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CFA News (62)

Tuesday, 22 October 2013 13:00

Update your CFA contact details

CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson is asking all CFA members to update their contact details before the fire season.

Euan has asked every Captain, Group Officer and Secretary to remind their members.

See his blog on the CFA website for details;

http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/blog/Update-your-details-before-the-fire-season.html

Members can update their contact details via Brigades Online (cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au), by phoning 1800 62 88 44 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Invitation to all CFA members:

A team of firefighters will be taking part in this year's YMCA Murray Marathon - the iconic five day canoe race from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill - as part of the inaugural Emergency Services Challenge Cup.

The fireys are already in training in Albury but need more paddlers to fill the team. 

The YMCA Murray Marathon is the longest canoe/kayak race in the southern hemisphere and 2013 will be the 45th race.

The 2012 event attracted 400+ paddlers and 1,500 ground crew, moving along the Murray River between Yarrawonga & Swan Hill for the 5 days between Boxing Day & New Years Day.

There is more information on the YMCA website www.murraymarathon.ymca.org.au/

To join the fireys' team and experience this great adventure, contact John Schneider at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 0428 507 450

Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has the ability to investigate the conduct of all CFA members; both staff and volunteers.

For more details, see CFA CEO Mick Bourke’s blog at http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/blog/IBAC-How-it-affects-CFA.html

Thursday, 26 September 2013 17:01

Establishing a CFA Diversity Network

Dear CFA volunteer

As our local communities change and often become more diverse, we need to find ways to help Brigades adapt to these changes. This is why the Engaging Diverse Communities Project Team is seeking interest in establishing a CFA Diversity Network.

The network would give interested CFA members:

•     A deeper understanding of the issues facing diverse communities

•     Practical skills and knowledge needed to engage with diverse communities and

•     Help create welcoming environments where diversity is celebrated within Brigades

And of course, this aims to help Brigades and communities become more resilient!

The Aim of This Survey

We know you’re probably sick of surveys but we really hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete this one as we’re keen to take direction from CFA members on where we go with the Diversity Network. Your responses will be kept confidential.

You can access the survey by clicking on this link.

The survey will be open until the end of September 2013 so please take this opportunity to have your voice heard before then.

If you experience problems completing the survey, or have any questions about the Diversity Network, please do not hesitate to contact Debra Salvagno: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey!

Why be involved in the Network?

By being involved in the Diversity Network you will have an opportunity to focus on this important area of community engagement. The Network will bring members together to share ideas and learn how to actively engage with the diverse members of our community.

The Network will be supported by staff working on the Volunteer Support Program in the Engaging Diverse Communities Project.

By being involved, you can help create and promote an atmosphere in your Brigade that values diversity, and where all members are treated with respect and dignity.

How involved you are is entirely up to you!

Thursday, 26 September 2013 12:18

CFA Project Expo - Monday, 14 October

The CFA Project Expo is an event for CFA members, their families and the organisation’s major stakeholders.  It will showcase more than fifty projects, initiatives, pilots and vehicles.

Where: Whitehorse Club, East Burwood, 298-336 Burwood Highway (close to CFA HQ).  Most displays will be inside the main hall with trucks and equipment outside in the carpark..

When:  14 October, 10.30am and 3.30pm

More information:  contact Sonia Maclean:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

•         It will be an informal day for our members to get together, have a look at the big picture of what’s going on around CFA, and talk about areas of interest.

•         Projects are an important part of the way CFA does business and in particular the way CFA brings about change.

•         A program of short presentations and demonstrations (to be held adjacent to the main display area) will be advertised closer to the event. 

More than 50 exhibitors will include:

•         Specialist Response Vehicles

•         Scoresby Hoselayer Project

•         Regional Radio Dispatch

•         Volunteer Support Project

•         Various equipment and PPC

•         Member ID Project,

•         Volunteer Workforce Management

•         Region-based community safety initiatives.

Getting to the Whitehorse Club

By car: turn off Burwood Hwy - ample parking is available at the venue.

By public transport: number 75 tram from the city

By foot from CFA Headquarters: walk through the car park to the rear of Building 8/4 and past the basketball centre. 

