More than 250 CFA and SES volunteers from across Victoria came together at Creswick on the weekend (10 and 11 August) for the joint CFA/SES Community Engagement Forum.
The forum is held every year to give emergency services members a means to learn, network, share ideas, and build their knowledge. In 2017, a series of regional forums were trialled, with content tailored to local requirements and interests.
With the theme The Next Step, this year’s event took things to the next level, including professional development in community engagement skills - a first for CFA. This provided participants with the opportunity to build their capacity and capability to better engage with their local communities around risk.
This training was the first level in a new three-tier training program for members on community engagement and facilitation. This training will be rolled out throughout 2018 and 2019 under the Safer Together Community First program.
In addition to professional development, attendees heard from keynote speakers including Chief Officer Steve Warrington, Victorian SES Chief Operating Officer Tim Wiebusch, Senior Engagement Advisor Matthew Henry, and social researcher Mark McCrindle, who provided an engaging look at how people and their information needs are changing.
The forum also included the launch of several key products and tools to help our members better engage with their communities:
- A new Community Engagement Framework, a blueprint for how CFA will work with its people and the community to better understand and manage community needs
- New Aboriginal Engagement Guidelines, which were a key recommendation in CFA’s Koori Inclusion Action Plan
- An updated version of the widely used Member’s Quick Reference Guide to help our people in their everyday engagement with communities.
Chief Officer Steve Warrington said the forum was a great opportunity to work with the SES to develop the skills and knowledge of our people.
“The work our volunteers and staff do in the community is highly valued and is vital to reducing the incidence and impact of emergencies,” Steve said.
“Our people are highly-respected leaders and an important source of local information.
“Through their work, they have the ability to enhance our engagement and connection with the community, and in doing so, empower them to be safer and more resilient, before, during and after an emergency situation.”
CFA thanks VICSES for their support in presenting this forum. A special thank you to BankVic, the CFA and VICSES Volunteer Reference Group and State Forum Working Group; the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation; and DELWP.