DDO Induction Course structure
The DDO induction is delivered across the following sessions:
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Session 1: Introduction to the District Duty Officer Induction
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan and Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook
This module is the first in a series of modules incorporated in the District Duty Officer (DDO) Induction. The program is designed to provide you with practical tools and knowledge to effectively perform the role of a DDO. Each module builds on the previous one, ensuring you gain confidence and competence in operational leadership.
Key References
Session 2: Financial Delegation
This session explains how DDOs contribute to CFA’s command and control arrangements by exercising financial delegations during emergency operations. It clarifies how these delegations support operational decision‑making, differ from BAU delegations and operate within CFA and multiagency environments.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- apply financial delegations under the CFA Act to support emergency operations
- understand the scope and limits of their financial authority
- identify when escalation is required
- distinguish between BAU and emergency financial delegations
- navigate delegation arrangements in multiagency incidents.
DDOs are authorised to procure goods and services necessary to support incident activity, ensuring timely and safe operations in line with governance requirements. Typical operational uses include:
- catering and welfare support
- equipment or consumables
- contractors and specialist services.
While financial delegations are broadly consistent, there are variations depending on the incident type and lead agency, including:
- CFA‑led incidents
- DEECA/Forest Fire Management Victoria
- VICSES
- Fire Rescue Victoria.
DDOs must apply the correct delegation framework when operating within an Incident Management Team (IMT).
DDO delegations have defined boundaries. High value expenditure or specific procurement activities may require escalation to:
- an Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO), or
- DCO, Chief Officer, CEO or Board.
Understanding when and how to escalate ensures compliance while maintaining operational effectiveness.
This session highlights key differences between:
- Commander delegations in normal business operations, and
- DDO delegations during emergency events.
Differences include spending limits, budget availability, procurement sources and governance requirements across CFA and multiagency incidents.
Required learning
DDOs must complete:
Key References
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Session 3: CFA governance and legislation
This session provides DDOs with an overview of CFA governance, legislation and key operational frameworks. It explains where to locate authoritative resources and how legislative powers, policy and doctrine guide operational decision‑making during incident management. At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- identify key legislation and governance frameworks underpinning CFA operations
- understand the Chief Officer’s powers and delegations relevant to DDOs
- locate critical CFA policy, doctrine and SOPs
- apply Command Intent when situations are not explicitly covered by SOPs
- navigate state‑level emergency management frameworks.
DDOs operate within a defined legislative and governance framework. They must understand how CFA powers, delegations and policy, guide actions, particularly when making decisions in dynamic or evolving operational environments.
Key responsibilities include:
- exercising delegated powers lawfully and appropriately
- applying policy and SOPs to operational decision‑making
- understanding escalation, agency roles and control/support arrangements.
This session covers the legislative foundations of CFA operations, including:
- The CFA Act and Regulations and defining CFA’s powers, responsibilities and duties
- Chief Officer delegations through instruments as a control or support agency
- Section 30 and related provisions enabling incident control, brigade direction and volunteer oversight
- additional powers of relevance to DDOs, including fire investigation responsibilities.
DDOs are shown where to locate authoritative sources, including:
- Chief Officer delegated powers and the Delegations Register
- Standing Orders, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Operations Bulletins and Safety Alerts
- CFA Members Online and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) resources.
This session introduces Command Intent Statements, which guide decision‑making when:
- conditions are complex or evolving
- circumstances are not specifically covered by SOPs.
Command Intent supports consistent, risk‑informed actions aligned with CFA doctrine.
Examples of SOPs referenced include:
- SOP 9.42 – Requesting and issuing community warnings
- SOP 9.11 – Incident handover processes, including the Incident Handover Direction Notice
An overview of state‑level coordination frameworks, including:
- the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP)
- Joint Standard Operating Procedures (JSOPs), such as traffic management and public information
- JSOP 2.03 – Establishing Incident Management Teams (IMTs).
