CFA firey completes MFB course

The leadership course, called the MFB Station Officer Course, is divided into two parts.

The first is a 10 week block of theory based activities including leadership and management principles, media management, personality profiling, conflict resolution and lesson delivery.

The second component to the course is a four week block of practical fire drills held at CFA’s hot fire training grounds in Sale and Bangholme.

Both components are designed to develop and prepare each candidate for the role of station officer.

Mr Van Den Driest was nominated by CFA for this course as a leading firefighter and was successful in his application.

“When I heard that CFA were looking for someone to participate on the course I jumped at the opportunity to further enhance my knowledge and skills, compare the differences in processes and procedures between CFA and MFB, and to represent CFA,” he said.

Mr Van Den Driest began his journey with CFA in 1998 when he became a volunteer with Boronia Fire Brigade. He soon developed further passion for firefighting and became a career firefighter with CFA in 2001. He is currently stationed at CFA’s Hallam Brigade.

“CFA and MFB often work side by side in many areas around Melbourne yet we seem to know so little about each other. Both services hold many of the same values and beliefs, and I have always felt there should be greater interaction between the services,” Mr Van Den Driest said.

CFA’s Deputy Chief Officer Steve Warrington said a close relationship between CFA and MFB is vital.

“The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended greater interoperability between services and Tim completing the MFB course is a great example of this,” Mr Warrington said.

“On a daily basis we hold a great responsibility – to protect lives and property, and to provide the community with the best service possible. I believe with the two agencies working even closer together, it can only enhance our ability to provide that service,” Mr Van Den Driest said. 

“MFB were very accommodating and took me in as if I were one of their own. They were equally as interested in understanding our culture, procedures & processes as I was in theirs. It was a unique and very rewarding process,” he said.

Tim Van Den Driest successfully graduated from the MFB Station Officers course on  1^st July 2011.

For more information contact:

CFA Media (03) 5330 3124                                                                   

Or visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au