CFS STAFF BEING VOLUNTEER OFFICERS

[Alan J]

The issue of CFS staff also being officers (or even volunteers) has long
been an issue.  I recall reading a staff member quote in "Tried by Fire"
bemoaning management's pressure to make a choice back in Allan Ferris' day.
Having people holding 2 different operational ranks within the one service
is a bad idea.  Confusing for them and anyone who knows them - "which hat
are you wearing at the moment?"  Also how do they deal with it when one role
conflicts with another - eg. Brigade/Group officer lobbying for more money
from CFS, when their paid role is to "find savings"...

It is a risk having key players holding rank in other emergency services.
But not really -that- much different to them being employees in some other
essential service - power, water, gas, telecomms & health to name but a few.

Hopefully, the revised proposal will continue to have the CO exemption clause.
If not, the proposer may well discover that he has shot himself & his fellow
ROs in the foot.  The replacement officers may not be as 'reasonable' as the
current ones - they may be vastly less co-operative.  They probably will be
angry with CFS management, and they will have the former incumbents to guide
& advise them in maximising their inconvenience up the food chain.  Ask any
RC about 'ministerials'... 

AND they will not have any threat to their employment hanging over them to
moderate their actions and dealings...    (x2)

Methinks someone is betting high stakes on a pair of sixes.
Or the whole thing is a crock..

cheers

[oz fire]

Its a pity the new Region One RC didn't focus on building the region, encouraging more volunteers, getting better funding for equipment and training and reducing the workload on Volunteers - rather than sticking the knife into his own - if he does that to a peer, what chance do we have as Volunteers.

HOWEVER ... maybe, if this is to be reviewed, nows the time to add competencies to all positions, from SFF through to and including CO. Competencies that needs to be adhered to, maintained and most importantly kept current.

How confident are you that the people you respond with or are deployed with have the currency and competency to get you out of trouble when it counts.

However we ask employers not to discriminate, to let their staff go, regardless of their importance in the system, but internally we question those who, in their free time, time when they are not paid, so could then be volunteering!

[Zippy]

it would be interesting to make the Senior firefighter position a time/academically obtained position.....eg  6 years and done the training courses needed, and heaps of Refreshment.   Instead of a position won by vote, make it a position won by effort.

Positive affect for the rest of the brigade? sure is....a shorter AGM on election years.

[bajdas]

it would be interesting to make the Senior firefighter position a time/academically obtained position.....eg  6 years and done the training courses needed, and heaps of Refreshment.   Instead of a position won by vote, make it a position won by effort....

SES have been trying to introduce a position description for the volunteer officers but have been struggling. This is to set the education, training, management, etc requirements of the position.

[bittenyakka]

it would be interesting to make the Senior firefighter position a time/academically obtained position.....eg  6 years and done the training courses needed, and heaps of Refreshment.   Instead of a position won by vote, make it a position won by effort.

Positive affect for the rest of the brigade? sure is....a shorter AGM on election years.

But then we wouldn't have anyone suitable, assuming that frequently attending brigade meetings and call outs is a requirement.

[Zippy]

ha ha.... the underlying thing is...DUH

[chook]

The position description thing hasn't worked in SES, because of the same reason. It was written for a full timer by public servants & didn't address the actual reality of volunteer emergency services - we are volunteers!
From memory to meet the qualification you would have to be a minimum Cert 4 in business management, Cert 4 in Training & Assessment & other things & it did address the operational requirements for the position - in other words it was crap! While I agree there needs to be some standard & I think voting in a office bearer is rubbish, until the volly services can at least be able to qualify people to Cert 4 in Public safety then it all BS. So the the next best thing is use payed staff as volly officers
Cheers 

[Darius]

SES have been trying to introduce a position description for the volunteer officers

thought it was already there in the act, it is for CFS (not in too much detail though)

[Big Yellow Gongbeater]

As per the '05 SACFS Regulations:

Division 2:

(6) A person is not eligible to be nominated for election to an officer rank if the person—

     (a) would, if elected, hold the rank and the rank of group officer or deputy group
         officer at the same time; or
     (b) would, if elected, hold the rank and a command or operational rank in another
         recognised emergency service at the same time; or
     (c) has been disqualified from holding the rank by the Chief Officer.

So although it doesn't specifically address Regional positions... it does make for interesting reading.

So much for all you Officers in SAPol and SAMFS!

read further on in the Regulations Numbers.....

( The Chief Officer may, on the application of an SACFS brigade—
(a) determine that subregulation (6)(a) or (b) will not apply to a particular person;

do we assume this is indeed a mountain out of a molehill.....each affected Brigade only needs to apply formally in writing to the Chief, with (hopefully the endoresement of the SAVFBA - cos they will see the idiocy of wasting time in this manner) for an exemption and all will be apples....right?? After all...its not personal is it??

To be honest....if I was the conspiracy theorist type, I'd be thinking this was a part of a concerted effort by Region Commanders to get rid of the pesky thorn in the side vocal types that are in Groups and Brigades out there that make them (the Regions ) accountable for the dumbness that prevails out of their offices, some of whom have positions within our friends in red trucks service. Seems awfully convenient doesnt it?

As for our A/R3 commander...stick to your guns mate.....your Brigade would have been in a far worse state of play these days without your long standing guidance, support and filtered hard work. Nice payback isnt it....sort of makes u feel appreciated ....like syphilis

  Your spot on there Ted, not just conspiracy theorist !
Also seems some have forgotten where many of these staff (Including the RC's) gained their operational experience that lead to them being employed by the organisation to start with.  Having said that, there are also some filtered ordinary staff members around all the regions that I wouldn't like in an Officers/SFF position in my brigade.