Key References
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Session 4: CFA district readiness plans
This session provides DDOs with an overview of District Readiness Plans and associated operational planning tools used to support preparedness, readiness, response and escalation across CFA districts. It demonstrates how to access and interpret readiness documents to inform operational decision‑making.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand the purpose and structure of District Readiness Plans
- interpret readiness matrices, triggers and escalation indicators
- access and apply Bushfire Response Plans and local response documentation
- identify planning considerations for complex risks, including Major Hazard Facilities (MHFs)
- use readiness and escalation tools to support safe and effective operations.
DDOs use District Readiness Plans and associated tools to assess risk, guide preparedness and inform escalation decisions before and during incidents.
Key applications include:
- assessing readiness against risk indicators
- activating resources and support arrangements
- supporting IMT establishment and escalation planning.
District Readiness Plans vary in format across CFA’s 21 districts but share common elements, including:
- District and Regional maps, ICC footprints and group boundary mapping
- SEMP preparedness and response priorities
- District‑level agency partnerships, contacts and reporting relationships.
This session explains how readiness actions are linked to risk, including:
- Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) ratings and associated readiness actions
- District Readiness Matrices, including Strike Team activation arrangements
- considerations for public information and warnings, aircraft activation, HR readiness, fire investigation availability and plant/equipment planning
- ICC readiness levels outlining required personnel, roles and capability per risk level.
A practical example is used to demonstrate how Bushfire Response Plans support operational planning, including:
- risk and mapping information (towns, critical infrastructure, EM agencies)
- ICC, divisional command, staging areas, airbases, and water supply points
- resource considerations such as municipal contacts and Neighbourhood Safer Places
- alignment with JSOP 2.03 for IMT establishment.
The session includes examples of MHF Operations Management plans, covering:
- risk profiles and hazardous materials
- evacuation arrangements and response triggers
- application across facilities such as gas plants, refineries and chemical sites.
DDOs have access to tools supporting:
- human resource planning for IMT roles, including Level 2 and Level 3 ICs
- operational capability information (Aircraft Officers, Airbase Managers, Strike Team Leaders)
- incident escalation planning including resource recommendations, communications, heavy machinery and logistics
- formation of multiagency IMTs and suitable IMT locations.
Key References
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Session 5: CFA, DEECA and EMV systems
This session introduces DDOs to the key operational systems used across CFA, DEECA and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). It demonstrates how to locate and access each platform to support incident management, resource oversight, situational awareness and multiagency coordination.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- Locate and access core CFA, DEECA and EMV operational systems
- Understand how each system supports incident management and coordination
- Use systems to support IMT formation, resource management and situational awareness
- Recognise system limitations and appropriate use cases
- Operate confidently within Victoria’s multiagency emergency management environment.
DDOs use multiple systems to maintain situational awareness, support IMT readiness, manage resources and coordinate with partner agencies.
Key responsibilities include:
- Monitoring incidents and resource status
- Supporting IMT and escalated command arrangements
- Ensuring timely information sharing across agencies.
This session introduces the primary CFA operational platforms, including:
- IMT Team Availability Tool – visibility of endorsed and accredited IMT personnel availability
(indicative only)
- Incident Management System (IMS) – CFA’s primary system for incident information, IMT setup, AIIMS reporting, PIRs and dispatch data
- ACOM Command and Control Console – radio monitoring, channel management and communications oversight
- CAD browser – access to incident chronology and event logs
- Ops comms resource (vehicle) tracking – near real‑time tracking of CFA appliances and radios
- EAS/Viper – pager‑based alerting for CFA members (primary alerting method)
- Supplementary Alerting Service (SAS) – mobile phone alerts that complement, but do not replace, pager messaging.
Key DEECA platforms supporting fire and resource management include:
- FIREWEB – integrated operational platform for data sharing, coordination and reporting
- State Resource Request System (SRRS) – statewide resource request, allocation and movement orders, governed by JSOP 3.09
- Tarnook – emerging web‑based platform progressively replacing FIREWEB functions, including workforce capability and plant/equipment data
- EM Incidents (training and reports) – limited‑access platform for initial reports, SitReps, maps and shift plans, with feeds to VicEmergency.
