Mick's blog

I am pleased to announce new appointments to CFA's leadership team. Each of the individuals below brings to their role significant experience, knowledge and expertise.  Their skills and capabilities complement each other and those already existing in our organisation. The diversity and strength in the team ensures CFA is in the right hands to achieve our goals.

I'm pleased to provide an update on the Regional Radio Dispatch Service project that will improve radio communications for our regional brigades.

The CFA Board has given approval for negotiations to begin with a preferred supplier to finalise the service contract. Depending on these negotiations, the project should roll out towards the middle of the year and into early next year, beginning with a pilot in District 12. We will announce the winning tenderer as soon as the negotiations are completed.

This is an exciting project because, through technology and training, every brigade will have access to reliable and robust radio communications. Brigades can deal directly with emergency call centre operators throughout incident dispatch, which will reduce the risk of communication failures and improve safety for both our members and the public.

This weekend many of our brigades will be supporting the 2012 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, as they have done so for over 60 years.

The volunteering spirit is truly alive and well at CFA and it's remarkable to see our members standing on street corners collecting money and conducting their own fundraisers for the Appeal, when they already give so much for their communities.

We're making good progress adopting themes arising from the Jones Inquiry and I'd like to update you on the work taking place.

I thought it timely to provide an update on where things are at with the Creating our Future Together change process.

We're focusing on making improvements in a number of key areas to build a stronger, more cohesive organisation. This will be better for our communities and our people.

To give us the chance to discuss key CFA issues and topics with you, from next week we will be implementing fortnightly live discussion sessions, hosted by myself and Chief Officer Euan Ferguson on an alternating basis.

Following a request from Independent Fiskville Investigator Professor Rob Joy, CFA has approved a three month extension of the Independent Investigation into the use of chemicals for live fire fighting training practices at Fiskville Training College dating back as far as the 1970s.

Professor Joy and his team requested this variation to the Terms of Reference after it became clear that more time is needed to complete a comprehensive investigation - there are still a great many interviews to be conducted with CFA past and present members and records to be reviewed.

Professor Joy also advised us that the interview process is proving not only to be an opportunity for CFA members to tell their story, but is also essential for him to gain useful information and that this is going to take more time. Professor Joy does not wish to pre-empt any outcomes or findings by issuing an interim report.

The extension was approved to honour CFA's commitment of ensuring a thorough and detailed investigation. Our members are our priority so it is important to give all members - past and present - every opportunity to contribute and be heard as part of this investigation.

When the allegations were first made in December last year we assured our members that we were determined to deal with this matter properly and seriously - we owe that to our people.

One of the issues identified in the report from the Jones Inquiry was the need for better communication and engagement with volunteers, and this applies to all our members. We're working to better understand how members want to be kept up to date in a way that's relevant to them, acknowledging that this will vary.

We recognise that our members are busy people, and we don't want to add to the information overload. There are times, however, when members need to be across operational and CFA-wide issues, and we want to make sure you have the most up-to-date information available.

As the third anniversary of 7 February draws near, we remember and honour the 173 people who lost their lives in our state's most significant natural disaster.

We reflect on the courage and strength shown by communities, including CFA members, CFA families and brigades, who lost so much in the fires and are reminded of their professionalism, dedication, courage and selfless bravery.

Given recent reports about the historical live fire fighting training activities at Fiskville, some members and their families may have concerns about the current safety of the Fiskville site. We can assure you that the ground is safe for all staff, trainees and visitors - this has been confirmed by two independent hygiene reports.

The hygienists, both commissioned by CFA, found that while there were some minor areas for improvement, there were no significant risks to the health and safety of those working at the site or those attending as trainees or visitors.

A number of CFA members, past and present, and their families have contacted CFA to register their interest in receiving regular updates and to volunteer information which they believe will be useful to the independent investigator Professor Rob Joy.

Now the Independent Investigator is up and running, we urge members with information useful to the inquiry to contact Professor Joy's team directly on
(03) 5420 9260 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday or email info@fiskvilleinvestigation.com.au

The Fiskville investigation is well underway with the independent Chair - former deputy Chairman of Environmental Protection Authority Robert Joy - inspecting the facility this week.

The independent investigation is due to report back by the end of March 2012, after which it will be made public.

We ask for patience while this work is being done.

In September 2011 the Victorian Government released the Green Paper Towards a More Disaster Resilient and Safer Victoria. This provides a number of options intended to provoke discussion around the State's crisis and emergency management arrangements to determine the most effective arrangements for creating a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria.

The Green Paper sought submissions from individuals, community groups, the emergency management sector and emergency services, and represents the first step in the process to further reform Victoria's emergency management arrangements.

