Bushfire Volunteers’ President Dave Gossage AFSM. Photo: Cally Dupe
WA’s peak body for bushfire volunteers has launched its first extensive annual survey to gauge its members’ thoughts and issues.
The Your Voice survey is intended to gauge the views of WA’s bushfire volunteers during the next few weeks.
Workshops will also be held at Esperance, Albany, Busselton, Collie, Geraldton, Merredin and Perth from mid October to the end of November.
Bushfire Volunteers president Dave Gossage said the workshops complement the surveys with face-to-face, on the-ground feedback.
Mr Gossage said it was the first time individual volunteers had been asked.
“The association has always punched above its weight with the limited resources it has had,” he said.
“But with more than 20,000 volunteers working from 550-plus registered brigades spread all across the State, even our most dedicated elected zone representatives haven’t been able to be available to everyone. After some lateral thinking, planning and the hard work our members are famous for, I am very excited to be able to announce what we plan to become our annual consultation process.”
Mr Gossage said the survey would be held annually after the fire season.
“Every year from now on, the ‘Your Voice’ process will begin after the South West fire season with individual volunteer surveys,” he said. “The input from those surveys will be used to shape a series of regional workshops which will focus working groups at ConEx — our annual convention and exhibition. Despite many hurdles, we are very proud to be forging ahead with new initiatives like this to better engage with, support, and represent the views of the amazing women and men of WA’s Bush Fire Service.”
To complete the survey, visit bushfire.org.au/yourvoice.
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Cally Dupe
