Championships 
Choose your own adventure
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer
Last month I reminded members of the importance of engaging with consultation processes, and the vast opportunities for people to pursue what interest them the most. With so much going on, I thought I would use this opportunity to highlight several opportunities that will shortly be closing for feedback.
I’ll start of course with our very own Annual Vol Survey. The current 2025/26 survey has been open since October last year and will close at the end of this month.
It has been conducted every year since 2012 and has become a critical tool that gives CFA and Government clear feedback directly from volunteers on what is working and what isn’t with regards to their current CFA experience. It is aligned with the financial year to best influence internal CFA budget cycles and priority settings.
We run it each year so we can track and baseline volunteer thoughts and concerns and track trends in volunteer satisfaction. Ultimately the survey measures volunteer morale, and those issues that have a significant impact either on a volunteer’s role, experience, the processes and systems designed to support them, and the overall culture of the organisation and its impact on their experience.
The questions have been chosen by volunteers, and each year there are two or three topical questions which are not baselined but provide a pulse check on contemporary or emerging issues. This year’s unique questions explore whether volunteers think the Victorian State Government provides sufficient funding to support the adequate replacement of CFA trucks and stations; how the CFA systems and processes that volunteers use to register for training works; impacts from the Governments new Emergency Services Tax; and feedback on the new volunteer rebate.
Historical questions that provide trend line data explores issues such as; respect and professionalism towards CFA volunteers; feedback on your role as a volunteer; how well CFA actively engages and consults with you; feedback on support provided by CFA to volunteers to help them with their role; how members access training and their views on training courses; feedback on volunteer recruitment and retention; and how people are managed at the brigade level.
With such a busy fire season, and all the other distractions, we’ve left this year’s survey open until the end of July 2026.
And while the survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, it is one of the most impactful things an individual member can do to provide feedback that gets measured and directly influences CFA’s future budget priorities and where they are going to divert energy towards. The results are studied not only by CFA and Government, but we use the results extensively to inform our advocacy.
Even if you feel nothing much has changed from the last time you completed the survey, our trend data relies on people doing the survey each year so we can track progress (or lack of progress) on the issues of concern to volunteers. If people feel the issue they raise in previous years has not been addressed, but they stop completing the survey – the results may infer that rather than people having given up - the issue is fixed and now everything is great.
The survey is completely confidential, and your personal details are never shared with CFA with only deidentified data being used to report on trends. Complete this year’s survey by going to www.vfbv.com.au/cfa
Now to the project that inspired this month’s title.
Many of you might remember the popular children’s series of books called ‘Choose your own adventure’. The books are pitched towards 7- to 14-year-old’s and allow the reader to choose their role in the adventure and sometimes influence how the story ends. There were 184 books that made up the original series.
And while they are getting a little old in the tooth, and perhaps don’t compete with today’s iPads - their popularity has led to the title entering common vernacular.
Choosing your own adventure however is a fitting metaphor for the CFA Contemporary Volunteer Membership Model Options Paper that has been released. After a couple of false starts over the years, this project is exploring genuine ways the CFA membership model could be tweaked in order to help the current model meet its full potential and provide greater flexibility.
The Options Paper explores 13 options that have been identified to form the basis of a potential refresh. Several options cover true tweaks, such as formalising dual memberships that allow volunteers to join two or more brigades and how this might affect voting rights, to more substantive changes such as introducing cadet or seasonal membership.
None of these options are written in stone, and the options paper explores support for not only the underlying concept but also seeks your views on any disadvantages or concerns that need to be considered if the option were accepted and implemented.
The options are grouped into three categories; enhancing what already exists; unlocking new opportunities; and refining foundational concepts that support CFA governance.
Such change has not been considered since the brigade and member reclassification projects that date back to the late 90s, and early 2010.
Early feedback already shows some significant divergence in views about some of the concepts and therefore the more people that respond the more robust the final analysis will be on what changes should be considered to the CFA membership model.
