SFEC - Training

[Sarge]

Just curious to find out if I'm the only one who thinks SFEC's are totally crap when it comes to determining a brigades ability to operate properly ie: BA SFEC says max 4, The brigade has 4 but all can only respond at night or weekends so you try to get people who can crew daytime weekdays on courses but can't cause a piece of paper says your trained to what you need but aren't.

[Bagyassfirey]

Until every brigade is up to or over SFEC and the OBAOC courses continue to fill there wont be much done bout it. Unfortunate i know but cant please everyone!

[crossy]

the whole lot is crap 2 ba sets to a brigade but we are not supposed to enter a building without a minnium of 4?

[pumprescue]

BA in the CFS is probably in the worst state I have seen it since I joined, being told you will only get looked at when your below your minimum numbers is a really comforting thought.

[Bagyassfirey]

BA in the CFS is probably in the worst state I have seen it since I joined, being told you will only get looked at when your below your minimum numbers is a really comforting thought.

that is because there are many brigades out there below their SFEC so as i stated until every brigade across the state meets there SFEC in relation to BA, members from brigades that meet or exceed their SFEC with BA will not get a chance unless a course can not be filled.

[Andrew K]

but surely it should be based on response capability, so if someone changes jobs and can't respond during the day you can get someone else trained

[bittenyakka]

i think we all agree it is in a bad state at the moment. However we do need to ration out the courses and SFEC is currently the only way to do this.

other wise every brigade could claim that they don't have the crew etc and how would you prioritise the allocation of courses?

[Shiner]

Surely there is a process out there to go through to change your brigades SFEC if you are not happy with the level and can indicate or justify the level of risk to have the number increased thus allowing more in a particular brigade or group????

If you raise the matter and can provide sufficient justification, even if it doesn't happen, you then have something to fall back on in the future if a related situation were to occur.

Surely the numbers are not set in stone, I'm not saying it will/would be easy but surely worth a go if it is that critical for your brigade/area??

[pumprescue]

There is a process but they don't take into account day crew issues, the issue in the past for a lot of brigades is they were allowed to go to their maximums so had a mix of night and day BA operators, now that there are so many brigades that can't make their minimum or have no interest in BA the rest have been left to dwindle to their minimum numbers and might not have the right mix of day and night operators. These brigades that are left to dwindle are the ones who wear BA a lot. This leaves them in a position where most of the day crew can't get on a BA course. It certainly isn't the brigades fault, but at least it is on record that they aren't allowed to increase their numbers!
Hope the new Chief knows how bad things are in reality, not the sugar coated version he would have got from his new staff members!

Should just give it up and hand it to the MFS.

[6739264]

Mind you, I've seen many a brigade sit and train operators based on experience time in the brigade, rather then based on who will bring most operational benefit to the brigade. They then sit and whinge about not have a large enough SFEC prescription for positions.

You can't have it both ways.

Not to mention that SFEC numbers don't take into account who your training/upskill provider is. SAMFS? Mine Rescue? Hello, you're taking up an SFEC prescription. (or has this now changed with shared TAS records between SACFS and SAMFS?)

[David]

The big beef I have with the SFEC's is first aid.  I believe every member of the CFS should be trained in this, stuff the SFEC.  We regularly enter Hazardous situations and the very real potention is that we may go in without a first aider.  How many work sites would allow this.  These courses are not that expensive, and considering the service we provide to the community and the money we save the government, its about time it was funded fully.
"End Rant"

[pumprescue]

Fully agree David, who on earth has such a low cap on first aid, this can also void other courses if you can't get on a first aid course.

[boredmatrix]

Yes but isn't that why you get ridiculous amounts of ambulance resources out for fire standby's?

Oh wait.....that's just the Mets and in Adelaide.

[Sarge]

BA is just one of the affected in field qualifications Chainsaw operators is another that is an issue.

[Mic10110]

And they always say "You've got your minimum already" Why can't we reach our maximum?

[Pipster]

And the bottome line for all of this is the funding.... only a certain amount of dollars given to CFS for training.....and hence we end up with the system we currently have...

If the Govt put more $$$ into training, then more people could be trained in the various specialist courses, and half of the arguments listed above would no longer count!!

Pip

[rescue5271]

As we all know SFEC is well overdue for a review its ment to be happening sometime soon but don't hold your breath....

[pumprescue]

They have been saying they will review the SFEC's since I joined the CFS....

This is one way to encourage people to leave the service....

[Darcyq]

Unfortunately, I feel that it will take a coroners investigation to occur before any real change happens in relation to appropriate levels of training in the CFS, particularly in BA.