Dawn Whittall at Sedgwick brigade
While the fire season placed sustained demand on CFA firefighters across Victoria, behind the scenes, CFA peers stepped in to provide essential wellbeing support.
With crews working long days in difficult and confronting conditions to protect the community, CFA's peers continued to work around the clock to check in on the volunteers and their families in fire affected areas – including Harcourt, Longwood and Sutton Grange.
CFA has 184 peers right across the state, ranging from volunteers and staff members.
Gloria Turner, who is from the Junortoun Fire Brigade has been providing peer support for 12 years and said while it can be a very emotional and challenging role, it is ultimately a privilege.
"Peer support can involve anything and everything, from practical help to one-on-one conversations with someone who has experienced a traumatic event," Gloria said.
"Firefighters witness events from traumatic road accidents to devastating fires and they shouldn't have to carry that alone.
"Sometimes the most important thing for firefighters is knowing someone is there for them who understands the job, speaks the same language and will listen without judgement.
"As firefighters ourselves, we understand the long days, and the challenging scenes crews can witness and we're here to help them make sense of it all."
Gisborne Fire Brigade member Dawn Whittall has been providing peer support for 19 years and was also deployed to several fire-affected areas this summer.
Dawn said the scale of the fires were devastating for both the communities and the volunteers involved in the response.
"Some firefighters were on the frontline when they learned their own homes had been lost," Dawn said.
"We visited those members just to be there while they processed the shock. Other times we simply showed up at brigades and offered a safe space for anyone who needed to talk.
"Our role is all about providing support to members and their families in a way that works best for them.
"Sometimes you don't need the right words, you just need to show up and be there to listen."
CFA District 12 Peer Support Coordinator, Lesley Read said she is grateful to work alongside such a dedicated and like-minded group of peers.
"It's incredible to see the way our peers step up to provide support, often during some of the most challenging times our members face," Lesley said.
"We are fortunate as an organisation to have so many incredible people who devote their time to looking out for the wellbeing of our firefighters and their families."
CFA thanks all peers who continue to stand beside our firefighters in times of need, providing them with vital support as they help protect the Victorian community.
