A question about our Volunteer Fire Fighters

[black as]

I was watching the news last night relating to the fires all over Victoria and the generosity of all Australians and currently we have donations of up to 45 million dollars and something came over me regarding our volunteer fire fighters

These guys put there lives on the line for us without pay, the question is should these guys get some sort of payment for all the hard work they have done, remember they say these fires may go on for weeks to get them under control. These guys also have normal jobs and a life to live and also need dollars to survive but most of all see death and hardship while doing there duties for us Victorians. Note: I said duties because its not a job because they don't get paid for what they do like "save lives" and actually see death presented to them in its worst form. It must affect them.

So my question is with all this money available should these guys get some sort of remuneration as they also will be affected mentally and also have families and bills to pay just like us and the people affected by the fires.

[minux]

Counselling is available to all volunteers all the time.

As for pay, i think the better incentive is it should be allowed to use the time off work as a tax deduction come tax time. Also think if they take annual leave to cover their wages it should be paid tax free,

After all they are volunteers first and foremost.

[tr3nt]

Volunteer fire fighters go INTO the MFB/CFA knowing full well they are volunteer. They also more than likely go into the Brigades wanting the satisfaction of protecting/saving lives, I dont think any volunteer fighter would want compensation. With that note, I know it's not 100% relevant, but any Employer who terminates a firefighter during these circumstances should be taken to court - I doubt it would happen though.

[badaz]

Maybe the Government should give them some money if they are away for more than a week. They seem to be chucking it around, why not give it to people that deserve it. My cousin is a Vet's nurse and is taking 2 weeks leave to go and help with the injured animals. If you have some type of skill that is needed the government should help out.

[Trevor 062]

We have had a couple of volunteers here at work & I'm sure my company still pays there wages providing they get written proof of them actually showing up at fires.

[soop]

They're donating their time?

If I give money I don't expect something in return.
If you feel they deserve somthing by all means give them something. (I've seen people buying them beers and the like.)
At the end of the day they are donating their time and skills.

[DannyboyDS]

Well it is obvious that some of the money raised will be left over, as far as paying CFA members goes, if they want it why not, but I doubt they would want it, they are the kind of people that would chop of there most used arm and have it stiched onto you if you lost yours.

They are the kind of people that would never accept any form of pay for what they do.

I would however like to see any left over money go towards the CFA in the way of equipment.

These are just my opinions if you dont like them please dont rip my head off, I just have a very high view of CFA members.

[Juztin]

This may be off topic but did you hear about the 3 Volunteers who got laid off for having to attend the fires?

[tr3nt]

That was in the newspaper, HOWEVER, I believe the situation was along the lines of the employees were a part of a company who were already in the talks of retrenching thier staff.. so Firefighting or no Firefighting, they would have lost thier position anyway.. As far as I know, it's the lovely media twisting shit as always.

[Joe Peeps]

That was in the newspaper, HOWEVER, I believe the situation was along the lines of the employees were a part of a company who were already in the talks of retrenching thier staff.. so Firefighting or no Firefighting, they would have lost thier position anyway.. As far as I know, it's the lovely media twisting shit as always.

correct - media manipulation at its finest. They were amongst 115 or something laid off it had nothing to do with them attending fires.

It would be good to see some moneys go into CFA resources.

[commsirac]

Unfortunately it was established long ago, that having on call fireman that only get paid if they go to fires increased the occurence or fires. The CFA will always be voluntary for that reason alone, we have still have enough trouble with just the volunteers being responsible for lighting them.

[greenfoam]

The whole reason the CFA works well is because they are volunteers, as commsirac has pointed out here ^. The paid firefighters (DSE and friends) end up lighting half the fires, I know it the CFA knows it, commsirac knows it. It's just part of the human condition so it's best to leave the CFA as they are

[BullittSV6]

I joined the CFS in here in SA in January, actually doing my basic firefighting course this weekend, can't wait. Anyway, I'd definately keep it unpaid. I think seeing you've helped saved life and property and the thank you's that you hear is enough of a reward. It's what being a volunteer is about.

On a darker note: when I joined I was speaking to the captain who said yes some fires are deliberately lit. Some fires are started by firefighters, even by volunteers, not for monetary reward but because they are bored and love the thrill of the chase

[holdenhero]

I'm a volunteer myself (not a volunteer firefighter though) and I do believe volunteers are overlooked in many aspects and should be given more benefits however the whole concept of being a volunteer is that your giving something. If you were getting paid for it, you would no longer be a volunteer it would become your job however I do agree that the government should allow them things such as tax benefits and alike to aid them in the loss of income during their period of volunteer service if it overlaps on to their job and they are forced to take anual leave and if thats not there for them (eg: casual staff and/or no anual leave left) then it can greatly hinder the income of their own family.

[vy_storm]

I think a system exists (here in SA at least) where an employer has a right to seek compensation from the govt for an employee that is taken out of the work place for volunteering for an extended period, possibly while shipped interstate on extended missions.

[DannyboyDS]

the great thing about it being volunteer work is that you would really have to want to do it to actually put your hand up and say i'll do that.

I'm the kind of person who will take on any job, i'll shovel pig shit for a living if no other jobs are going, last thing we want is a bunch of people signing up for the extra income and then doing a half assed job, risking the lives of other people.

Sorry if that is a bit of a bleek outlook on things but seriously how often do you see people in your own workforce that just arn't up to scratch yet they always lsip through the cracks and drag other people down? and all simply because they fail to give two shits.

I say good on the volunteers for what they do. The best option I can come up with is, I vouch from this day onwards to always shout a CFA member a beer at the pub if I meet them, let us now pray I dont walk into a CFA convention.

I implore you all to do the same. little by little we might just start a tradition.

[big m]

i agree with dannyboyds here you go into the cfa or the rfs as a volunteer knowing that there is no money in it for you jsut the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping the community my partner and i started in the rs as cadets when we was about 13 and then we became seniors and to be honest they are the greatest bunch of people you would want to be around in situations like these they would bend over backwards without hesitation,

on another note yes i do belive that if there is any money left that it should be spent on the volunteers for new equipent and stuff as if you see some brigades that are around and the equipment and trucks they have to use it is quite appauling,