The SAVFBA represents the interests and welfare of Country Fire Service Volunteers. It is established in legislation and has become a significant stakeholder within CFS, the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) and the SA volunteer community.

The CFS delivers services through volunteers and a strong SAVFBA in partnership with a strong CFS and SAFECOM will provide for safer South Australian communities.

The future success of the VFBA through the support of volunteers is integral to the future achievements of the CFS – as CFS volunteers see themselves as CFS shareholders and the VFBA as their voice to management and government. The Association will work through a CFS Volunteer Charter to ensure the views of our members continue to be heard.

The SAVFBA was established in 1984, formed from the amalgamation of a number of localised firefighter associations across the State. The Country Fires Act (1989) established the SAVFBA under legislation as

“an Association that represents the interests of
members of CFS organisations”

All CFS Volunteers under the legislation are members of the VFBA. CFS Groups and Brigades pay membership fees for voting rights at Association Branch meetings.

The SAVFBA is a lean administrative organisation with a head office and executive officer in Adelaide, a president and vice president and three person executive who are all volunteers, together with volunteer presidents in 10 VFBA Branches around the State and many more volunteer Group and Brigade VFBA representatives.

The Association provides a safety net, additional means of consultation and communication and a representative body for CFS volunteers through its organisation structure:

• All CFS Volunteers
• Group and Brigade VFBA Representatives
• VFBA Branch Presidents (10 across the state)
• VFBA President
• Vice President
• Executive Officer
• State Executive (3 officers)

The SAVFBA’s Strategic Plan (2004-2010) is predicated on an understanding that effective, viable volunteering requires both formal and informal consultation at all levels and the VFBA provides an effective means of ensuring that consultation occurs.

The Association represents the interests of CFS volunteer members through:

• Political advocacy at all levels
• Close liaison with the CFS Board and Executive
• Participation on CFS and SAFECOM committees
• Nominating representatives to the SAFECOM Advisory Board
• Close liaison with the SASES Volunteer Association and the United Firefighters Union (SA)
• Visiting VFBA Branches and CFS Groups and Brigades
• Active communication through VFBA Branches to Groups and Brigades

The VFBA is a mature, responsible volunteer organisation that wishes to establish a stronger strategic approach and become even more relevant to its volunteer members.  The Associations’s strategic plan will be a reference for future VFBA activity that will assist in moving the Association towards its desired vision, and through the work of CFS volunteers achieve a safer South Australia.

The Association holds two general meetings and four management meetings each year.

The Association is a Public Benevolent Institution and a Deductible Gift Recipient.