CFA Connect Blogosphere

Wellbeing Research:
CFA's Welfare Services provides support to members and their immediate families to deal with potentially distressing events.  This can be for both CFA related issues and individual personal issues.  CFA would like to know about your experience of Welfare Services and so we're conducting some research.  The findings of this research will be used to inform improvements to Welfare Services. They will also be used to help inform education programs that support psychological preparation for potentially distressing events.  This research feedback questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  A sample of the questionnaires has been sent to every Brigade Secretary in the state so it's likely you might already know about the Wellbeing Research.  We encourage you to complete the questionnaire online. You can also contact your local HRM or Peer Coordinator to obtain more paper copies.  If you have questions about this research, you can contact the hotline on 03 8822 8118.
http://surveys.insyncsurveys.com.au/surveys/CFAWellbeingResearch2012/

About 18 months ago the team at Corio brigade established a business plan that set out guidelines to engage the community within its fire district.

The inaugural Former Captains Dinner and Living Legends Dinner held in June and July were outstanding successes and will become regular events in our regional calendar.

Welcome Deputy Chief Officers Joe Buffone and Alen Slijepcevic
This month we welcomed both Joe Buffone as the new Deputy Chief Officer Readiness and Response and Alen Slijepcevic as the new Deputy Chief Officer Capability and Infrastructure.
Joe was formerly the Deputy Commissioner at the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner and has been a CFA volunteer for the past 10 years. He has led a number of highly strategic responses to events such as the 2009 Victorian bushfires and the floods of 2010-11.
Alen was formerly the Assistant Chief Fire Officer - Capability with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). For seven years he coordinated all Forestry Tasmania firefighting activities in single and multi-agency environments and was a key contributor to the Victorian Bushfire Strategy, with specific responsibility for the workforce and capability elements of the project. Welcome to the team Joe and Alen!

Queen's Birthday Honours
Congratulations to the 17 past and present CFA members who have been recognised for their contribution to the fire services and their communities through the prestigious awards of The Medal of the Order of Australia, the Australian Fire Service Medal and the Public Service Medal. Receiving The Medal of the Order of Australia was Bruce Campbell OAM, David McGahy OAM, Michael Chapman OAM, Frances Burns OAM and George Burns OAM, Ian Ewart OAM, Robert Rankin OAM, Ron Jacobs OAM, Terry Baker OAM, and Alexander Stoneman OAM. Receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal was Alan Dale AFSM, Bill Watson AFSM, Don Kelly AFSM, Joan Steel AFSM, Peter Marke AFSM and Trevor Roche AFSM. Receiving the Public Service Medal was Craig Lapsley PSM. Thank you to all for your service. A job well done to and keep up the good work!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read this update. Chief Officer Euan Ferguson is currently on some well-earned leave and will return on Monday 25 June.