State‑level coordination and information sharing systems include:
- EM COP (Common Operating Picture) – real‑time, multiagency situational awareness, mapping, collaboration rooms, and cross‑agency incident visibility
- eMap Viewer – GIS viewer within EM COP for briefing preparation and risk visualisation
- EM Drive – sector‑wide document storage for reports, maps and operational documentation
- EMAP – producing a potential impact report on EMAP via EM COP desktop and operations
- EM Learn – emergency management training platform supporting credentials and just‑in‑time learning.
Key References
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Session 6: Operational communications
This session introduces DDOs to CFA’s operational communications environment. It explains how DDOs interact with Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), 000 Victoria, Fire Services Communications Controllers (FSCCs), and other Emergency Service Organisations (ESOs) to support safe, timely, and effective incident response and escalation.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand CFA’s operational communications framework
- identify key communication partners and roles during incidents
- apply response tables and activation processes to support dispatch and escalation
- fulfil DDO responsibilities during high‑risk and Fire Danger Period (FDP) conditions
- access and maintain operational communications data and tools.
DDOs play a critical role in maintaining operational readiness by supporting dispatch, escalation and information flow across CFA and partner agencies.
Key responsibilities include:
- supporting response and escalation decisions
- liaising with FSCCs, SDOs and partner agencies
- ensuring response data and operational information remains current and accurate.
This session explains how CFA works with EMV, 000 Victoria and other ESOs using core communication tools, including:
- radios
- EAS paging system
- Supplementary Alerting Service (SAS)
- Emergency Management Operational Communications (EMOC) program.
These systems collectively support command, control and dispatch across Victoria.
Fire Service Communications Controllers (FSCCs):
- Maintain operational communication standards and liaise with DDO’s during major incidents and FDP operations.
State Duty Officer (SDO):
- Provides 24/7 support in partnership with FSCCs and may liaise with DDOs regarding escalated incidents or the 000 VIC operating environment.
DDOs are introduced to:
- assignment areas and their influence on incident notifications and dispatch
- CAD response tables and their operational use
- DDO responsibilities for wordback, escalation and additional resource activation.
Considerations include:
- Road Network Modelling (RNM) and travel time calculations
- seasonal and environmental factors (Hot Day Tables, FDP, BA usage)
- special risk locations such as nursing homes, alternative energy sites, and other high‑risk facilities
- specialist response tables for aircraft (PDD), Fire Medical Response, and technical rescue.
This session outlines DDO responsibilities during heightened risk periods, including:
- FDP escalation decision‑making within the district
- Strike Team activations and paging responsibilities
- use of Areas of Dispatch (AoD) when operating outside standard response arrangements.
An overview of Ops Comms SharePoint resources, including:
- response tables, RNM data and CAD forms
- mapping, alarms and special risk data
- importance of routine review and validation of response and FDP data.
Key References
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Session 7: Aviation
This session introduces DDOs to Victoria’s aviation capability and the role aircraft play in supporting fire and emergency operations. It explains how DDOs access aviation information, interact with the State Air Desk, and support safe, coordinated, and effective aircraft use at incidents.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand the role of aviation in emergency response across Victoria
- access and interpret aviation information using EM COP and CFA systems
- support aircraft dispatch, airbase operations and aviation safety
- apply appropriate communication and coordination practices for air operations
- fulfil DDO responsibilities when managing aviation resources within their District.
DDOs support the effective and safe use of aircraft by coordinating with the State Air Desk, supporting airbase activation and ensuring aviation activities are integrated into incident management arrangements.
Key responsibilities include:
- supporting aircraft dispatch and resource coordination
- liaising with the State Air Desk and operational partners
- ensuring aviation safety and situational awareness at district level.