Today we've released the Terms of Reference for the Independent Investigation Into The CFA Facility At Fiskville (1971-1999).

We also announced a new ‘Investigation and Information' hot line (1800 628 616) for people with concerns to call between 8:30am and 8:30pm. Callers will by able to access assistance directly, or be referred on for further advice.

People can call the information line anonymously, however, data regarding calls taken and issues raised will be reported to ensure appropriate follow-up action is taken where required. People can also email: fiskvilleprojectteam@cfa.vic.gov.au

In this latest update I can advise you that former deputy chairman of the EPA Rob Joy has accepted a role to chair the Fiskville investigation.

With 25 years' experience in environment protection and resource management, his credentials are exemplary.

As many CFA members would be aware, the Herald Sun ran a series of articles this morning making a number of very serious allegations linking CFA's Training College at Fiskville to cancers in CFA members and their families. These allegations date back to the 1970s and 80s.

Since becoming aware of the allegations for the first time when contacted by the newspaper yesterday, we have set up a team who will provide support to CFA members - staff and volunteers - who spent time at Fiskville and investigate the allegations. There are members who will understandably be concerned by the reports.

As you are aware CFA is a defendant in civil litigation arising from the Kilmore East Fire on Black Saturday. The proceedings were instigated against SPI (AusNet) on behalf of a class or group who suffered loss and damage of all types as a result of the fire. CFA has been joined as defendant (along with DSE, Victoria Police and SPI's inspection contractor, UAM.)

The legal system in Victoria as it applies to class proceedings means that all those who suffered loss or damage as a result of the Kilmore East fire are potentially members of the class represented in the proceedings unless they choose to opt out.

I am pleased that we can now release the final top line working structure which will drive the next stage of our CFA Creating Our Future Together Strategy, and is a key part of achieving our vision - working together with communities to keep Victorians safe from fire and other emergencies. This follows widespread discussion on the proposal over recent months.

The structure focuses on teams, moving away from our language of divisions / departments to communicate our commitment to working together - across traditional functions, across our regions, with our volunteers, communities and stakeholders towards One CFA.

In recent years we have been working together to invoke a ‘Safety First' culture throughout CFA and our members have embraced this philosophy. We've seen a positive reduction in injuries to members.

Our approach to safety is not just about safety on the fireground or during an incident or emergency. It extends to safety at the fire station, in the office, and during training - safety is fundamental to all these activities.

A key theme of feedback we have received from around the state is to include reference to volunteers in our description of who we are. The Board has now adopted these words:

Sunday marks a significant anniversary since the 2009 fires - exactly one year since the Bushfires Royal Commission handed down its final report.

Today, the VBRC Implementation Monitor, Neil Comrie, has reported to government on progress made towards realizing the 67 recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission.

CFA members would be aware of a number of inquiries and reviews being undertaken that involve CFA and other emergency service organisations - the Jones inquiry being perhaps of most interest to volunteers - so today I am writing to up-date people on their progress.

To start, the Government today released the ‘interim' report into the Review of 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response.

As I move around the state, I’m happy to have spoken to many of you and received your feedback on organisational change; feedback has been very honest, direct and helpful. Much of the feedback I’ve had since my first blog post on organisational change has been: ‘Most of this looks reasonable but where’s the detail and what’s the engagement process?” Hopefully, I can answer those questions today.

The following is a transcript of Mick's address in the video above.

Strategy
Today I’d like to take the opportunity to talk to you a bit about organisational change.

In the last couple of weeks, the Board’s met and they’ve considered proposals that we’ve taken to them on strategy. And that strategy, they’ve termed ‘Creating our Future Together’.

It has been another historic week for CFA with The Country Fire Authority Amendment (Volunteer Charter) Act 2011 passed in Parliament yesterday.

We welcome the introduction of this legislation and reaffirm the importance of CFA volunteers to our organisation and the Victorian community. The legislation recognises that CFA exists because of its volunteers, backed by the support of our career staff; both operational and administrative.

The past two and a half years have presented many challenges for CFA. We have experienced the worst fires in our history. We have been through a Royal Commission. And this season, we battled floods more than flames over the summer months. It's been a tough time for many of our people.

As many of you know, the State Government announced last week an inquiry, to be led by retired County Court judge David Jones, into arrangements for CFA volunteers (see Minister Peter Ryan's statement here.)

With memories of the January and February floods still raw for many, I want to pay tribute to the communities who defended themselves, and especially those who suffered the impacts.

As we approach the second anniversary of the Victorian bushfires of February 2009 we remember and honour the 173 people who died.

 With Christmas upon us and a very busy year about to come to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my best wishes, along with those of my Executive colleagues, to you for this festive season and the year ahead.