CFA Volunteer Firefighters devote their time to help others but sometimes can find themselves in difficult financial crisis. Unforseen emergencies such as loss of work, family illness &/or death, accidental injury or even drought, can place significant financial burden on volunteers. The capital fund has been established to assist in ensuring the ongoing health and welfare of Volunteer members and their families experiencing significant financial hardship.

How will the funds be used?
Support the ongoing health and welfare of Country Fire Authority Volunteer members, past members and their dependants, experiencing personal financial hardship/crisis by providing welfare grants, on a needs assessed basis, that may assist in alleviating stresses impacting on the individual's ability to maintain their involvement as a Volunteer.

Key areas of expenditure for funds donated?
The fund works as a capital fund and provides small welfare grants, on a needs basis, that may assist in alleviating stresses impacting on the individuals' ability to maintain their involvement as a volunteer. The funds provides assistance to: Members, their Families and eligible past members.

History

The Fund began its long history of helping volunteers in need in 1913, when it was first established by urban volunteers as the VUFBA Welfare Fund.

On 1 November 2008, the newly formed Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, with generous support from the Victorian Government, launched the VFBV Welfare Fund and extended that offer of support to all CFA volunteers.

Over the years, the Fund has helped close to 1,200 volunteers, with more than $1.8 million in grants, and today more than 1,000 CFA Brigades subscribe to the Fund each year.

For the 2018/2019 financial year, the VFBV Welfare Fund distributed a total of $96,735 to assist 30 volunteers in need.

The Fund offers small grants to CFA volunteers, long serving former volunteers and their families, who are experiencing significant financial hardship.  Typical cases involve prolonged illness, bereavement, loss of earnings, or the accommodation and travel costs associated with supporting a relative in hospital.

The Welfare Fund is run under Australian Tax Office rules, independently audited, uses only State Government approved investments, and the welfare grant and investment decisions are made by a committee of long serving CFA volunteers. Investments are managed to provide an enduring fund that has existed since 1913 and ensures volunteers now and in the future are protected by fund income that outperforms inflation and minimises annual brigade subscriptions for each member brigade. 

VFBV covers the operating costs so that 100% of the money the Fund receives is used entirely to help CFA volunteers in need.