This session provides an overview of:
- Victoria’s airbase network, including:
- Nominated Operational Bases (NOBs)
- FFMVic‑managed airbases
- CFA‑managed airbases
- Automated Pre‑Determined Dispatch (PDD) airbase coverage
- The fleet of firefighting aircraft, including:
- Rotary‑wing aircraft (for example Helitaks)
- Fixed‑wing aircraft (for example SEAT’s and Large Air Tankers)
- Aircraft roles across initial attack, line construction and major fire operations.
Two aircraft response pathways are explained:
- Pre‑Determined Dispatch (PDD)
- Request‑based response via FIRECOM
The session outlines when and how DDOs engage with these processes, including coordination with SDOs and the State Air Desk.
DDOs support safe aircraft operations through:
- firebombing communications and fireground channel management
- liaison with pilots and air operations personnel
- understanding aviation safety principles, including:
- firebombing watchouts
- communications protocols
- RPAS/drone restrictions and reporting processes.
The session outlines DDO and SDO responsibilities when:
- activating airbases, including paging volunteers and liaising with pilots
- supporting flight following when CFA is the control agency for PDD aircraft
- managing aircraft integration within Level 1–3 incidents, including NOBs and Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs).
A practical walkthrough of EM COP aviation functions highlights:
- Aircraft status and activity logs
- Standby notes
- PDD maps and layers
- Live aviation video feeds.
Key References
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Session 8: Community warnings
This session introduces DDOs to their responsibilities in issuing accurate, timely and effective community warnings across CFA‑led incidents. It explains the legislative and doctrinal foundations for warnings, the Australian Warning System (AWS), and the tools, intelligence sources and collaboration processes that support high‑quality public information.
At the completion of this session DDOs will be able to:
- understand legislative and doctrinal requirements for community warnings
- apply the Australian Warning System consistently and appropriately
- select appropriate warning levels and calls to action
- use situational intelligence to support warning decision‑making
- work effectively with Information and Warnings Officers to ensure message quality.
DDOs play a critical quality assurance and decision‑making role in community warnings, particularly during fast‑moving or multi‑incident scenarios across a district.
Key responsibilities include:
- ensuring warnings are justified, timely and accurate
- applying doctrine, checklists and validated intelligence
- managing warning consistency across multiple simultaneous incidents.
This session outlines the governance underpinning community warnings, including:
- Emergency Management Act and CFA Act
- State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP)
- Victorian Warning Arrangements
- JSOP 4.01 – Public Information and Warnings
- CFA SOP 9.42 – Requesting and Issuing Community Warnings.
The WARN framework is introduced as the core reasoning model:
- What is happening and where
- Assess the risks
- Response the community must take
- Notify with the appropriate action statement.
DDOs are introduced to:
- The four warning levels:
1. Community Information
2. Advice
3. Watch and Act
4. Emergency Warning
- Nationally consistent icons and calls to action
- How hazard type, location, warning level and call to action combine in a CFA warning.
The session explains how calls to action are selected and applied in practice, including:
- Advice‑level actions (for example prepare, stay informed, avoid the area, return with caution)
- Watch and Act actions (for example prepare to leave, prepare to shelter, monitor changing conditions)
- Emergency warning actions (for example leave now, shelter now, too dangerous to leave)
Key considerations for DDOs before publishing a warning are emphasised.
Considerations for issuing SMS and voice warnings via Emergency Alert are outlined, including:
- appropriate use cases
- alignment with broader warning strategies
- risks of over‑use and warning fatigue.
This session explains:
- the roles of local and state Information and Warnings Officers
- when and how DDOs should collaborate with them
- the importance of clear inputs from Incident Controllers
- distinguishing between vital and valuable information
- practical tips for drafting, QA, publishing and review workflows.
Key References
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Sample guides
Session 9: Supply, support and security
This session introduces DDOs to their role in supporting field‑based control and Incident Control Centre (ICC) operations through the coordinated application of support, supply and security functions.
It explains how DDOs enable escalation, sustain operations and maintain district capability during both single and multi‑incident scenarios.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand the principles of support, supply and security
- enable escalation from initial response to complex or major incidents
- coordinate logistics, welfare and operational support functions
- apply key reference documents and approved processes
- identify common risks and avoid common support and supply pitfalls.
