Issues of Interest - Detailed View
VFBV summer campaign review submission to CFA
In February 2007, VFBV formed a Working Party to provide a volunteer perspective of the key issues emerging from last summer’s campaign fires. A report was finalised for issue to CFA and in August the Working Party briefed the Chief Officer on key issues of concern. The Working Party identified 26 issues requiring attention and suggested a number of priority issues to be given the upmost concern.
These included matters as Staging Area management; ICS competency and training; current approaches to initial fire attack; use of volunteers in IMT/field command roles; incident action plans; briefings and communications plans; volunteer access to IMT training courses; utilisation of volunteers in public land fire suppression; CFA/DSE cultural differences and fire-ground resource management. In particular, a number of issues highlighted the urgent need for CFA to work with volunteers to develop an operational human resource management system with the capability to present real time volunteer availability and draw down of resources.
VFBV also submitted that greater consideration needs to be given to the availability of competent volunteers prior to requests for interstate and overseas assistance.
The Chief Officer has already responded with instructions to Operations Managers on a number of the issues. VFBV is continuing to work collaboratively with the Chief Officer to ensure the remaining issues are addressed.
The Full Submission paper of the meeting is attached below.
Summer Campaign Submission Paper
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