The Fireman Columns

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Most Recent Column in The Fireman - June 2008

VFBV Board meeting at Benalla

Continuing the commitment to have strong links with grass roots volunteer issues, the May meeting of VFBV Board was held at Benalla, followed by an open discussion forum with brigade representatives from Region 23 and 24. As with other regional visits, VFBV Board members provided a brief on key issues currently being addressed by VFBV and a number of key issues were raised by volunteers, many of these now common themes across each regional visit. Issues raised included:

• concerns about training resources in regional Victoria, particularly access to structural training and the need for urgent action to address resource shortages either via filling of vacant training positions; development of volunteer trainers/assessors; or appointment of sessional trainers.
• desire for improvements to the focus of and outcomes achieved from municipal and regional fire prevention planning and desire for the CFA regional leadership team to have stronger focus in this area;
• use of privately owned equipment on the fire ground, the importance of private equipment as key resource in many areas and the issue of liability and compensation coverage for private equipment operators;
• DSE fuel reduction program and impact of resource limitations on achievement of some planned burns, particularly for smaller or ‘lower profile’ urban/forest interface burn areas seen as priority by local brigades;
• brigade access to Operations Officer and other brigade support – resource limitations mean that many brigades feel they do not have adequate access to basic brigade support;
  priority for leadership development across CFA

The meeting also discussed a proposed CFA/VFBV Youth Forum to be held in August this year. The forum will be an important part of a focused Youth Strategy for CFA and VFBV. The forum is about improving the engagement, retention and development of youth involvement and improving understanding of youth issues in both CFA and VFBV. Further details on this item are available via VFBV website and a separate article in this edition of Fireman.

Meeting of VFBV and CFA Boards

The CFA and VFBV Boards met on 26th May as part of an ongoing commitment for regular meetings between the two boards. The meeting provided an opportunity to progress the key priorities agreed when the two Boards met in March this year.

The Boards agreed to some fundamental principles that will guide the further development of a vision for volunteers and volunteerism in CFA, acknowledging the fundamental importance of CFA’s community and volunteer based foundations as the core of CFA’s service philosophy, approach and benefits. In the context of considering future brigade support and resource models, the Boards discussed the suite of brigade and community support and capacity building options that need to be the focus of CFA’s capacity building efforts and committed to the principle that building volunteer and community capability will always be the priority approach to addressing community service needs.

The two Boards also discussed a framework and guiding principles to improve consultation and engagement within CFA and the core role that volunteers and the Associations contribute to CFA leadership and management. Ideas about how VFBV and CFA can strengthen the way CFA Board and staff work together with volunteers at all levels in order to maintain and build an even more effective volunteer based CFA for the future were discussed and commitment was made to implement several tangible actions.

The Boards discussed the importance of the Volunteer Charter and options to strengthen the application and effectiveness of it. CFA has committed to developing a legal framework to enshrine volunteer rights consistent with the Volunteer Charter and VFBV has proposed an approach to implement this. The Boards will meet again in July to progress these discussions.

VFBV Board Vacancies

The term of office for Tom Brodie (rural) and Hans van Hamond (urban) on the Board of VFBV expire in October 2008. VFBV will be advising all brigades of the forthcoming vacancies and inviting applications from volunteers interested in being appointed to the Board for a two year term of office. Both Tom Brodie and Hans van Hamond have indicated their intention to re-apply for the positions.

Australasian Firefighter Championship

Six brigades have expressed their interest in competing at the Australasian Firefighter Championship in Rotorua, New Zealand in October 2009.
As it is general practice to allow four teams per State, with an ability to add an extra team depending upon entry numbers, the VUFBA will need to initiate a process to prioritise the teams to be entered.

CFA/VFBV Drought Support Fund

The CFA/VFBV Drought Support Fund, established earlier this year has recently made a significant grant to Region 17 for use in areas still affected by drought in that Region. BASO Angela Munn is coordinating the effort within Region 17 with assistance from brigades in the area. Thank you to those brigades who have contributed the funds to allow this support to occur. Brigades wishing to contribute to this valuable initiative can contact VRFBA office for details or alternatively visit the VFBV website

State Rural Championship Committee

The State Rural Championships Committee met in late May and dealt with an extensive agenda.

Some of the decisions reached at the meeting will have significant impact on future State Championships and include the following:

•  In future no rule changes can be made after the 1st December in the year preceding a State Championship.
• At the next meeting in September it is proposed to vote on changing the Low Down Pump and Ladder event to having threaded couplings and the competitors having to fit the branch the hose.
• The Committee clarified their position on ladder climbing by confirming that competitors must have two feet on the rung of the ladder and one other point of contact with either the ladder or ladder stand when striking a target.
• It is proposed to hold a judges school on Saturday 11th October at Fiskville subject to interest from officials.
• In the Tanker, Priming and Pumping Event it is intended to move the equipment currently placed on the track onto the replica tanker stands to more faithfully replicate fire ground practices.
• RFS of NSW have issued an invitation for a Victorian team to compete at their State Championships in September and senior teams that competed at this years State Championships will be offered the opportunity to express interest in going.
• The Committee also clarified that in junior events competitors may only compete in one age group in any one event at a Championship.
• It has been agreed that three current competitors will be invited to join the Rules sub-committee. Competing brigades will be offered the opportunity to select their three representatives.
• From 2009 the top 15 teams will comprise A Division with the balance divided equally between B and C Divisions.
• The rule book will be placed on the website and will not be altered after the 1st December in the year preceding a Championship