For nearly two decades, Diamond Creek’s Fiona Macken has been a driving force behind community safety, frontline emergency response, and one of the most significant volunteer led medical initiatives in Victoria’s history.
Fiona, who joined CFA as a volunteer firefighter in 2007 said her training as an Emergency Medical Technician in America drew her to volunteering in Australia.
“When I moved to Australia, I joined SES and then when I moved to where I live now, I joined CFA,” Fiona said.
“I became an operational member in 2008 which was not long before the Black Saturday 2009 fires which impacted areas very close to where I live. From that experience I realised my passion for working with the community.”
Following her love of community Fiona worked casually for CFA for almost 10 years as a community engagement facilitator before being becoming Coordinator of the Community Based Bush fire Management program - a program of work that helped shape the community-facing aspects of the flagship Victorian Government Safer Together initiative.
“It was really rewarding to be able to build a community-based program from the ground up,” Fiona said.
In 2022, Fiona took on one of the most ambitious projects in CFA’s recent history: becoming the Program Manager for CFA’s Fire Medical Response (FMR) initiative, delivered in partnership with Ambulance Victoria.
The program enables trained CFA volunteers to provide basic life support to patients during select Triple Zero medical emergencies, in support of Ambulance Victoria.
Fiona said the program allowed her to combine all her passions.
“It has bought together my love for improved community outcomes, working with CFA volunteers, program development and management, and my previous work in medical research and first response,” she said.
Fiona personally delivered more than 100 face‑to‑face information sessions across Victoria and continues to travel statewide as a volunteer instructor, ensuring responders are confident and capable in high-pressure medical emergencies.
Fifty CFA brigades have now signed up to participate in FMR which will improve outcomes for patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest in their respective communities.
“It was just the best feeling when we hit that 50 brigade milestone,” Fiona said.
“After driving to every one of the brigades it was an indescribable feeling to have those 50 locked in.
With all 50 trained and online by 24 June, Fiona and her team will have another significant milestone to celebrate shortly.
Fiona’s operational experience spans 18 years, during which she has held multiple leadership roles including 2nd, 3rd and 4th Lieutenant at the Diamond Creek Fire Brigade.
“I was the first female lieutenant in the brigade, and I was incredibly proud a few years later when we had three out of four lieutenant positions held by women”.
“I also have an incredibly keen 11-year-old who has signed up as a junior, I think it was bound to happen with me as lieutenant and her dad as Captain”.
She also said getting to work alongside emergency service counterparts has been a real highlight for her.
“I have been able to be incident controller at a few large structure fires and work closely with Fire Rescue Victoria,” she said.
“Being able to stand proud as I see our volunteers fight fires in partnership with our career counterparts – and do so very competently - is very rewarding.”
In 2018 Fiona was the inaugural recipient of the Spirit of CFA Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, recognising her outstanding contribution to both CFA and the Victorian community.
Fiona said she is extremely humbled to be receiving the honour of an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).
“I am very humbled and grateful to be receiving the honour,” she said.
“It feels as though I dedicate virtually my entire life to CFA, I work a demanding professional role for CFA and then I go home and think about my volunteer role and spend a lot of time doing things with my brigade”.
“I also think there are many, many incredible people in CFA who haven’t yet been recognised for their dedication to the organisation and sector”.
“I couldn’t have achieved what I have without the support of the most amazing teams of people I have been surrounded by during my time in CFA, all of whom are hardworking and innovative. This includes my fellow professional CFA colleagues who put in so much work behind the scenes, I thank them for their contributions and wish they could all be recognised too.”