UFBA Volunteer Field Expert Groups - Training and Rank & Role
Calling for expressions of interest for UFBA Volunteer Field Experts for TWO groups - 1) TRAINING, 2) RANK & ROLE
The UFBA is committed to ensuring all the advocacy work and submissions we provide on behalf of our members and their communities are evidence-based.
We recognise that our membership is a rich source of diverse skills, knowledge and experience, and that this needs to be harnessed for the benefit of all members and their communities.
The UFBA’s professional working relationship with FENZ means that we are often included in initial discussions with relevant FENZ managers to assist them with gaining an early understanding of where the gaps are for our members, how this might affect volunteers, and areas for improvement before going out for full consultation.
Additionally, the UFBA’s proactive approach to identifying local and national trends, concerns, or issues from our membership means that we are often required to find evidence-based proposals before going to FENZ with the problem.
In both cases, we need members help to do this effectively.
The UFBA is establishing several Volunteer Field Experts Groups across a range of topics. We are now opening expressions of interest from members to be part of the UFBA Volunteer Field Experts Group – Training, and the UFBA Volunteer Field Experts Group - Rank & Role.
TRAINING:
This group will cover a broad range of volunteer training focused subjects, in both the built and natural response environments. Initially, focusing on feeding into the Fire and Emergency TAPs review. The UFBA supports this piece of work and to ensure there is a volunteer lens across all aspects, we need your expertise.
RANK & ROLE:
This group is being established to support the UFBA’s input into the FENZ Rank & Role project.
FENZ are formalising consultation with the UFBA in accordance with Section 36 (1) (b) of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 and Agreements with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Between 2024 and 2025, Fire and Emergency and representatives of the UFBA have engaged in discussions regarding the Rank and Role Project. This Project aims to revise and unify rank policies, frameworks, and procedures across both volunteer built and natural brigades. It also seeks to address the inconsistencies in uniformed positions and ranks within Fire and Emergency.
This collaborative effort has resulted in an updated programme of work consisting of 6 initiatives. Further consultation will be undertaken over the coming months as the programme progresses.
More information, including the overall objectives and role of the UFBA Volunteer Field Experts Groups are noted in the below Terms of Reference documents:
Applications for expressions of interest to join these groups are now open.
If this is something you are interested in, please complete the below Expression of Interest (EOI) form for the group you want to be part of, and send to connect@ufba.org.nz by Tuesday 4 November.