Friday, 13 September 2013 09:26

Crew Protection Retrofit

The VFBV/CFA Joint Equipment and Infrastructure Committee reports that all 844 tankers identified for retrofitting with crew protection sprays have now been completed.

Work is now continuing on a further 74 tankers so that the entire tanker fleet is retrofitted with crew protection sprays, bringing to a successful completion what began as quite an ambitious project.

Tuesday, 10 September 2013 16:41

CFA Career Firefighter Recruitment mid-2014

CFA has now opened its Online Career Firefighter Recruitment database, accepting candidates for Career Firefighting positions for start in mid-2014.

CFA advises that they are looking for people who are community-minded and fit, who want a challenging, rewarding and exciting career.

The current list of Career Information Sessions has been fully booked - please watch the CFA webpage for announcements about extra sessions over the next few weeks.

CFA intends to close applications on Friday, 11 October at 4pm.

For more information, visit the Career Firefighter Recruitment area of CFA’s website www.cfa.vic.gov.au

SEE BELOW FOR CFA'S 11 SEPTEMBER MEDIA RELEASE

CFA recruiting career firefighters

CFA is looking for fit, enthusiastic women and men to join the ranks of its 693 career firefighters

who work shoulder to shoulder with the organisation’s 57,000 volunteers.

With growing demands on CFA’s services in Melbourne and large regional centres, more

career firefighters are needed to support volunteers to deliver vital emergency services.

Applications to become a career firefighter have opened at www.cfa.vic.gov.au, with information

sessions to be held around the state in coming weeks.

Successful applicants will begin a 16 week intensive training course in early 2014.

Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said fighting bushfires was just one part of CFA’s role.

“Career firefighters work around the clock alongside volunteers at more than 30 integrated

stations in Melbourne and regional Victoria,” Mr Ferguson said.

“They protect a million homes and businesses from fire and flood, conduct road rescues and

respond to hazardous materials incidents.”

The recruitment drive is part of the Victorian Government’s Project 2016, a response to

recommendations of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

“In addition to Melbourne, career firefighters are stationed at places such as Geelong, Bendigo,

Ballarat, Warrnambool, Mildura, Shepparton, Wodonga and Traralgon just to name a few.”

“Many people don‘t realise that more than 3.3 million Victorians, including 2 million

Melbournians, come under the protective umbrella of CFA.” Mr Ferguson said.

Over recent years CFA has seen an unprecedented investment in personnel, vehicles and fire

stations, including the recruitment of more than 158 new career firefighters since 2011.

Mr Ferguson said the recruitment drive was also an opportunity to build more diversity into its

ranks, and in particular, increase the number of women career firefighters.

“While CFA is very diverse in some ways, particularly its volunteer base, there is an underrepresentation

of women and people from culturally diverse backgrounds throughout the

organisation,” Mr Ferguson said.

While age is no barrier, applicants will need to meet high standards of fitness, strength and

endurance in addition to the ability to work as part of a strong team in difficult circumstances.

Applicants must also be prepared to relocate to one of CFA’s integrated fire stations across

Victoria. Anyone contemplating a career as a CFA career firefighter can test their suitability at

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer-careers/suitability-test/

 

 

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Friday, 23 August 2013 14:01

September IMT Training Courses

There are some great incident management pilot courses coming up in September, so get involved.

The Incident Management pilot courses are offered on both weekends and during the week to provide more opportunities for you to be able to attend.

Two to consider are the Community Officer (commonly referred to as Community Liaison Officer) and Media Officer courses.

Community Liason Officer Pilot Course
Course 1: 04 - 05 September at SCC or Gisborne ICC
Course 2: 21 - 22 September at SCC or Gisborne ICC


Media Officer Pilot
Course 1: 14 - 15 September at SCC or Gisborne ICC
Course 2: 25 - 26 September at SCC or Gisborne ICC


Both of these have weekend spots available. Please note that the advertised closing dates have past for some of the courses but we are still taking nominations.

The Pilot courses are the latest Incident Management courses and therefore include improvements from the previous courses or are newly developed courses altogether. They have been developed by subject matter experts from across the agencies and have undergone extensive review and testing. In addition, pilot courses are delivered by highly experienced and qualified subject matter experts and trainers. These Pilot courses will provide the foundation you will need in the future and genuinely contribute to authorisation to perform your role.

