Country Fire Authority

Country Fire Authority Employee Review

Confusing management arrangements with no promotion opportunity

Service Delivery Coordinator (Current Employee) - Geelong VIC - 25 November 2022

Following fire service reform the culture of CFA has bottomed out. Pay increases against CPI are terrible and CFA is the worst paid emergency service in Victoria. Can't get promotion opportunities as HQ are biased towards external applicants and all field leadership roles are filled by an alternative organisation. This means that CFA employees have to cover for management that have no experienced or even knowledge of the job they are given. Not intended as a slight off the individuals just the notion that there is any benefit of importing regional leadership

Pros

Supporting the community

Cons

No training, no develop, no career progression

Ratings by category

3.0 out of 5 stars for Work/Life Balance

1.0 out of 5 stars for Salary/Benefits

1.0 out of 5 stars for Job Security/Advancement

2.0 out of 5 stars for Management

1.0 out of 5 stars for Culture

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Service Delivery Mgr, ICT (Emergency Radio Comms) (Current Employee) - VIC - 21 April 2014

Overall a good place to work in, although for fixed term contracts, there is not much ensuing job continuity. The greater organisation is constantly seeking to improve, to serve the public better. New leadership in ICT management is dynamic and has worthy visions. I have learnt about the intricacies of dealing with unions and change implementation challenges in a huge volunteer based organisation. Co-workers and team are hand picked from various commercial organisations and teamwork is good, guided by first class immediate leadership. The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing the project director support and steer the team through thick and thin and being empowered to apply my unique professional value add, to deliver unprecedented service assurance capabilities, without micro management. I have thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the Victorian emergency services communications sector by making it leaner and more resilient.

Pros

Flexible time management, good immediate leadership

Cons

No HR perks or recognition of work / awards for significant contribution

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Talented staff hampered by lack of leadership, funding and resistance to change

Project Manager (Current Employee) - Burwood VIC - 8 November 2023

The people I have worked with are highly educated and passionate about their work and struggle to accomplish valuable work within an organisation where change is glacial, decision makers are non-existent, strategic thinking is scarce and funding is a constant issue.

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Don't bother if your looking for permanent work unless your applying for a specialist skills position.

Admin (Former Employee) - Victoria - 11 January 2022

Initial training & inductions was down right pathetic, think I'd been there 1 month & received an induction email. Considering the job is for CFA I even asked what the evacuation process was, my coordinator didn't know. Lucky I have vast experience in similar sectors. I very much felt like I was learning on my feet & only learning from historical records. Someone young that did not have experience with similar systems would just get spat out, train someone properly & your setting them up to be a valuable long term employee something which the department I was in has no interest in.You won't get honest information about future work, especially if your not in the 'click'. As an employee it's difficult to commit when you don't get a commitment back, take from this, if your employed on contract don't quit looking for other work especially if your like most other people & actually need a job to make ends meet. Considering I passed all my reviews with flying colors & did not receive even one recommendation for improvement or even constructive criticism I will assume I was doing a good job. Friends will get friends into jobs which is definitely reflected on performance that I witnessed in some areas.Was disappointing to watch the waste of tax payers money in areas and also with 'flexible working arrangements', by all means, work from home but when I teams you as my manager I don't want to see you out for lunch or shopping, that's not doing your work your payed for. Yes you are entitle to breaks but I expect to find you actually at your computer some of the time.Full of people -

Pros

There were a few people that I did learn a few things form, hopefully I'll be able to put that to good use for an employer that values respect & hard work.

Cons

End of the days. High turnover of staff, on going personal issues, infighting. Watching line manager behave like a child much of the time. Continual contracts, disappointing when the manager kept stating there was ongoing work. BE HONEST TO STAFF, they have bills to pay too. No consideration for 'humans' at all, it's all about positions & position numbers. Payroll, don't expect to get paid for weeks when you first start, they don't care if you have bills to pay & you have been employed for 6 weeks yet haven't seen cent.

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