Message from Chief Officer Jason Heffernan

 

It has been nine years since CFA shifted from classifying brigades as Urban or Rural to the current number classifications of one to five, which are based on risk.

 

Now is a great opportunity to reflect on how we work, how we plan and how Brigade Classifications may fit in with our business into the future.

Since the current Brigade Classifications were implemented in 2013 there have been significant changes to our communities, our environment and the services we deliver. Volunteering trends and expectations are also changing.

The current Brigade Classifications are broad and were not designed to connect with the Brigade Operational Skills Profile (BOSP), hazard class and service delivery standards – which are all aspects that impact the capability of our brigades.

To ensure brigade classifications meet current expectations as well as these changing trends, we have commenced a review of our current Brigade Classification System.

This important work will complement and integrate into the CFA Operating Model review that is currently being undertaken.

Scoping for the project commenced in November 2021. The project team has invested a considerable amount of time consulting with key stakeholders, connecting with other key work happening at the state level and looking over our previous classification review.

We are now moving into the second stage of our consultation with our volunteers and staff.

Our members know their local community and local needs, so it’s important that any changes to our Brigade Classifications has input from our people.

The project is led by DCO North West Region Gavin Thompson, and members in North West Region will be first to provide their input as part of the consultation process.

A survey has been emailed to all members in North West Region. The survey covers two areas: Brigade Planning and Brigade Classification. It asks for feedback on planning, recording and evaluating brigade activities, service delivery planning, and Brigade Classification.

I encourage all members in North West Region – both volunteers and staff - to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas by participating in our Brigade Classification survey.     

Given the importance and enormity of the project, the outcomes of this first pilot phase of consultation with North West Region will help determine how we gather and assess feedback from our members across the state.

You can keep up to date on the project by visiting the Brigades Classification Project page on Members Online. 

 

 

Submitted by	Chief Officer Jason Heffernan