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact your local Regional Incident Management Team Capability Coordinator (RICCs) – RICCs contacts. Please note you will require appropriate pre-requisites to attend the course. Your RICC can discuss this with you.

Regional IMT Capability Coordinators

Regional IMT Capability Coordinators support the Regional Commander and relevant functional managers in the development of the Regional Operational HR Plan and to develop incident management capability and capacity across the state.

RegionNameContact
Barwon South West Christine Beasley P: 03 5221 6667 | M: 0428 441 579
Eastern (Metro) Will Johnston P: 03 8739 1346 | M: 0428 362 589
Gippsland Noel McWilliams P: 03 5177 3246 | M: 0429 437 900
Grampians Leanne Blenkiron P: 03 5330 9135 | M: 0428 993 305
Hume Terri Johnson P: 03 5833 2476 | M: 0428 433 461
Loddon Mallee Sally Turvey P: 03 5036 2800 | M: 0428 460 523
Northern & Western (Metro) Lynne Simpson P: 03 8746 1442 | M: 0429 456 887
Southern (Metro) John Painter P: 03 9767 1862 | M: 0419 874 068

Thursday, 08 August 2013 11:21

Incident Management Team Training Project

The IMTTP (Incident Management Team Training Project) has recently published a new portal on Brigades Online to assisit with keeping members up to date on the progress of this project. You can find the new portal on BOL via the following link; http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=imttp

The first update has been reproduced below, for those that do not have access to Brigades Online


Providing improved consistent training and supporting leadership development for incident management personnel in Victoria.

The intent of the Incident Management Team Training Project (IMTTP) is to improve the sustainability of training and capability of incident management personnel in Victoria. This will be achieved by developing common training packages, leadership and exercising frameworks, robust accreditation programs, coaching and mentoring programs and experience based learning tools. The project will provide a long lasting legacy that can be utilised by all agencies.

What is the reason for this project?

The IMTTP addresses the State Government’s response to the recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report. It is focused on those recommendations directly related to the training of Incident Management Team members. For more details read the background document below.

A partnership approach - Multi Agency Capability Committee - Bushfire (MACC)

The IMTTP works in partnership with the Multi-Agency Capability Committee-Bushfire (MACC), established in 2011, to achieve multi-agency, multi-hazard outcomes wherever practicable and reports through to the Service Delivery Group, chaired by the Fire Services Commissioner (FSC).

Achievements - Where we are at?

The IMTTP is working in two key project areas -

  1. Training Development - covering incident level 2 training programs and leadership development courses
  2. Capability Frameworks and Programs - covering accreditation, coaching and mentoring and exercising

In the Training Development Project thus far, the project has successfully piloted a number of multi-agency training packages. The aim is to have 12 piloted by the end of December 2013. The project has also delivered 18 Fireline Leadership Courses and 2 Incident Leadership courses in 2012.

In the Capability Frameworks and Programs Project we have accredited 48 Level 3 Incident Controllers, held two pilot Cobaw staff rides, delivered 94 Vector Tactical Sessions and 11 Vector IMT Sessions in 2012. Work is also well underway with the Predictive Services Strategy and incident management frameworks.

FAQ's and more information on the IMTTP project is available via the download links at the bottom of this page.

Monday, 01 July 2013 14:20

24/7 CFA member assistance program

The CFA member assistance program is now available 24 hours a day and has a new phone number – 1300 795 711.

The program has been upgraded to provide a more tailored service for CFA members and their immediate families.

Closer links with other CFA support services such as peer and chaplaincy support and compensation programs, as well as short-term counselling support across the state, will make it easier for members to access the support they need.

Around 100 counselling sessions are taken up each year by CFA members and their immediate families about a range of issues including relationships, parenting advice, depression, anxiety, addiction and trauma.

Information cards will be distributed through regional offices, peer support coordinators and sent with the spring edition of Brigade magazine to promote the new 1300 795 711 number.

Contact the organisational wellbeing team on 9262 8836 for further information about the program or other wellbeing initiatives.

See https://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/new-member-assistance-program.html for some useful links on CFA welfare for members.

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CFA Volunteers are the unpaid professionals of our Emergency Services. VFBV is their united voice, and speaks on behalf of Victoria's 60,000 CFA Volunteers.

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