DDOs play a pivotal role in reassuring crews, enabling effective control, and sustaining operations by ensuring resources, support and structures are in place as incidents expand or escalate.
Key responsibilities include:
- supporting escalation and control arrangements
- coordinating logistics, welfare and agency support
- maintaining operational tempo, safety and continuity across the district.
This session explains how DDO actions influence service delivery and safety by:
- supporting escalation from small incidents to major events
- enabling machinery, plant, welfare and interagency assistance
- maintaining continuity of operations during prolonged or concurrent incidents.
DDOs may be required to coordinate:
- logistics (toilets, drinking water, fuel, collar tanks, supplementary water)
- transfer of control from field‑based control to an ICC
- mapping, intelligence, predictive services and situational awareness
- community warnings in collaboration with local or state Warnings Officers
- welfare arrangements during protracted or high‑intensity operations.
DDOs support incidents by:
- supplying machinery, plant, bulk water and specialist resources
- activating strike teams, aviation, bulk water modules, DMOs observers and FIs
- making weight‑of‑attack decisions and escalating response levels
- coordinating catering, including Signal 27 events and peer support
- managing heavy plant and standby arrangements
- supporting District Command Centre (DCC) operations.
Security focuses on sustaining capability beyond the immediate incident. DDOs are required to:
- maintain operational reserves across the district
- plan for now, soon and later resourcing
- ensure command depth and leadership continuity
- coordinate effective transfer of control and briefing arrangements
- maintain communication with District Leaders, ACFOs and RACs.
Liaison
- FFMVic, FRV, VICSES Duty Officers
- MEMOs (council resources) and MERCs (Victoria Police)
Resources
- Strike Team activation pathways
- District IMT and command resource lists
- Fire investigation activation considerations
Communication
- District default communications plans
- Fireground and RMR structures
- Access to district communications equipment.
DDOs must be familiar with:
- SOP 9.34 – Machinery at Fires and Incidents
- JSOP 3.15 – Transfer of Control
- District Escalation Plans
- heavy plant and bulk water guidance
- catering and welfare plans
- transfer of control arrangements.
This session highlights common risks, including:
- delayed escalation or resourcing
- failure to engage support agencies
- use of unapproved contractors
- loss of operational reserves
- poor documentation
- inadequate communication during transfer of control.
DDOs are required to have a comprehensive understanding of resource management systems and processes. To support increased awareness and understanding of these systems and processes,
DDOs are to complete the Induction to Resource Management course on the CFA LMS (CFAPTOIND – Introduction to Resources Induction).
Key References
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Session 10: Managing District Command Centres
This session introduces DDOs to their responsibilities in coordinating, supporting and maintaining District Command Centres (DCCs) during incidents and elevated readiness periods. It explains the systems, tools and procedures that underpin DCC readiness, communications management, IMT establishment, business continuity and district‑level situational awareness. At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand the role and purpose of District Command Centres
- ensure DCCs are appropriately staffed and operationally ready
- maintain effective district and multiagency communications
- support IMT establishment within Incident Control Centres (ICCs)
- apply Business Continuity Plans during disruption or escalation.
DDOs play a critical role in ensuring DCCs function smoothly and reliably, providing coordination, information flow and operational support across all phases of emergency management. Key responsibilities include:
- confirming DCC staffing and support to meet the operational roles at both district and state level.
- maintaining interoperable communications arrangements
- supporting IMT establishment and readiness
- preserving continuity of district operations
- supporting interstate deployments.
This session highlights why DCC support is essential and explains how DDOs:
- have awareness of DCC support role rosters
- verify attendance during escalations and high‑activity periods
- ensure continuity of situational awareness, information flow and support functions.
A walkthrough of district rosters explains:
- weekly and multi‑day staffing arrangements
- work patterns
- identifying points of contact for each rostered period
- implications for coverage during protracted or concurrent incidents.
