<%@ Language=VBScript %>
  Volunteer
Becoming a Volunteer
What’s Involved in Being a Volunteer?
There are many different types of roles that involve volunteers; enabling them to make a contribution to the community. You will make new friends, learn new skills and be part of Victoria's largest volunteer team.
Volunteers come from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds, interests and skills. One thing common to them all is their desire to put something back into their community. You do not need experience to join the CFA as we will provide you with all the necessary training. The training is aligned with National Competency Standards so your new skills will be recognised throughout Australia.
Being a volunteer is not all about fighting fires, there are many support roles that help brigades, and will assist you to build professional skills. The safety of our people is very important to the CFA. This means that new volunteer fire-fighters need to undertake the right training before attending fires calls, and this can take up to six months. Regular training is conducted on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings, providing opportunities for all members to attend.

Being a volunteer can involve some hard work, but the rewards are great.
Being a CFA Volunteer creates opportunities to:
  • Develop leadership and people management skills;
  • Learn new skills that help you in your professional and personal life;
  • Receive accredited training;
  • Meet new friends;
  • Be part of Victoria's largest volunteer team;
  • Achieve personal goals;
  • Put something back into your community;
  • Involve the whole family; and
  • Receive discounts on goods and services through the CFA's Emergency Memberlink program.

    • Training
    The CFA provides a comprehensive, exciting training program available to all members. The training undertaken will vary depending on the brigade you join and the role you are interested in.
    The Brigade’s aim is to get all of their members to the accredited level of Certificate 2 in Fire-fighting, which requires members to undertake 9 core and 11 elective modules.
    The Brigade trains every Tuesday and Sunday as previously stated. We provide training for all new recruits who want take on a fire-fighting role. The training is aligned with national training competency standards and much of it can be used in your personal and work life.
    It includes:
  • Basic fire-fighting skills (i.e. hydrant use, wildfire behaviour, etc.);
  • Using pumps in various situations (draughting from a dam/river, boosting, quick-fill);
  • Search and rescue with CABA (Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus);
  • Methods for combating hazardous chemical incidents and gas leaks;
  • Map reading and basic navigation;
  • Bushfire survival skills;
  • Motor vehicle accidents (MVA); and
  • Familiarisation with both structural and natural fire risks in the Montrose Fire District.
     
    Other training includes:
  • First Aid training;
  • Endorsed truck license;
  • Leadership training; and
  • Other specialised courses at CFA training colleges.