Peer program welcomes newest members

Our 2023 graduates with Peer Support State Lead Tim Rogers (end left) and Group General Manager Support Services Kylee Bates (end right)

 

CFA’s Peer Support Program has welcomed 28 new volunteer peers at a special graduation ceremony at Melbourne Zoo.

 

This latest cohorts join a well-established and respected team of 212 volunteer and corporate peers from across the state. 

These members generously offer their time to provide mental health and wellbeing support to fellow members and their immediate families about difficult or potentially traumatic life events whether personal in nature or related to being a CFA member. 

A peer’s role is to listen to the person they are supporting, reflect and provide them with options to consider on how they might approach or deal with an issue.

Supported by the Organisational Wellbeing Team, they play a crucial role in connecting members to CFA’s wellbeing services helping them engage with and access appropriate support. 

Prior to joining the program, prospective peers complete training in foundation skills and psychological first aid with several scenario-based role plays and case studies. 

Running for more than 30 years, the program has had a positive impact during critical times for CFA including the 2009 fires, the 2019-20 fires, the 2022 floods and interstate deployments. 

Fifteen new corporate peers have also recently joined the program, and CFA will  celebrate the completion of their training soon. The Corporate Peer Team began during the COVID-19 pandemic with 24 staff graduating in early 2021. The team now includes more than 40 staff from across the state comprising PTA staff, District Mechanical Officers and Tower Overseers.  

Peer Support State Lead Tim Rogers said the graduation was an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our peers and formally welcome the 2022 and 2023 graduates to the team. 

“The Peer Support Program is a cornerstone of our wellbeing support at CFA, standing alongside other key initiatives such as the Member Assistance Program, Chaplaincy Program, Member Wellbeing Advisors and mental health literacy program,” Tim said. 

“The invaluable work ours Peers do, providing support to our members and serving as a crucial link to further wellbeing services, cannot be overstated.”  

CFA members can access the Peer Support Program through the Wellbeing Support Line on 1800 959 232, selecting option ‘2’ and then selecting the relevant peer team.

 

Submitted by	CFA News