Reforming Victoria’s Fire Services
The Victorian community is proud of the committed volunteer and career firefighters who keep them safe every day.
Since 2009, there have been eight reviews into how the fire services work. These reviews found Victoria’s fire services needed to modernise to ensure they can continue to keep the community safe. In 2017 the Victorian Government released the Fire Services Statement, which:
- mapped out a vision for a modern fire service
- provided a guide on how it could be achieved.
View the full Fire Services Statement.
Reforming Victoria’s fire services became law with the introduction of the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019 (Reform Act).
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1958 was update and renamed. It is now the Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958.
Five key priorities
Implementation Plans developed to support fire services reform and the Statement, set out five key priorities to create a modern fire service:
- Strengthen Country Fire Authority (CFA) as a volunteer firefighter agency
- Strengthen FRV as a career firefighting agency
- Plan and build for the future
- Valuing our people.
- Ensure the future sustainability of the fire services.
Year Two to Five Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan
On 18 May 2023 the updated Year Two to Five Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan was published.
This plan has actions that sit across all five priority areas. These actions:
- outline deliverables for the next four years of reform
- embed reforms to achieve a modern and sustainable fire and rescue service.
The Implementation Plan supports CFA and FRV to understand their role in delivering reform goals while continuing to deliver fire and rescue services to the Victorian community.
View the full year two to five Implementation Plan.
Year One Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan
On 15 October 2020, the Year One Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan was published.
The Implementation Plan ensured CFA and FRV could focus on the establishment of the reform goals without interrupting service delivery during the first year.
View the full year one Implementation Plan.
Changes to Victoria’s Fire Services
Victoria’s fire services continue to change to keep our community safe.
Country Fire Authority
On 1 July 2020 when the new legislation started, the CFA’s proud history as a community based, volunteer firefighting service became law.
The CFA’s 1,220 brigades continue their tradition of serving and protecting communities throughout Victoria. Volunteer firefighters continue to be an essential part of fire and rescue services.
The Victorian Government has committed to $126 million in funding over five years. This funding will support the CFA to keep its volunteers safe, prepared and equipped to respond to emergencies.
Improvements include:
- new training programs to deliver new capability and experience for volunteer firefighters
- trialling respiratory protection
- new personal protective clothing for active operational volunteer firefighters
- fifty new dual cab appliances with burn over defensive systems
- capital funding for 16 new stations for volunteer brigades
- brigade support including peer support and counselling.
Visit the CFA website to learn more about the CFA, your local brigade or volunteering.
Fire Rescue Victoria
On 1 July 2020, a new fire services organisation was created - Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
FRV covers metropolitan Melbourne and major regional centres and brings together:
- all Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters
- career CFA firefighters
FRV currently works out of 85 stations across Victoria, including 34 co-located stations with CFA. For more information, visit the FRV website.
Oversight of performance
Outcomes Frameworks
Outcomes Frameworks have been developed for both CFA and FRV. These frameworks outline outcomes-based measures used to track how the agencies are performing.
CFA and FRV report on their performance against these frameworks to the Fire Services Implementation Monitor each quarter.
You can view:
The Fire Services Implementation Monitor
In December 2020, the Honourable Niall Blair was appointed as the first Fire Services Implementation Monitor.
The Implementation Monitor is an independent body. It assesses the progress of CFA and FRV as they complete actions in the Implementation Plan and against each of their outcomes frameworks.
The Implementation Monitor also:
- makes sure that government, CFA and FRV are responsible for the implementation of the reforms
- publishes quarterly reports on performance against Outcomes Frameworks
- prepares an annual report each financial year on the progress of actions in the Implementation Plan.
View the Fire Services Implementation Monitor’s reports.
Fire District Review Panel
In October 2020, the first Fire District Review Panel was appointed.
The Panel advises the government on any possible changes to the fire district boundaries by looking at factors such as:
- population growth
- service demand
- land use.
View information about the Fire District Review Panel.
Firefighters Registration Board
The Firefighters Registration Board was established as an independent entity on 17 October 2023, in accordance with the Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958 (the Act).
The Firefighters Registration Board has commenced work to establish the Firefighters Registration Scheme and further information on the registration process will be provided in due course.
View information about the Firefighters Registration Board.
Strategic Advisory Committee
In October 2020, the first FRV Strategic Advisory Committee was appointed.
The Strategic Advisory Committee provides expert advice to FRV on a range of important issues, including:
- cultural change
- workforce diversity and flexibility
- the future direction of FRV, including emerging opportunities and risks
- organisational governance
- FRV’s engagement and integration with the broader emergency management sector.
Presumptive Rights Compensation Scheme
The Presumptive Rights Compensation Scheme (Scheme) provides presumptive rights to compensation for career and volunteer firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers.
The Scheme is administered by WorkSafe Victoria. It recognises the invaluable service of firefighters, who are often required to work in dangerous conditions.
Under the Scheme, a firefighter who claims compensation for certain cancers will not need to prove that firefighting is the cause of their cancer. Instead, it is presumed that:
- the firefighter contracted the cancer because of their firefighting service
- they are entitled to compensation.
The Scheme covers all Victorian career and volunteer firefighters from:
- Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)
- Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), while it was in operation
- Country Fire Authority (CFA).
Under the Scheme, firefighters may have a presumptive entitlement to compensation if they:
- are diagnosed with one of 12 specified cancers
- have served the required number of years (5 to 25, depending on cancer type), and
- have been diagnosed since 1 June 2016.
Career and volunteer firefighters who qualify for compensation under the Scheme will be entitled to the existing benefits provided by WorkSafe in accordance with the WorkSafe scheme.
Volunteer firefighters will also continue to have the option of making a non-presumptive claim for compensation under the existing Volunteer Compensation Scheme. This scheme is administered by the CFA.
Volunteer firefighters will not be able to receive double compensation for the same illness under both schemes.
Detailed information on the Presumptive Rights Compensation Scheme, including forms and application processes, is available on the Worksafe Victoria website.
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