Volunteers and FESA and/or Shires

[meg]

Hi all,

Can anyone point me to information on exactly what the relationship is between volunteer fire fighters and FESA and/or the Shires?

Just wondering if things like Codes of Conduct, Equal Opportunity - which agency (if any) would govern that stuff for a volunteer?

Thanks
Meg

[WPXZBP]

For Volunteer FRS there is a Volunteer Charter.

There are a number of SOPs and SAPs that govern behaviour in VFRS land.

[Fastlane]

Hi all,

Can anyone point me to information on exactly what the relationship is between volunteer fire fighters and FESA and/or the Shires?

Just wondering if things like Codes of Conduct, Equal Opportunity - which agency (if any) would govern that stuff for a volunteer?

Thanks
Meg

FESA only acts in an advisory capacity to Local Govt and Bush Fire Brigades. Under the Bush Fires Act, your local govt is responsible for the operation of bush fire brigades. There isn't any provision in that act for FESA to form Bush Fire Brigades or operate them.

http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/?Men ... tentID=393

"Operational Support and Training"

[meg]

hmmm - yet the Fire Brigades Act (updated in 2006) says that FESA (who are defined as "The Authority")

The Authority may —
(a) take measures for the formation of permanent or
volunteer or private fire brigades;
(b) amalgamate, or disband, or cancel the registration of,
any fire brigade;
(c) determine the number of permanent and volunteer and
private fire brigades necessary for the protection of any
district, and also the apparatus and plant to be used by
each brigade;
(d) establish and support schools of instruction, and issue
certificates of qualification in fire-extinction to members
of fire brigades;


and also


No election or appointment of the officers and members of any
volunteer or private brigade shall have any force or effect until
approved by the Authority.


The FESA Act (updated 19 Jan 2008) also seems to indicate that volunteers are just another FESA unit...

hmmm....

[Fastlane]

The Fire Brigades Act is in force in gazetted areas only meg.. ie, FRS fire districts.

Bush Fire Brigades operate under the Bush Fires Act as they fall outside the gazetted fire district and thus outside of the provisions of the Fire Brigades Act.

[meg]

Ah - thanks for that Fastlane, I didn't pick up on that