The better connected we are with our communities the better we manage risks together and the more resilient communities become.
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That's the aim of a new Community Engagement Framework developed in 2018. It outlines how CFA people will interact with the community and what community members can expect when engaging with CFA.
The overarching goal of the framework is to create more resilient communities by increasing community participation in the decisions that we would otherwise make on their behalf. This is particularly important in high-risk bushfire areas, tourist locations, farming properties, with youth, and in culturally-diverse communities.
When communities feel empowered they are more likely to take positive action to manage their own safety risks before, during and after an emergency situation. It also means that decisions are more likely to meet community expectations and needs.
Applying this to your community
The Community Engagement Framework is a promise to put the community at the centre of everything we do, including planning, preparation, response and renewal.
This could include having honest and open conversations when and where the community wants them, creating opportunities for communities to be involved in decision-making such as when a controlled burn takes place or how vegetation is managed, working with other stakeholders to broaden CFA's reach, or feeding local knowledge and understanding into what we do.
Brigades can build and celebrate their skills in community engagement by participating in community engagement training, identifying instances where they have worked with the community and sharing it with other members through a story or case study, or putting someone forward for a community engagement award at the Spirit of CFA Awards.
