National Volunteer Week 2020 gives us the opportunity to reflect on, and recognise, each and every one of our volunteers.
National Volunteer Week starts on 18 May and I encourage everyone to celebrate our volunteers throughout the week. Although we will not be able to celebrate in ways we usually do, CFA is encouraging members to celebrate online.
Millions of Victorians rely on CFA volunteers to help protect their lives and property.
Being part of the Volunteers and Capability team means we are able to work directly with volunteers to support them. We are currently working on many different projects, many of which have been created during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our people connected.
JuniorsLIVE
JuniorsLIVE is an online version of juniors developed by the Youth Programs Team for use in Term 2 during COVID19 restrictions. The program has been designed so that junior members can work by themselves in their own homes.
Through the sessions, junior members have the opportunity to participate in activities (videos, reflections, games and home learning activities) that explore aspects of the five themes of the juniors program to develop their understanding and knowledge of CFA values and goals:
- Knowledge of CFA history and competition
- Understanding volunteering and community service
- Emergency response skills
- Teamwork and leadership skills
- Familiarisation with all hazard types.
Program worksheets and more information can be found on the Junior Intranet page.
National Volunteer Week Photo Competition
The competition is held each year to celebrate National Volunteer Week and honour CFA people through photos. The competition closed on Tuesday 30 April and we received more than 130 entries.
The main theme this year was teamwork on the fireground. The winners will be announced on CFA’s social media during National Volunteer Week. View our 2019 winning photos.
Virtual meeting platforms for brigades
Maintaining communications and engagement across the brigade memberships will be critical through the COVID-19 outbreak, not only for brigade operational response and management but importantly, member wellbeing.
As groups/brigades are not able to meet face-to-face, online communications applications or teleconference facilities may be required to support effective communications across group/brigade leadership teams as well as the broader group/brigade membership.
A survey was designed to determine individual group and brigade requirements for the type virtual meeting capability required to support effective communications.
Through the project we have set up more than 160 brigades and groups to use either WebEx or Microsoft Teams. Requests are still being taken from brigades and groups through the online survey.
Women’s Network
A statewide working group has been established to pool the work of the already established women’s reference or network groups, and commence creating a toolkit for future establishment of women’s networks.
The women’s networks/reference groups have been a driving movement regionally that push women’s development in CFA, female recruitment, and develop innovative ways for CFA to be a progressive emergency service.
Work is currently being done to distribute 6000 feminine sanitary hygiene packs around South East Region to each brigade. They are an emergency supply to be kept in all first-aid kits on vehicles and in stations.
The idea came from a successful rollout in North East District by the Volunteer Sustainability Team, and endorsed by the Women’s Networks in South East Region.
Recognition events
Bushfire recognition events were held between January and March 2020. I’d also like to thank all the individuals and organisations who donated tickets to events and wonderful opportunities for our volunteers.
The Championships 2020 due to be held in Mooroopna were cancelled on 13 March. They have been rescheduled for 27 and 28 March 2021 at Mooroopna and the Junior Urban Championships are scheduled for 20 and 21 February 2020 at Horsham.
Spirit of CFA Awards judging will resume later in the year and we hope the event will go ahead towards the end of the year.
The Memorial service 2021 will be held on 2 May in Melbourne CBD.