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Membership classification finalised

Posted by Brigade Membership Classification Project CFA Member

Monday, 30 April 2012

The four CFA membership classifications have been finalised and every volunteer will now be classified as brigade support, firefighter, associate member or a junior member.

The new classifications are designed to create more attractive membership options for today’s volunteers, while providing brigades with the structure and flexibility to better manage their members.

CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said the shift is about making it easier for people to volunteer with CFA and recognising the importance of every member’s contribution.

“It’s about recognising that people are looking for opportunities to volunteer and provide a meaningful contribution to their community that also fits in with other work and family commitments,” he said.

“We’ve introduced the associate member classification to encourage auxiliary members to become registered members of their brigade and receive the full incentives of service awards.

“It’s important that we acknowledge and appreciate that while some members may not be able to commit as many hours as others, their contribution to CFA is vital for the safety of our communities and just as valued.”

Mr Ferguson said the brigade support classification will include roles which support the brigade internally, but also have a key focus on building community capability through delivery of CFA’s fire safety and community education programs.

“This will be a real shift in focus for many brigades and should further reinforce the message that every single CFA member plays a vital role in prevention, preparedness and response to fires and emergencies,” he said.

“We need to ensure that volunteerism remains viable in a changing world. This structure will enable us to build strength in our brigades and enable CFA to deliver both improved services and better community safety outcomes into the future.

“This is something that came out of the Jones Inquiry and the new Fire & Emergency Management structure, and should increase brigade viability.”

The four classifications were agreed upon by the project team based on feedback from the field, VFBV and the Chief Officer.

Transition support kits are currently being produced and will be available online, as well as being sent to all Operations Officers, BASOs, brigades and each district headquarters, by August 2012.

The project team will be attending district planning committees to provide advice and answer questions before brigades transition with their next election cycle in either 2013 or 2014, but will allow a window of 48 months for brigades that require extra support.

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Last modified on Tuesday, 25 September 2012 09:51

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written by Kevin LHuillier, May 01, 2012

Is there a simple discription as to the expectation of Brigade Support and Associate Member . What roles would they perform ? . What would be considered a necessary level of contact with a Brigade . Is there a template showing the level of contact an Associate Member would have within a Brigade or do Brigades make their own arrangements ?

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written by Brigade Membership Classification Project, May 03, 2012

Brigade Support Members can perform any functional role within a brigade apart from frontline firefighting.

This can include, but isn’t limited to:

· Community Engagement activities
· Incident Management Team roles
· Fire Equipment Maintenance
· Junior leader
· Treasurer
· Secretary.

Attendance requirements are determined by the Brigade through their constitution or standing orders, but Brigade Support Members are generally required to attend around half of the brigade meetings. Brigade Support Members will need to maintain the skills and competencies required of them in their role.

Associate Members can perform a variety of roles that may not require a regular commitment to the brigade such as:

· Community Engagement activities
· Fundraising
· Catering
· Promotion and publicity
· Running Team.

The attendance requirement for Associate members will be based on discussions between a member and the Captain (or delegate).

The intention of this membership is to encourage people that want to serve the community but are not able provide a regular commitment to the brigade. These members may bring specific skills to support the brigade in some functional roles or take on tasks within the brigade.

Documentation outlining the descriptions, skills and attendance requirements for these memberships is currently been developed and will be made available to the field in the next few months.

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written by Kevin LHuillier, May 07, 2012

thanks for the discription of possible roles , however how do we overcone the issue of maintaining a quoroum when the number of non operational people only have to attend on a limited basis , is it envisaged that Brigades will be able to adjust their numbers as the model rules say half of the Brigade members or fifteen members , this currently causes problems were members do not see the need to attend Brigade meetings , members sitting on the books clocking up time need to be addressed , making it easier for members to avoid their responsibility to other members should discouraged .

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written by Brigade Membership Classification Project, May 25, 2012

A brigade quorum is based on the number of senior members within the brigade (Brigade Support, Associates and Firefighter) that are not on probation and also excluding juniors.

While the Brigade Model Rules are currently being reviewed and updated, the rules applying to brigade quorums will not be changed. As stated in the brigade Model Rules, brigade can reach quorum with a minimum of 50% of members or 15 members in attendance, whichever is the lesser. Brigades are not able to alter this in their constitutions or Standing Orders.

The issue around members ‘sitting on the books and clocking up time’ needs be managed at brigade level, with the support of the brigades BASO and Operations Officer.

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written by Kevin LHuillier, June 24, 2012

The issue of members sitting on the Brigade books and clocking up time need to be not only left up to the Brigade BMT , BASO's and Operations Officers need to be more diligent when conduction section 29's and inquire why non attendance of members is not being addressed by Brigades ! BMT's with an eye on the next election have no interest in making un popular decisions in regards to having a Brigade moving on and reducing the dead wood , Entrenched popularity is no remedy to produce an effective well run organisation , giving Brigades excuses to avoid meeting the reuirments of the Model Rules needs strong leadership from all levels of the organisation .

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