Hi All,
I couldn't agree more with you with regard to what the volunteers have achieved.... Never tell a volunteer it can't be done, or worse still that it shouldn't be done!!!
But we can't afford to rest on our laurels ever. Now if we can get the welfare side of things better in line to REALLY look after and protect volunteers, especially those injured in line of duty, we'll be doing brillantly!
This is quite a long message and appreciate that you may not wish to read it all. On that note though I am hoping that you might take the time to read it all and that you may have some ideas and input at the end of it!
I am currently recovering (some 8.5 months on) from an injury sustained while on CFS duties. To quote Mike Rann a couple of years ago: "No volunteer will be worse off".....Got news for you all if you are injured though!
Medically, support and morale wise the CFS (now SAFECOM) OHS&W Rehab section have got it right. Financially though, the system is pretty ordinary. If your are injured as a CFS member on CFS duties, you are covered under the Workcover Act....There's NO superannuation payments, your fulltime employer can put you off on leave without pay (as mine has), no super payments means no disability and / or death insurance with some funds, discounts on payroll deductions such as health insurance won't apply and the list of financial losses goes on and on! There is also NO avenue to recover financial losses.
What about the Foundation? Well, thats still bogged down in politcal BS and doesn't look like its going anywhere fast!!! So maybe the VFBA needs a big push from the vols to get some REAL welfare and better protection happening and in place for volunteers?
I know the MFS guys have a fund that they contribute something like $2 a pay, to help each other out in times of financial hardship, ie. not having any sick leave left to take, extended time off work, etc.... I'm NOT suggesting that we need to start chipping in to a fund, but I think we can get a better deal with the huge knowledge and ideas base that is the CFS Volunteers!
The folks up in SAFECOM (OHS&W and Rehab) are a fantastic team of dedicated people and I can't sing their praises highly enough....but even some of them admit the system is sadly lacking in this area. The TOP UP Insurance through the VFBA is a nice idea, but from everything I've heard about it from many sources, its not really worth much at all!
Nothing can be done to rectify my situation or others before me, but I am going to push as many avenues as possible to ensure that this doesn't happen to any other CFS member (and if the numbers help, maybe other services could be asked to join the push?) I estimate that I've probably lost the equivalent of over $10,000 in wages, super, discounts, etc... not to mention teh injury itself, temporary loss of lifestyle, unable to work, get on an appliance, long term problems from the injury, etc... I would hate to see a fellow volunteer, especially a mum or a dad having to go through a similar situation and not being looked after financially.
There are quite a few other people (some who are not even CFS members but just want to help) working on ideas on how to improve the system (and to find ways to ensure it is then maintained and not abused).
To rub salt in the wound... The fire that I was at when I was injured back on 1st Jan this year was believed to have been started by a 15 or 16yo who allegedly threw a sparkler into dry grass. The alledged offender apparently walked into a police station a few hours later and said that they think they started the fire.....and GOT OFF WITH A WARNING!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!