CFA National Volunteers Week recruitment drive May 15-21

CFA is asking regional Victorians to ‘Give Us a Hand’ in an effort to recruit new volunteers to join its 52,000 community-minded members in protecting lives and property across the state.

The call out is part of a new volunteer recruitment campaign, which aims to encourage selfless Victorians to take up a firefighting or support role with their local CFA brigade.

Captain Shane Frogley of the Inverloch CFA Brigade, wouldn't be typical of your average rural fire captain in the sense that he has what looks to be a big, vibrant coastal community to call on for volunteer support, but he still finds himself in the same boat.

"We're down on numbers, the same as anyone. We can probably get two or three on the track to respond to a daytime fire. That's the main issue for most brigades, having people who can respond during the day.

"We've got 12 active fire fighters when we really need at least 20," said Captain Frogley.

Last night, Inverloch responded to a chimney fire in Surf Parade. Damage was confined to the chimney and adjoining roof but any delay in responding can be catastrophic in such cases.

Shane has been buoyed in recent times by the addition of three, new female fire fighters who are through their competency training and are now available to join response crews.

"It's not just fire fighting, we need people in non-operational roles as well; people who can get out checking fire plugs, and go to schools to talk to the kids and other community groups. These sorts of roles would suit retired people who might be able to walk around and check fire plugs on a regular basis.

As well as community engagement, there are also support roles providing social media content and important messages, and also in equipment maintenance. Again these can be completely non-operational roles, leaving time for the fire fighters to go about their all-important work. [Call Shane Frogley at the Inverloch CFA on 0409041889 if you are interested in helping].

It's not just Inverloch, all of our local fire brigades are looking the recruit and what better time to inquire than during National Volunteers Week May 15 - 21.

Whether you’re looking to make the most of your spare time, are new to your community, or just want to be part of a group made up of like-minded people, CFA brigades have flexible volunteering arrangements and diverse roles to suit anyone’s skills and needs.

There are more than 1200 CFA brigades across Victoria, responding to a range of emergency incidents and serving communities every day. From high angle rescues, structure, grass and scrub fires to hazmat and road crash rescues, no two days are the same.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said CFA is a great place to volunteer, meet new people and learn new skills.

“Volunteers are the backbone of the firefighting and emergency response network across Victoria,” he said.

"We are calling on all community-minded individuals who are looking for a new challenge to consider joining their local brigade and apply their expertise and knowledge to CFA.

Whether you want to jump on the truck and respond to incidents, or take up a brigade support position, we’ll find a role that suits you and your brigade.

Brigades are most commonly looking for people from all backgrounds who have the capacity to take up roles as daytime responders and are particularly interested in hearing from young people who want to make a difference within their community.

"The rewards of being a CFA volunteer are immeasurable and our members make a real difference in their communities,” Chief Officer Heffernan said.

If you’re interested in joining or learning more, visit http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer

Once you’ve submitted your expression of interest form online, your local brigade will contact you regarding the next steps.

Becoming a CFA volunteer: Your burning questions answered

CFA is an iconic Victorian organisation, represented and recognised in communities across the state. Becoming a CFA volunteer can be exciting as it connects you with your community and equips you with new skills you can apply to so many aspects of your life.

This ‘National Volunteer Week’, May 15 - 21, CFA is asking you to “Give Us a Hand”.

We’ve compiled a list of common questions for potential volunteers. If you’re interested in finding out more visit http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers.

• Who can join CFA? CFA welcomes all members of the community over the age of 16. Some brigades also run a Junior Volunteer Development Program for 11 to 15 year-olds.
• What will I get out of being part of CFA? Training in a broad range of skills, leadership opportunities, unique experiences, new friends and the opportunity to give back to your community.
• What do CFA volunteers do? CFA firefighters respond to a range of incidents including wildfire, structural fires, road accidents, rescues, hazardous material incidents, floods and other emergencies. But there are a range of other volunteer roles that involve building local relationships, engagement and education activities, fundraising, events, brigade publicity, administration, logistical and financial support, health and safety, training, junior program leaders, and more.
• Can I still volunteer if I have a full-time job or children at home? Yes, you can.  For firefighters, most training and meetings are conducted on weeknights or weekends, and you can discuss your availability with your local brigade. The time you volunteer is often very flexible, and will depend on your role, brigade and the time of year.
• How close do I have to live or work to a CFA brigade to be a member? Generally, you need to live or work reasonably close to your local brigade. As a firefighter you must live or work close enough to your brigade to be able to get to the brigade and then the incident location. Brigades have requirements for how quickly they should get to an incident. There is more flexibility for support volunteers, who can live further away but are often preferred to be local to attend meetings and events. You can find your nearest brigade by entering your address in the Expression of Interest form on the CFA website.
• How many hours a week will I have to commit to? The time commitment will depend on your brigade and the type of role that you choose, so it’s best to talk with your brigade for more information. CFA encourages flexibility for its volunteers, and your level of involvement will depend on your personal availability, together with brigade and community needs.
• What does it cost to become a CFA volunteer? There is no monetary cost to become a CFA volunteer. However, volunteering means you are supporting your brigade by travelling to and from the station, meetings, events, and attending incidents. All training, equipment and protective clothing is provided by CFA as needed.
• How do I balance volunteering with work or business commitments? Many employers across Victoria take a socially responsible approach to volunteering by allowing their employees to commit time to their CFA role during business hours if required. If you’re thinking of becoming a CFA volunteer, you should discuss with your employer what sort of leave or flexible working arrangements can be put in place to allow you to balance any work and CFA duties. Employers and self-employed volunteers are so important to CFA, for without their understanding and support, CFA would not be able to function as effectively as it does.
• If I want to be a firefighter, how long will training take? If you want to become a firefighter, essential training must be completed before you are able to respond to an incident. This is to ensure that you have the right skills and safety knowledge to be an active firefighter. The length of time will depend this takes on your brigade training schedules and your own availability. You can discuss with your brigade. As a CFA volunteer you’ll learn many different skills, some of which are specific to your chosen role and many of which are applicable to other parts of your life.
• Are there any fitness or skill requirements to join CFA? Operational firefighting roles can involve physically challenging activities, so an appropriate level of fitness is required to undertake these roles, however this can be discussed with your local brigade to determine your suitability for this role. For support volunteers, there are no specific prior skill requirements, but your life experience will be valued within the brigade. Depending on the role, there may be some training expectations that can all be completed through CFA’s training programs.

I’m interested, how do I apply to volunteer? You can apply online by filling out an expression of interest form at http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer. Once you’ve submitted your application, your local brigade will contact you regarding the next steps.