The session outlines how district and Default Incident Communications Plans support:
- consistent, interoperable radio communications
- alignment between Incident Controller needs and fireground operations
- early incident communications when incident‑specific plans are not yet established.
An example Default Incident Communications Plan demonstrates table‑based and map‑based channel allocations.
DDOs are shown how they contribute to establishing and maintaining:
- Simplex and RMR Network channels
- CFA, FFMVic and partner agency interoperability
- communications arrangements that scale with operational complexity.
Guidance is provided on:
- ICC activation triggers
- using Local Mutual Aid Plans (LMAPs) to source IMT personnel
- locating hard‑copy LMAP’s in ICCs and DCCs
- accessing LMAPs via EM COP
- using the IMT Availability Tool to identify, allocate and manage personnel.
The session introduces Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating checklists, including:
- pre‑day readiness actions
- day‑of operational checks
- post‑day review and follow‑up activities.
These support heightened preparedness and district‑wide coordination.
DDOs are introduced to DCC Business Continuity Plans, covering:
- location of BCPs (hard copy and digital via EM COP)
- triggers for relocation or evacuation of a DCC
- identification of approved alternate control locations.
Key References
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Session 11: Fire behaviour and intelligence
This session provides DDOs with a practical introduction to fire behaviour and intelligence tools used to support operational readiness, planned burning approvals and district‑wide situational awareness.
It demonstrates how weather, fire behaviour and intelligence products accessed through EM COP and associated platforms inform decisions before and during operations.
At the completion of this session, DDOs will be able to:
- understand key fire behaviour concepts and limitations
- interpret Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) and Fire Danger Rating products
- access and apply weather and intelligence tools via EM COP and Tarnook
- use prediction and risk tools to inform resourcing and warnings
- support planned burning and operational decision‑making with validated intelligence.
DDOs use fire behaviour and intelligence products to assess risk, guide readiness settings, support planned burn decisions and maintain situational awareness across the district.
Key responsibilities include:
- interpreting intelligence to inform readiness and escalation
- supporting safe planned burning approvals
- using predictions and observations to guide resourcing, tactics and warnings
- communicating critical weather information, including red flag warnings and wind change timings.
This session introduces the core concepts underpinning fire behaviour assessment, including:
- Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) and vegetation‑specific fire spread products
- use of 90th percentile forecasting across grid cells to identify extreme conditions
- Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) metrics, such as:
- Rate of spread
- Fireline intensity
- Flame height
- Spotting distance
- limitations of models (for example slope and atmospheric stability assumptions)
- interpretation of timing and duration of peak fire behaviour
- monitoring tools for temperature, wind, lightning and observed conditions.
DDOs are shown how to access key intelligence products, including:
- SCC Fire Weather and Heat Intelligence Briefings (twice daily)
- District readiness settings linked to readiness matrices
- daily estimates of bushfire danger
- forecast and observed weather products supporting district awareness.
The session demonstrates how DDOs access:
- Weather station data for fuel modelling and drought factors
- Wind and observation layers via eMap
- Incident weather forecasts via FireWeb (through EM COP).
These tools support fire behaviour assessment and operational planning.
DDOs are introduced to tools supporting prediction and planned burning, including:
- Foresight Bushfire Risk to model potential fire spread and behaviour
- Use of predicted rate of spread, direction and hourly line intervals
- Fuel type‑specific fire behaviour information via eMap
- Fuel Management System (FMS) for planned burn status and approvals
- Incorporating field observations and forecast weather into decisions.
The session introduces the BAT Dashboard, providing:
- Historical, current, and forecast fire and weather data
- State, regional and district‑level views
- Weekly, fortnightly and monthly outlook products
- Emerging trend and variability tools
- Integration with Bureau of Meteorology outlooks.
Key References
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Endorsement outcome
Completion of this course supports the defined DDO endorsement process, ensuring personnel have:
- the required knowledge and understanding of the role
- familiarity with critical systems and tools
- awareness of governance, escalation and coordination requirements
- the confidence to make informed decisions in dynamic operational environments.