It is very important that Volunteers comment on the DRAFT Service Standard in relation to the number of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and the determination of workgroups.
You can have your say…
In a statement relating to the yellow shirt debacle (printed 13/01/2015), Melinda Pavey said that the NSW Liberals and Nationals are committed to making NSW number one again and one way in which this can happen is by decentralising bureaucracies and involving people in the decisions that affect them.
The greyhound debacle is yet another example of poor performance.
We need to return some focus upon all things rural including a commitment to putting the RURAL back into the Rural Fire Service.
Without large-scale implementation of fire hazard reduction treatments, the costs of uncharacteristic crown fires in southwest forests will continue to increase. Federal policy continues to allocate vastly more funds to suppression than to prefire hazard reduction. We examined the economic rationality of continuing this policy of emphasizing fire suppression activities over restoration-based fire hazard reduction treatments. We compared treatment plus fire suppression costs to the cost of fire suppression without treatments over 40 years for southwestern forests. This avoided-cost analysis estimates the amount one could invest in treatments to avoid the future cost of fire suppression. Using conservative economic values, we found that avoided future costs justifies spending $238-601/ac for hazard reduction treatments in the southwest. We conclude that the policy of underfunding hazard reduction treatments does not represent rational economic behaviour, because funding hazard reduction would pay for itself by lowering future fire suppression costs.
The Sugar Bag Project
Mike Lewis from Charles Darwin University talks with elder Tommy George about stingless bees and hives. Learn how traditional knowledge and cool burning can positively affect the abundance of flora and the bees.
Please Note: This video contains images and video footage of Awu Laya Elder, Dr Tommy George who passed away July 29, 2016. Dr Tommy George was the last fluent speaker of the Kuku Thaypan language. He was awarded an honorary Ph.D with his brother Dr George Musgrave, for their extensive Indigenous knowledge. He co-founded the Living Knowledge Place, Indigenous Fire Workshop, and Laura Dance Festival. His influence extends throughout Australia and the world.
The Mallacoota Fire Brigade’s Safety and Community Resilience Team has extended an invitation to all interested RFS Brigades to attend a joint CFA, SES, Coastguard, Police and Ambulance Community Safety and Awareness Day at “Waitangi”, Double Creek, 8km west of Mallacoota on the 17th September 2016.
This event is intended to raise awareness and preparedness in the event of a fire or similar emergency situation impacting their communities. Their aim is for members of the public to gain knowledge from a number of speakers on a broad range of subjects from ‘forest management’ and ‘fire ecology’ to ‘equine management during emergencies’.
The decision here is certainly giving effect to the principle that a volunteer is a worker and enjoys the rights and privileges once only given to employees. Regardless of the merits of Mr Bryant’s claims, he is certainly committed and dedicated and willing to put his money and his effort into what he must see as the best interest of the RFS and its workforce.
For many, the release of draft legislation purporting to bring an end to the prolonged Victorian firefighter dispute was a welcome, timely fulfilment of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s promise to make it the “first item of business” following his re-election.
However, the bill – both in the manner of its launch and in its content – will generate continuing controversy. And it will not solve the problems to which it was allegedly directed.
If federal parliament passes the bill, a constitutional challenge is likely to ensue.
It was pleasing to hear the comments by former Dubbo Deputy Mayor, Mr. Ben Shields, at the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association AGM on Saturday, 6th August 2016 at the Parkes Services Club. Mr. Shields was among the guests invited, which also included
The Australian Business Roundtable members are jointly committing resources to work constructively with governments to deliver in five critical areas including community education, risk information, adaptation research, mitigation infrastructure and strategic alliances.
A summary of the theme could be “spend more on mitigation and less on mayhem”.
This episode of 4 Corners is well worth watching.
PTSD impacts upon many of our emergency service workers. We are seeing poor performance from State Governments and insurance companies as they shrug off, dismiss and avoid dealing with these matters.