Volunteer initiatives and projects
In late 2023, the Volunteerism Team held two pilot ‘Volunteerism awareness and development’ workshops with NHQ personnel at the Tawa Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The workshops gave our people an appreciation and understanding of what life is like for Fire and Emergency volunteers.
Each participant developed individual and/or team actions to better incorporate a volunteer lens into their everyday mahi. Here is some of the feedback received on the workshops:
'The team presenting did a great job of including stories and experiences, I found the action plan useful and practical. It would be good to spend more time on the action plan or given a tool that we can continue this conversation with our teams'
'Thank you for the session today, it gave me some really valuable insights which I can take back to my work and gave me some useful connections across the business.'
'Gives a different view on a volunteer perspective. Greater awareness. It was nice to hear personal stories with a human element.'
'Really well done. Nailed the vibe and great to have other parts of Fire and Emergency. Great idea on the activities, we'll all be taking a lot of this back to our jobs.'
The Volunteerism Team are holding more of these sessions in the coming months and would love to see more NHQ personnel take the opportunity to see what volunteerism is about and how we can incorporate it into our respective mahi.
The upcoming workshops are targeted at Wellington-based employees, as travel costs to and from Wellington are not covered. All workshops will be held at a volunteer station around Wellington.
The workshops run from 0900hrs to 1300hrs on one Wednesday a month from March to June. Transport from NHQ and back is available for those who require it. Morning tea and lunch will also be provided.
It only takes a couple of minutes to register through the links below. We’ll get back to you to confirm your participation.
- 10 April – FULL
- 1 May(external link) – sign up before 17 April 2024
- 12 June(external link) – sign up before 29 May 2024
For any queries please email Michael Tovine, Senior Advisor Volunteer Resilience.
We are building a specialised online Volunteer Expense Claims (VEC) application to process volunteers’ training-related expense claims.
The application will mean claims and payments can be processed quicker - it will address the biggest ‘pain point’, which is timely payments.
It will be simple and easy to use. Users won’t need training. Support is available.
Find out more about the Volunteer expense claims (VEC) project.
Volunteer life cycle research
To help Fire and Emergency better understand the volunteer experience and offer improved support, we commissioned SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre from Massey university to conduct research on our behalf.
The research involved three different streams that focused on newly recruited volunteers, current volunteers who joined between January 2015 and September 2018, and volunteers who left between January 2019 and July 2020.
The purpose of this project is to implement the intended direct volunteer relationship, through the design and implementation of a single replacement volunteer personnel engagement framework that amends or replaces Urban Agreements of Service and Model Rules, and the Rural Fire Force Agreements and Constitutions.
Under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, existing Agreements/Constitutions for all volunteer brigades and fire forces were carried over to Fire and Emergency on 1 July 2017, and remain in place until such time that those agreements are amended or replaced.
Where we are up to
A large amount of work has been progressed but this project has now paused whilst the overarching direction of travel for FENZ’s relationship with volunteer brigades is considered by the Board. Part of this consideration will also include the assessment of advice for the options under the FENZ Act to implement Fire and Emergency’s direct relationship with volunteers. This is expected to occur in the coming months.
In the meantime, it is important that all brigades continue to apply the range of existing agreements /constitutions and transitional processes. In addition, we are advising volunteer brigades and forces not to put local effort into re- writing their own rules or constitutions at this time.
If advice is required in the interim, please contact hayden.armstrong@fireandemergency.nz.
Further updates will be placed on the portal in the Volunteer Hub.
Attraction activity
We're working with brigades and area offices who come to us for a hand with attracting new volunteers - whether it's just to discuss ideas or to provide hands on support with materials and resources. We've developed the Volunteer Attraction Toolkit which has information and resources brigades can use when considering volunteer attraction activity.
Advocacy and Support
Since 1 July 2017, all volunteers have had access to free advocacy and support services for assistance in issues, complaints and disputes. These arrangements are provided on an interim basis while we work with the UFBA/FRFANZ and other stakeholders to develop an advocacy and support policy and services that are fit to support volunteers’ long term needs. Valuable scoping work of future services has been done by the Working Group and this will be further developed in the future.
Where are we up to
The Strategic Leadership Team has paused work to develop and implement new Advocacy and Support services. The project will be reconsidered for delivery in 2019/20 as part of the next prioritisation exercise.
Volunteers continue to have access to the following free advocacy and support services:
- UFBA and FRFANZ will provide advocacy and support services to all volunteers, but cannot provide rulings on any conflict or dispute. Freephone 0508 832 269 (Monday to Friday business hours), or send a confidential message at http://www.ufba.org.nz/about/contact(external link)(external link)
- Volunteers can also use an alternative advocacy services by application to Fire and Emergency New Zealand for your case to be managed on a 'by exception' basis (considered case by case). If you would like more information on how to access this please email independent.advocacy@fireandemergency.nz
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisors
Additional in-field Safety, Health and Wellbeing support roles.
Where are we up to
Recruitment of 10 additional regionally-based safety, health and wellbeing personnel will begin following confirmation of the new model for safety, health and wellbeing service delivery and leadership. This will ensure that the new roles are aligned with the Operating Model, sustainable and well supported, and able to reach our personnel across the breadth of the organisation and our wider mandate. Dates for recruitment activity will be advised in due course.
Temporary administration support
Areas were offered the opportunity of temporary administration support during 2018. This will continue until the completion of our organisation design with unified support structures for our new districts.
Where are we up to
18 Areas continue to receive support with meeting local administration needs.
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