Latest VRH upgrades complete

Volunteer Recruitment Hub landing page

 

This year, as part of activities for the Give us a Hand campaign, we’ve performed 30 quick upgrades to fix issues identified by districts, brigades and most importantly, applicants.

 

The Volunteer Recruitment Hub (VRH) is CFA’s purpose-built platform for management and processing of volunteer enquiries.

Launched in 2021, VRH has processed 22,000 applications – 20,000 new applications and 2,000 transfers.

In the past four years there have been annual updates to the system, but this is the first time the VRH has been upgraded with this many significant modifications. These changes are the result of feedback from users as well as a thorough assessment of all stages and steps of the VRH process.

Please continue to share your feedback and suggestions with the VRH team (volrecruithub@cfa.vic.gov.au) so we can keep improving the system for all users.

The VRH fixes are categorised into three main areas – compliance, applicant facing and administrative. More information is outlined below:

FOR BRIGADES

Filtering and dashboards
If you’ve logged into VRH recently you’ll have noticed a new dashboard. This dashboard helps you easily track each application. It is a live view and can be used to filter your applications as well. 

Contact us
Applicants now have a “contact us” button on their My Applications screen so they can seek help from the VRH team when needed. 

Direct link to register
Previously, only new members could be invited to register. Now all transfers, transitioning members, those opting for dual membership and returning CFA members can be invited.

Emails
There are 83 emails sent by VRH and they have been all been reviewed for clarity. This includes the placement of click here buttons, addition of extra emails to the system and a review of email triggers. Applicants will have clearer communication from CFA at various stages and hopefully understand the process better.

Medical declaration overview 
Applicants told us that the medical declaration process could be clearer, so they now get a summary page to check their responses regardless of whether there’s anything to declare or not. This will decrease false declarations and ensure that applicants are reminded of what they are declaring.

Correspondence from VRH 
Brigades can view a correspondence log of all emails sent from the VRH. When you click on the ellipsis it will give you an “email logs” option where you can view what emails have been sent when. This log does not track emails that come from Fit 2 Work as they are outside our system.

FOR DISTRICTS

Save common searches
We heard that you’re often performing the same searches in the VRH so you’re now able to save commonly used searches. We’re hoping this feature is a time saver.

Filtering and dashboards
This enhancement is available for both districts and brigades and useful at district and regional level to see where applicants are sitting in the process. 

Visibility over transfers
Transferring members are now a filter within the VRH so you can easily see where members are transferring from. 

Flagging return members and repeat applicants 
If an applicant is re-joining, transferring, has been cancelled or assessed as unsuccessful in the VRH previously, a red flag will come up at the registration stage. This red flag will trigger an email to the relevant ACFO and BASO requesting the district discuss this application with HR or the previous district for more information. 

Correspondence from VRH 
Districts can view a correspondence log of all emails sent from VRH. When you click on the ellipsis it will give you an “email logs” option where you can view what emails have been sent when. This log does not track emails that come from Fit 2 Work as they are outside our system.

 

Submitted by	Lerna Avakian