The most recent leadership of this project has exemplified model volunteer consultation by pitching concepts, options and proposals for true consideration; provided enough detail to help members understand why it is being considered; has allowed enough time for members to consider their feedback; has worked in partnership with VFBV to engage and harness the lived experience of volunteers; and has provided opportunity for open feedback for any member, BMT, GMT, DPC and District Council’s to influence and provide feedback on each of the options.
Feedback on this project closes end of July. Ensure you have a say on what the future membership model might look like by visiting www.members.cfa.vic.gov.au/CVMM
And last but not least, I again draw attention to the large number of Standard Operating Procedures that form the basis of CFA operational doctrine. Acknowledging it can sometimes be hard to keep up with what is being reviewed and what is not, we list all SOPs that are currently open for feedback during their formal VFBV consultation period via our consultation dashboard.
VFBV does not provide formal positions back to CFA until after we have provided an opportunity for all volunteers to review and provide feedback on the changed policies via our processes. This gives every single member an opportunity to significantly influence whether we support a draft CFA position or not, and provides a private and confidential method for you to provide feedback.
Your feedback through our processes usually results in significant change or amendment to procedures that perhaps have not always been well tested from a practicality point of view or where unintended consequences abound.
There are currently 17 SOPs open for feedback and where consultation will shortly close, including SOPs covering RPAS; Foams and Retardants; Health Monitoring; Conducting Planned Burns; Alpine; Animals and Wildlife; Community Education; Incident Handovers; and Response to Power Facilities.
Rather than expecting everyone to comment on everything, reach out to members of your brigade who have subject matter expertise or have shown an interest in a specific incident type and encourage them to get involved. It is only though widespread volunteer testing, and feedback that this doctrine can be ground-truthed and battle tested.
The dashboard is available from www.tinyurl.com/vfbvDashboard/
Choose your own adventure and get involved today.
Brigade Allowance Survey
In this year’s affiliation pack sent to all Brigade/Group Secretaries is a CFA annual allowance survey.
With recent break ins fuelling a desire to invest in increased security, together with the impacts of inflation on increasing everyday costs, an increasing number of brigades and groups are advising VFBV that their CFA annual allowance no longer covers basic expenses or amenity and has not changed for many years.
Recent requests from VFBV to the CFA Board to apply CPI increases to Brigade and Group allowances has not achieved a satisfactory response, and as a result the survey data will inform further VFBV advocacy on this issue.
All responses are confidential with only de-identified information to be shared with CFA. Help us help you and ensure your secretary or treasurer returns the survey by Monday 31st August 2026.
AusAlert
As reported in last month’s 2-Minute-Briefings, on Monday 27 July 2026 all mobile phones in Australia will receive a TEST alert from AusAlert at 2pm AEST. AusAlert is the new national warning system to be used during local and national disasters.
The test warning will vibrate and sound a siren like warning for 10 seconds, and display a critical alert on your screen. The system will also target some smart watches and tablets that are compatible with the system. There is no way to opt out of this system, and only devices that are turned off will be silenced.
Visit the AusAlert website if you want to know more about the system and how it works.
Survey last chance
The annual VFBV Volunteer Survey will close shortly.
Visit the VFBV website www.vfbv.com.au/cfa to take part in the survey today. Paper copies of the survey are also available by calling the VFBV office on (03) 9886 1141.
Volunteer unity
Thank you for members’ strong show of support!
In 2025/26, brigades and groups showed it is more important than ever that volunteers have a strong, united and independent voice and peak body with the overwhelming majority of Brigades choosing unity over division and supporting VFBV’s important work representing and advocating for volunteers. Thank you to all brigades and groups who affiliated last year and helped us represent volunteers.
Brigade and group secretaries would have received the 2026/27 renewal notices in May.
Those who pay before 31st July will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of four extremely worthwhile prizes valued at approximately $4,000. Prizes have been donated by GAAM and we sincerely thank them for their continued support.
