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Country Fire Service / Short 1.8 million in training?
« on: November 18, 2010, 11:04:04 AM »
All are probably aware of this by now but thought id post it and get your thoughts

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/give-us-cash-to-do-our-job/story-e6frea83-1225955232392

COUNTRY Fire Service volunteers still are not being sufficiently trained, 10 months after the body made a plea for help, the CFS Volunteers Association says.
The association's executive director, Wendy Shirley, said a further $1.8 million was needed annually to adequately prepare recruits.

TELL US: How do you prepare for the fire season?

"One of our major concerns that wasn't addressed in February was the shortfalls in funding for volunteer training, and we are in talks with the Emergency Services Minister (Michael Wright) about this issue," she said.

"We are preparing a submission for $1.8 million per annum to fix the shortfalls in our Standards of Fire and Emergency Cover (program)."

The program sets out minimum standards of equipment and training for brigades.

The CFS Volunteers Association took the funding request to Mr Wright's office yesterday.

 Return to start of sidebar.
Mr Wright said he was aware of the request and would be giving it due consideration. "Our firefighters are better trained and better resourced than ever before," he said.

"During my recent meeting with the volunteers' association, the issue of training was discussed and I remain committed to working with the association on ways we can further enhance training for our volunteers."

In response to CFS pleas for help this year, the State Government provided a $7.1 million funding boost to the CFS for new technology, infrastructure upgrades, equipment and volunteer support such as training.

The state's emergency services also received a Federal Government grant of $2.53 million for online training. Ms Shirley said the association was "pleased" with both funding boosts, secured before the March state election, but said the CFS still was seriously underfunded in some areas.

SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission Strategy manager Mark Groote said new recruit numbers had dropped from about 1500 in 2006-07 to 1100 new volunteers in 2009-10.

Mr Groote said recruiting had been more difficult in rural and remote locations where populations were declining.

Heavy winter rains have triggered vegetation growth in many areas, such as the Adelaide Hills, meaning any blaze that takes hold will have ample fuel to wreak havoc if conditions are right in summer.


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