SOCC/MFS Commcen merger?

[filtered]

Saw this pager message on the decoder yesterday...

15:11:57 05-06-07 SHQ: R1 INFO: INFO SESSIONS RE THE AMALGAMATION OF THE CFS SOCC WITH MFS COMCEN WILL BE AT R1 HQ 14.06.07 & MAWSON BASE 21.06.07 BOTH 19:30HRS. BRIGADES ENCOURAGED TO SEND A REP. RSVP TO YOUR GRP OFFICER. < 05/06/2007 15:11:46


Does anyone know what's going on with this?  Will it effect CFS brigades at all?

[Pipster]

This is nothing new.....it has been coming for some time...I reckon it was supposed to have already happened, but for a variety of reason, it hasn't yet....

As I understand it, the MFS comcen is going to be the location for the SAFECOM Comcen...

And presumably you aren't in Region 1, otherwise you would have got this message on your pager.... I am just guessing that the roadshow will do other Regions after these meetings... ?

Pip

[Robert-Robert34]

I think that merging the SACFS & SAMFS communication centres together wouldnt harm cause after all MFS does send out CFS response messages for private alarms and MVA's

[Alan (Big Al)]

At least it will stop SOCC having to ring MFS to respond some CFS brigades

Definatly a change for the better,  just a shame there were'nt jobs for all SOCC staff at MFS

[bittenyakka]

Apparently it will change on the 1st of july. of course this will be confirmed at the meeting

[TillerMan]

Yes this has been on the cards for a long time but cfs have finally realised that they better tell a few brigades about this before trucks start calling SOC aqnd nobody answers...

[pumprescue]

  just a shame there were'nt jobs for all SOCC staff at MFS
[/quote]

There are jobs for the permanent SOC staff who have gone through the government process to get their jobs, it was only casuals who are not going over.

[5271rescue]

I did hear it was going to happen,one would hope that once SOCC staff at at mfs hq the correct service will be sent to call outs..Long way to go from bordertown to a tree down at Penola for the SES.

[pumprescue]

Bill, if thats the way SES set it up, then how is that wrong, they want to be primary response for jobs like that, MFS aren't doing the wrong thing, every SES has an area, and if thats Bordertown SES patch, then tough, SES need to say to MFS comms, for this job type in this area, don't suggest an SES resource, simple as that.

[5271rescue]

this is the second time in six weeks and when SES called MFS they said DO WE REALLY HAVE TO GO??? and on both times sometime after the SES page CFS penola where paged.....

[uniden]

Maybe someone needs to make it official. So that it can be fixed up in the data base to prevent these jobs from happenning. (ie the Penola ones)

[pumprescue]

Exactly uniden, we are good at carrying on till we are blue in the face, but unless they go through their HQ, nothing will change, MFS can only do as they are told, same as CFS SOCC, in fact some of the things the CFS SOCC is told to do is mind blowing, clearly most vols don't ever read their SOPS/COSO's, the sooner CAD gets here the better, bring it on.

[24P]

Maybe someone needs to make it official. So that it can be fixed up in the data base to prevent these jobs from happenning. (ie the Penola ones)

Good luck trying to get that to happen. We've been trying to get some changes done for ages and if they do get done it will be when they are ready to do it! (read never)

[firedragon]

i hear that soc is going to be moving into wakefeild st and MFS is going to be running it.
 whats everyone thoughts on it.

[RescueHazmat]

Well, that is sort of correct.. - There is another thread about this already but anyway..

SOCC is moving into wakefield street, along with some of the Perm. SOCC staff.. - It is explained already in the other thread so probably easier to keep it going there..

[littlejohn]

Yes this has been on the cards for a long time but cfs have finally realised that they better tell a few brigades about this before trucks start calling SOC aqnd nobody answers...

I assume we'll still be able to get someone on our regional talkgroup?!

For those of us who are unlikely to hear anything officially until Christmas (either this, or the next one), any of you who have been to a briefing etc who could provide info on what it means to we ff's would be appreciated.

ie from our perspective, will the service & operations at the other end of the radio continue to operate as it has to date, or will there be some changes in protocol, access, ??.

[Mike]

First briefing is on Thursday, will let you know what interesting info they have for us....

[Alan (Big Al)]

They're gonna make everyone learn K-Codes

[bittenyakka]

Well i havn't been chosen by my brigade to go to the briefing so can someone who is find out if we are adopting some form of resource tracking similar to mets. because Currently if SHQ responds a brigade then MFS takes a call and responds that brigade again then one brigade can be required at 2 jobs which probarly won't  work to well.

[Darius]

there are some very "interesting" changes proposed. Every brigade and group is strongly encouraged to send at least one representative and bring along all your questions.

the deal so far is:
- all SOC functions will move to MFS Comcen at Wakefield St,
- 5 of the current SOC OCOs have been employed as fulltime MFS comms officers,
- minimum of 4 operators on duty at one time (which is effectively what there is now, 2 x MFS and 2 x CFS)
- Gary Bau (CFS Comms Coordinator) to be based at MFS Comcen
- the regional operations talkgroups will remain (for now!)
- callsign will be "Adelaide Fire" instead of "State HQ"
- pages will come out as from "MFS:" instead of "SHQ:"

there has been no consultation with volunteers (not even with regional management committees or COAC) in this, so what actually happens remains to be seen.

[car31]

I know that the majority  callout's (98%)for my brigade come from MFS comm's and we don't seem to have too much trouble other than the odd human error with street names etc. Having one set of comms might help to streamline some processes such as rolling an appliance on a total fireban day where you are having to contact SOC,MFS and region as you roll out the door.

[bajdas]

there are some very "interesting" changes proposed. Every brigade and group is strongly encouraged to send at least one representative and bring along all your questions.

the deal so far is:
- all SOC functions will move to MFS Comcen at Wakefield St,
- 5 of the current SOC OCOs have been employed as fulltime MFS comms officers,
- minimum of 4 operators on duty at one time (which is effectively what there is now, 2 x MFS and 2 x CFS)
- Gary Bau (CFS Comms Coordinator) to be based at MFS Comcen
- the regional operations talkgroups will remain (for now!)
- callsign will be "Adelaide Fire" instead of "State HQ"
- pages will come out as from "MFS:" instead of "SHQ:"

there has been no consultation with volunteers (not even with regional management committees or COAC) in this, so what actually happens remains to be seen.

Interesting numbers of operators on a shift when you add the odd SES call to be processed as well.

At the moment, if the SES call rate reaches a certain level the volunteers take over. Will the CFS HQ Brigade do the same thing or support the Incident Control room at Wakefield St (eg mann the CFS info line) ?

[RescueHazmat]

There isnt really a CFS HQ brigade... There are Regional Com-Cens which open on days of Extreme F/danger or when requested on high incident days etc..

Usually the third or occasionally 4th OCO's were all paid staff on recall.

[Pipster]

There is a CFS HQ brigade of sorts... have a look at

http://pager/Station_Display.asp?Service_Code=SACFS&Station_Code=HQOS

[mack]

There isnt really a CFS HQ brigade...

yes there is.


Might pay to not have too much speculation yet, all shall be revealed (hopefully) at the transition meetings planned. Darius has the basic idea though..