Volunteering

TFS Volunteers

Volunteers are a vital part of Tasmania Fire Service. Beyond our four career brigades, fire brigades in Tasmania are made up of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers drawn from the local community. Approximately 5000 volunteers operate from over 200 stations in the urban areas, larger towns and rural areas across the state.

Most TFS volunteers participate as operational firefighters. This involves responding to emergency incidents such as bushfires, structure fires, motor vehicle incidents, and other incidents where risks are posed to life and/or property. Operational roles may also involve undertaking hazard reduction activities and assisting other emergency agencies.

A growing number of volunteers participate as operational support members. These members provide vital support to brigades in areas like:

• administration, communications and logistical support
• brigade training and equipment maintenance
• community fire safety and preparedness
• events and fundraising
• junior and cadet development
• promotion and publicity
• volunteer recruitment

Who are volunteers?

Volunteers come from all parts of the community, from a range of ages and backgrounds. They live in isolated rural areas, in country towns, in the cities, the suburbs and on the five- and ten-acre blocks on the urban fringe. They are people just like you.

Many people who decide to become volunteers are motivated by a desire to do something for their community and help others in need. However, there are other aspects to volunteering which people also find very appealing, such as:

• Educating the community about fire safety
• Continually learning and practicing useful skills
• Doing physical work
• Belonging to a team
• Forming friendships and socialising together

When you join a brigade you become part of a team who have an important job to do for their community.

In many smaller locations the volunteer fire brigade provides a focal point for the community. It may be the only place where members of the community are able to regularly come together as a group for a shared purpose.

Juniors and Cadet members

Tasmania Fire Service also welcomes young people getting involved in their local brigade. Many brigades across Tasmania have Junior members aged 10 to 14 years and Cadet members aged 15 to 17 years.

Junior and Cadet members participate in fun and exciting training activities in a well supervised and safe environment. These activities provide an opportunity for young members to learn about fire risks and how to become good fire citizens. They also help young members to develop and grow life skills that can be used outside of TFS, such as communication, teamwork and leadership skills.

Junior and Cadet members are supervised by Junior & Cadet Coordinators (adult volunteer brigade members), who hold a Working with Vulnerable People Registration. If your local brigade has a Junior or Cadet program you’ll need your parent’s permission to join.

Becoming a volunteer

The first step is to contact your local brigade directly or through the TFS Regional Office in your part of the state. The Brigade Chief or First Officer will normally invite you along to visit the brigade on one of its training nights.

There, you’ll be introduced to the members and given a tour of the station. The Brigade Chief or another officer will then talk to you about the brigade, why you’re interested in joining, and what sort of things you could be expected to do and learn over the next few months.

If you decide to continue, you’ll need to fill in an application form.

Cheque or Money Order Donations

• Draw a cheque or money order for the amount you would like to donate, made payable to ‘Tasmania Fire Service’
• Send your cheque or money order to Tasmania Fire Service – Volunteer Support Fund, GPO Box 308 Hobart TAS 7001
• Attach your name and address so that we can return a tax-deductible receipt to you
• Should you wish your donation to benefit a specific TFS volunteer brigade or group of TFS volunteer brigades, please include instructions with your donation

Direct Deposit Donations

• Deposit funds directly from your account to the TFS Account:
  Bank: Westpac
  BSB: 037-001
  Account: 723592
• Email confirmation of your deposit to donations@fire.tas.gov.au and include your name and address if you would like a tax-deductible receipt sent to you
• If you wish your donation to benefit a specific TFS volunteer brigade or group of TFS volunteer brigades, please include instructions about that with your donation