INQ197

TitleLong
Independent Inquiry into the effect of arrangements on Country Fire Authority Volunteers (VIC)
INQAuthor
Dr. David Jones AM
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ197 REC197-1741 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education Recommendation 9

A. The CFA further develop community education programs to specifically engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to address the importance of ethnic diversity.

INQ197 REC197-1733 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review Recommendation 1

That a review of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and the Country Fire Authority Regulations 2004 be undertaken.

INQ197 REC197-1766 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 34

The CFA as part of any examination of the utilisation of the NBN give priority to the establishment of internet access for brigades.

INQ197 REC197-1736 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 4

The CFA and the Chief Officer continue to develop the initiatives outlined in relation to service delivery and standards, decision‐making and allocation of resources.

INQ197 REC197-1737 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 5

A. The CFA, in consultation with employers and volunteers, explore the establishment of employer consultation and support mechanisms along the lines of those developed by the Australian Defence Force.

INQ197 REC197-1769 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 37

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, explore and develop initiatives whereby qualified volunteers may be more utilised in Incident Management Teams.

INQ197 REC197-1738 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 6

A. The CFA, in consultation with its volunteers and employees, determine and adopt a statement of Vision, Mission and Values.
B. Position descriptions and key selection criteria require knowledge of, and commitment to, this statement.

INQ197 REC197-1771 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 39

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, develop a comprehensive strategy for the administrative support of volunteer brigades to ensure that such brigades can operate efficiently and effectively.

INQ197 REC197-1772 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 40

The CFA, in relation to developing any process for brigade support or career structure or position description for Brigade Administrative Support Officers, as referred to in Clause 8 of the 2010 Deed, consult with the VFBV and volunteers before reaching any decision on those matters.

INQ197 REC197-1773 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 41

The CFA continue, in consultation with volunteers, paid personnel and their representatives, its review of disciplinary arrangements and as part of that review consider the concept of the establishment of a Volunteer Ombudsman.

INQ197 REC197-1758 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 26

The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements contained in industrial agreements relating to the engagement of instructors with a view to increasing the ability and flexibility of the CFA to fill instructor positions and thereby ensure maximum training capacity to the benefit of CFA members, both

INQ197 REC197-1743 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 11

The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangement relating to the recruitment of volunteer firefighters as an employee.

INQ197 REC197-1759 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 27

The CFA continue its consultations with the UFU to establish a satisfactory and workable process for the use of sessional instructors.

INQ197 REC197-1744 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 12

The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements relating to lateral entry and secondment.

INQ197 REC197-1760 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 28

The CFA continue with its initiatives to implement the Garnock Report, keeping volunteers and paid personnel fully informed of progress and consulting with them in relation to the implementation. This implementation should be given priority, having regard to its importance.

INQ197 REC197-1746 E - Agency Organisation 12 - EM agency and authority Recommendation 14

The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements relating to the employment of part‐time and casual employees.

INQ197 REC197-1749 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 17

The CFA proceed with a review of the Minimum Skills training program.

INQ197 REC197-1765 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 33

The CFA continue the development of Vector Command Training and its availability and utilisation by volunteers. The feasibility of this training being provided online be explored by the CFA as part of the consideration of the use of the NBN.

INQ197 REC197-1750 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 18

The CFA ensure that there is transparency with respect to the identification and meeting of training demand, and plans to meet such demand.

INQ197 REC197-1751 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 19

The CFA ensure that there is transparency with respect to training budgets and, in particular, with respect to what relates to volunteer training and what relates to career staff training.

INQ197 REC197-1767 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 35

Consideration be given to the establishment of a dedicated CFA training academy.

INQ197 REC197-1752 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 20

The CFA take initiatives to improve the accessibility of Field Training Grounds, including Fiskville, to volunteers for training.

INQ197 REC197-1768 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 36

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, explore and develop initiatives whereby more volunteers are qualified to participate in Incident Management Teams.

INQ197 REC197-1753 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 21

The CFA continue the Mobile Training Infrastructure Project and the Fixed Training Infrastructure Project. Where necessary, the Government support these initiatives in determining CFA funding.

INQ197 REC197-1754 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 22

The CFA proceed with the update of facilities and infrastructure at Fiskville to enable its better utilisation by volunteers and employees for training. Where necessary, the Government support this update when determining CFA funding.

INQ197 REC197-1755 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 23

The CFA examine options to enable sufficient training materials to be available to ensure effective training delivery. As part of this examination, the CFA explore the feasibility of utilising the TAFE system.

INQ197 REC197-1756 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 24

CFA develop an individual training pathway for operational volunteers to enable volunteers to be able to better identify their career and training options and pursue a pathway that meets their expectation.

INQ197 REC197-1757 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 25

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, examine options to enable the engagement of an adequate instructor strength to serve the training needs of volunteers. Those options should include making more use of volunteers as instructors.

INQ197 REC197-1761 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 29

The CFA continue the development of key principles in relation to training, in consultation with volunteers and paid personnel.

INQ197 REC197-1762 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 30

The CFA provide greater opportunities for leadership training for volunteers at all levels but particularly at the brigade level. The CFA, as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure that persons appointed to positions of leadership have the necessary capability.

INQ197 REC197-1747 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 15

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, review its arrangements with respect to First Aid training and maintenance of currency of qualifications, with a view to the delivery of such training and maintenance best meeting brigade needs.

INQ197 REC197-1763 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 31

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, review the process for RCC and RPL with the view to making that process transparent, efficient and fair.

INQ197 REC197-1748 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 16

The CFA establish forward strategic planning initiatives for training with resource allocation covering short term, mid term, and long term.

INQ197 REC197-1764 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 32

A. The CFA, in consultation with volunteers, employees, the VFBV and the UFU, examine the feasibility of utilising the TAFE system for training delivery.

INQ197 REC197-1734 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 2

A. Consideration be given to the VFBV being funded directly by Government rather than by the CFA.
B. The VFBV give consideration to amending its Constitution to enable individual volunteers to be members of the Association.

INQ197 REC197-1735 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 3

A. The CFA continue to explore and develop initiatives with modern information and communication technologies to maximise the benefits that they may bring to volunteer involvement in the CFA.
B. The Government adequately resource such initiatives.

INQ197 REC197-1770 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 38

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, review the arrangements for the reimbursement of volunteer expenses. This review could be done in conjunction with the review of possible reimbursement of employers of CFA volunteers as recommended in Recommendation 5.

INQ197 REC197-1739 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 7

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, develop a systemic exit strategy, which ensures that relevant information is captured consistently across all brigades.

INQ197 REC197-1740 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 8

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, develop and introduce an arrangement whereby a volunteer can transfer from one brigade to another and still remain a member of the CFA, without the need to resign.

INQ197 REC197-1742 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 10

The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, develop initiatives and strategies that will maximise the involvement of young people as volunteers and their retention as volunteers.

INQ197 REC197-1745 E - Agency Organisation 36 - Volunteers Recommendation 13

The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements relating to Community Education Firefighters/Fire Officers and the use of volunteers in this role.