VFBV Board Positions
Vacancies on the VFBV Board will arise when the terms of four VFBV Board members expire on the 1st October 2026. All 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 VFBV at the board level.
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 31st August 2026.
Rebate Scheme
A reminder that the eligible volunteers rebate scheme is now open for eligible volunteers and life members to apply for a rebate on an eligible property under the Emergency Services Tax.
VFBV continues to hear misinformation about eligibility. Some members have reported they are not eligible due to the current rate freeze that paused the primary producer tax rate to last year’s levels.
This pause does not affect the rebate scheme, and members who own their primary place of residence or farm and are listed on the title, are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a rebate by logging into their CFA online account, to complete the CFA eligibility test.
To check the rules and eligibility requirements, you can visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/evrs
If you are eligible and own an eligible property, head to Members Online to start the process.
CVMM closing shortly
CFA has released the Contemporary Volunteer Membership Model (CVMM) Options Paper and seeks your feedback on 13 recommended options that are designed to support real life circumstances and improve the way people join, stay, move between brigades, contribute in different ways, and transition across roles over time.
All while supporting brigades to broaden and maintain their membership and strengthen capability without the unnecessary burdens.
The options come directly from what volunteers and brigades have told CFA over the past several years about some of the unintentional barriers in the current model that limit opportunities for volunteering.
A CFA survey and FAQ is available online here.
AFAC26
VFBV is proud to be a supporting partner of this year’s AFAC conference powered by INTERSCHUTZ, Australasia’s premier emergency management and first responders conference and exhibition. AFAC26 will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 to 21 August. The AFAC26 Exhibition is free to attend and open from 18 to 20 August and is one of the largest showcase of emergency management products, services and solutions in Australasia.
VFBV will also have a stand on the exhibition floor at Stand 526. For more information on the conference including how to register for a free exhibition visitor pass which includes a complimentary lunch voucher for CFA volunteers, visit the VFBV website.
King’s Birthday Honours
On the King’s Birthday in June, 4 CFA members were recognised with the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for their distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
The CFA members to receive the AFSM were Peter Irving (Edenhope Fire Brigade), Rodney McErvale (Raglan Fire Brigade), Fiona Macken (Diamond Creek Fire Brigade and CFA staff member) and Chief Officer Jason Heffernan. VFBV Board Member Darren Wallace was also recognised in the honours list, being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
You can read more about each of the recipients on the VFBV website and also learn about how to nominate a member for an AFSM for future honours lists.
Urban Senior Championship Survey
The Urban Competition and Rules Committee are conducting a survey of brigades who compete in the Senior Championship. The survey is seeking to get feedback on the changes that have been implemented to the Senior Championship in the last few years.
The survey is available here and will be open until Monday 27 July 2026 and can be completed by individuals, teams/brigades and competition associations. If you require a paper copy of the survey, please contact the VFBV office on (03) 9886 1141.
CFA Board Vacancies
The CFA Act recognises that it is important that the CFA Board has strong volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of CFA volunteers. To support this, four of the skills-based CFA Board members are appointed by the Minister for Emergency Services from a panel of names submitted by VFBV. This year, the terms of two volunteer nominees will expire in December 2026, with both members eligible for re-appointment. One is for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving rural communities, and the other being for a volunteer from brigades predominantly serving urban communities.
CFA volunteers who believe they have the skills, experience and capacity to make a contribution to the Board of CFA are invited to apply. In addition to volunteer experience and knowledge, selection will have regard to any of the following - knowledge of or experience in; commercial; technical; operational; legal or financial matters; expertise in fire or emergency management; land management; or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the CFA.
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 CFA Board Charter and further information on the application process is available from the VFBV website or via the office at (03) 9886 1141.
A closing date for applications will be advised shortly.
Recent articles on the VFBV website
Donate Now – Supporting CFA Volunteers in a time of need
Closing Soon– 2025/26 VFBV Volunteer Survey
Contemporary Volunteer Membership Model Options Paper
Emergency Services Tax Forecast Funding
Presumptive Legislation Update
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