk activities.

Recognising the fact that AEDs are becoming more common in the community, at airports and in other public buildings, VFBV advocated to CFA that the machines should no longer be considered to be specialist equipment, and that the current controls on their acquisition and use be relaxed.

The draft policy under review allows brigades to acquire an approved AED by purchase or donation.

The main focus of the Working Party has been to ensure that the new policy provides a good balance
between consistency and flexibility in the maintenance, training, storage and operation of the device
and to ensure that the policy does not create any unnecessary barriers or disincentives to their introduction.

You can direct all comments and feedback to the Equipment Review Committee via VFBV Executive Officer Adam Barnett