Strengthening our ties with local government

 

Building strong relationships with Municipal Fire Prevention Officers (MFPO) a critical part of CFA's mitigation strategy.

 

While we have embraced virtual meetings, nothing beats the value of a face-to-face catch up to strengthen these bonds. 

During the past 18 months, CFA's Fire Management Planning Coordinator has travelled over the state visiting MFPOs in their patch. With 56 of the 64 country area councils already covered, this has often been the first chance to meet with them in person. 

Each council chooses the meeting format and who to include. Sometimes this means formal discussions with a larger group at the council office, while other times it is just one or two staff chatting over a cuppa at a local café.   

The visits also emphasise the importance of MFPOs making local connections with their Regional Manager Community Safety, Community Engagement Coordinators and Vegetation Management Officers, especially when the focus is a specific local matter. 

General feedback suggests they like the changes made to our training courses over the past few years, especially the introduction of the new Assistant MFPO Induction program. They also enjoy our Virtual Coffee Catch Ups, viewing these not only as an opportunity to network with each other, but also as part of their ongoing learning and development. 

The visits also give CFA a better understanding of each municipality’s varied local conditions and risks, which helps avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach to our MFPO training. 

Some council visits have included field trips, allowing staff to highlight local issues or showcase active projects. This included a three-hour tour of Mount Hotham with Alpine Shire Council staff in Bright.

The relationship value of these visits was probably best summed up by one MFPO who asked, “why can’t other state agencies come out and support us like this?” 

 

Submitted by	Jasmine Miller