Community Engagement volunteers work with the community to educate and to provide information and status in an emergency. There are several training programs available for people who work to provide Brigade support to the community

We encourage all support volunteers to complete the Bush Firefighter Support program. A series of courses are available for people performing the support role and to start along this path one should complete the Bush Firefighter Support course, and then go on to complete some of the other courses listed below.

Bush Firefighter Support

Bush Fire Support (BFS) is a program for non-fire fighting members who may operate in the vicinity of bush fires or undertake roles that support active firefighting. It is a shorter version of BF that includes BF safety and theory knowledge but not the associated physical fire fighting skills. It is specially tailored for people like station officers who man a station, or communications officers, catering and other support staff who might need to operate on the fireground, but aren’t firefighters as such.

Community Safety Assistant

The Community Safety Assistant (CSA) program is for members requiring the knowledge and skills to participate safely and effectively in community safety activities. The program provides members with the competencies to assist with specific hazard identification, present community safety information and undertake mitigation activities.

Community Liaison Officer

The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) training provides the competency needed to identify and evaluate risk in the community during a fire or other emergency incidents, and implement strategies to improve community engagement activities, delivery of information and education to the public and emergency personnel involved in the incident.

Community Safety Coordinator

The Community Safety Coordinator (CSC) program is designed to provide members with the skills to coordinate community safety activities. The program provides members with the competencies to develop appropriate networks and awareness in local communities to enable the development and implementation of public safety awareness activities. Participants will gain an understanding of the Rural Fire Service and learn how to determine safety awareness requirements, and to develop and implement safety awareness programs.

Street Coordinators

Street Coordinators provide a very important community service during an emergency by communicating with their neighbours and advising Officers in command of the incident of local status and concerns. They meet several times a year and hone skills and support mechanisms during these meetings. Training programs include CSA and CSC programs.