Volunteer Succession Planning Framework

Earlier this year CFA launched the Succession Planning Framework which will support CFA members to take on leadership and other key roles in brigades or groups. The Volunteer Sustainability Team in partnership with North West Region created a framework that’s easy to use and guides CFA members through six foundational areas including: • Structure review • Skills review • Membership and roles review • Developing our members • Retaining and recruiting members • Preparing for elections. The framework acknowledges that succession planning may be different for every brigade and group and each brigade must determine the best approach to meet local needs. There’s no right or wrong way to proceed and a brigade or group can cover all sections of this framework or just a few. Since its launch in February 2021, members of the Volunteer Sustainability Team have trialled two workshops about the framework in District 2, which were attended by leaders from seven brigades. Overall, the workshops were well received. “As a member about to join a leadership group I found the workshop very informative and helpful,” one leader said. “The facilitators were fantastic and had wonderful knowledge to support members.” Participants acknowledged how the tools and resources offered in the Succession Planning Framework could be used to address brigade sustainability challenges, as one participant stated. “It was a very valuable introduction to a process for solving issues that have been around for a long time,” they said. The succession planning workshop is offered under the Volunteering for Leadership Program. Recently, a Volunteer Sustainability Team member supported the Christmas Hills Fire Brigade leadership team using resources from the Succession Planning Framework website. Important discussions were held to address role gaps for their upcoming elections. As Christmas Hills Captain Di Simmons explained, “It can be a really challenging process to get people into roles, but we were able to come up with a plan to put in a couple of new lieutenants and put the experienced members in support roles. “There’s a good mood in the brigade and we’re in a good position for the future.” Members of the Volunteer Sustainability Team have been supporting brigades in this space for some years. The team acknowledges that filling role gaps is a challenge for many brigades and groups and encourages leaders to be transparent about their intentions leading up to elections. VST’s Kirsten Dudink believes that brigades and groups should have open and honest discussions. “It’s important for brigades to be open about their future intentions and this should be done well before elections,” Kirsten said. “All members should have a clear understanding of who is intending to nominate to continue in their role, change roles, retire, etc.” Members can find the new Succession Planning Framework on Members Online by typing ‘succession planning’ into the search tab. If you have any feedback or questions email successionplanning@cfa.vic.gov.au