Formal consultation has commenced on a proposed procedure to cover the use of Surveillance Devices. This procedure aims to provide appropriate guidance to CFA members in the installation and use of surveillance devices and ensure they are installed and used in compliance with legislation and privacy principles.
The draft procedure is available for download from the bottom of this page for the purposes of consultation.
We have been awaiting this draft procedure for quite some time, as the lack of a procedure has caused delays in the provision of Brigade and Group dashcams and the like, including some equipment and security systems from recent grants programs like the district pick list program that was run by the CFA & Brigades Donations Trust.
As such, we have agreed with CFA to an expedited consultation timeline in order to allow an interim procedure to be implemented that will allow brigades and groups who have been waiting for this equipment to be issued it ASAP and in time for this fire season.
As part of this arrangement, we will consult on the draft procedure over the next 5 weeks. Following approval, the procedure will be issued with a review date set 12 months from the date of issue. (normally three-years) This will ensure any comment or feedback that may arise after the initial consultation period, can be reviewed then.
As such, we request your urgent attention and encourage feedback and/or endorsement of the draft procedure ASAP during the consultation period.
Members are encouraged to review the draft proposed SOP and provide any feedback/suggestions/amendments including indicating support/non-support for the proposed changes.
Feedback can be provided by individuals, brigades and groups.
All feedback is used to inform and influence formal VFBV positions as well as used to influence CFA positions and thinking during the deliberative process. If we need to use your feedback to demonstrate or illustrate the views of members, your personal details will not be shared with CFA, and feedback will always be de-identified to protect your privacy.
We encourage members not to wait until deadlines to provide feedback, but rather provide it as early as possible which will give us a chance to conduct further research that may assist us being able to advocate more strongly for your desired outcome.
Feedback is due by Wednesday 7th September, 2022.
All members are welcome and encouraged to provide feedback. If you have any questions, if you could please contact your local State Councillor or VFBV Support Officer in the first instance.
How to provide feedback:
It would be preferred that members provide feedback ASAP, so that it can be received incrementally, allowing us enough time to consolidate, identify trends and research issues raised by members.
Feedback can be provided via:
- Emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Your local VFBV District Council or your local VFBV Support Officer
- By Post: 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East VIC 3151
- By Fax: (03) 9886 1618
Feedback does not need to be long or detailed, but if you do have the time to make substantive comment that is always welcome.
If you generally support a principle or policy, then a quick note letting us know would also be helpful. Similarly, let us know if you do not support it, or which aspects of it you don't support.
Where indicating non-support, it would be helpful to understand the key reasons why, and even a couple of brief bullet points would be adequate. Likewise, if you would prefer to provide a more detailed response, or mark-up and suggest changes to the documents, that is welcome also.
Your feedback will assist us form a VFBV position and response to the proposed changes and help us advocate on behalf of CFA volunteers. Please consider getting involved, and providing us your feedback ASAP.
Please remember to provide feedback in support as well as against. If we only hear from those who are against, it can be harder to determine the general comfort level of members with the proposals.
