Why you should ‘fire up’ for National Volunteers Week

THE 2021 Census revealed that 2,933,646 people in Australia said they did unpaid voluntary work for an organisation or group in the previous 12 months.

That’s a 19 per cent decrease from 2016.

And while the devastating impact of COVID features in those numbers, volunteering has actually been in decline for the past decade or more.

One area that has been significantly impacted by the trend away from volunteering, at least in a traditional sense, is the Country Fire Authority.

New figures show the number of operational firefighters has fallen from 38,335 to 28,934 since 2013-2014 and while the authority still boasts “52,000 community-minded members in protecting lives and property across the state”, they need active fire fighters and volunteers in a range of challenging and important roles; and they need them now.

As part of National Volunteers Week 2023, May 15-21, Regional Connect Media, representing all of the state’s local newspapers, has partnered with the CFA in an urgent campaign to recruit new volunteers for CFA brigades across Victoria.

Inverloch CFA has been right on message, when it comes to gender equality and diversity, recently recruiting three women who are now active in the brigade after successfully completing their competency training.

They can turn out on the truck now with the other active members, but in common with every other brigade in the state, Inverloch is also looking for more firefighters and others to fill support roles for social media, community engagement and fire equipment maintenance.

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 of more than 6500 people, to call on for volunteer support, but he still finds himself in the same boat as his colleagues in the smaller rural brigades dotted around the countryside.

"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,” said Captain Frogley, predictably and affectionately known as “Froggie” to everyone.

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

During the week, 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 and would love to see more women, teenagers or newcomers to the area make contact with him and join.

"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.