Action 1.2: Complete delivery of the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program
Action objective: CFA’s Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program is fit for purpose, supporting a capable and sustainable volunteer workforce.
Lead agency: CFA
| Year Two to Five Plan (November 2021) completion date | Year Two to Five Plan (updated May 2023) completion date | Agency reported status as at 30 June 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | June 2025 | Completed |
Context
This action requires CFA to develop and deliver the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program. CFA recognises that volunteer recruitment and retention are critical to fulfil its mission of protecting life and property in the CAoV. To complete this action, CFA must deliver the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program, including research and development of approaches and activities to support volunteer recruitment, retention, re-engagement and recognition. The CFA Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program encompasses the following projects:
- Volunteer Recruitment Hub
- Volunteer Knowledge Sharing Platform
- Information for Families Guide
- Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Toolkit
- CFA Digital Library
- Regional base projects.
Progress summary
CFA reported this action as completed and acquitted in October 2022. All CFA Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program deliverables have transitioned to BAU. CFA will continue exploring opportunities for future improvements. FSIM received evidence demonstrating that CFA has implemented tools, resources, and regional-based projects under this program, developed in consultation with CFA members and the VFBV.
1. Volunteer Recruitment Hub
The publicly accessible Volunteer Recruitment Hub is an end-to-end online onboarding platform for volunteer recruitment and volunteer transfers between CFA brigades.
2. Volunteer Knowledge Sharing Platform
The Volunteer Knowledge Sharing Platform is an online portal for CFA volunteers and brigades to share experiences, ideas, and achievements across Victoria. Initially released in 2019 as part of the reform, the Volunteer Knowledge Sharing Platform has been updated with increased functionality and accessibility and is available via CFA Members Online, CFA’s internal members online platform.
3. CFA Information for Families Guide
The publicly accessible CFA Information for Families Guide is designed to inform volunteer family members and caregivers about volunteering with CFA, focusing on the impact volunteering may have on individuals and their families. The guide is sent to all new CFA members.
4. Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Toolkit
CFA redesigned the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Toolkit from a paper-based guide to be accessible online via the CFA Members Online. The toolkits provide CFA brigades with detailed information, plans and templates for each volunteer recruitment and retention phase.
5. CFA Digital Library
The publicly available CFA Digital Library is an online image storage platform intended to assist brigades showcase their activities and CFA’s diverse membership through a large database of images. Brigades can use these images in bespoke recruitment, retention and educational activities.
6. Regional based projects
CFA delivered 44 regionally-based projects and activities over five CFA regions. CFA targeted these projects to support volunteer recruitment, retention, recognition, and re-engagement. These projects have been implemented and driven by individual brigades and districts, and include:
- training and knowledge-sharing forums,
- brigade open days,
- the establishment of women’s networking groups and
- recruitment initiatives.
Findings
FSIM finds action 1.2 is implemented. FSIM has not yet completed an effectiveness assessment of this action against its objective.
Updated