Forthcoming Vacancy on the Country Fire Authority Board
The Minister for Emergency Services is pleased to invite applications for one board position on the Country Fire Authority (CFA) Board to commence in 2026.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a fully volunteer fire fighting service with over 54,000 volunteers. These volunteers include firefighters, community educators, and support personnel spread across 1,212 brigades, 21 districts and five regions in Victoria. The CFA's vision is to ensure that Victorian communities are prepared for and safe from fire, and its mission is to protect lives and property.
The Country Fire Authority Act 1958 establishes the Country Fire Authority Board (the Board) as the leadership body of the CFA. The Board is a statutory authority within the Justice and Community Safety portfolio and consists of up to nine Board Members who report to the Minister for Emergency Services.
The CFA Board is responsible for setting strategic direction and ensuring appropriate governance arrangements are effectively and efficiently implemented, including to:
* contribute to a whole-of-sector approach to emergency management
* promote a culture within the emergency management sector of community focus, interoperability and public value and
* support the effective and sustainable recruitment, development and retention of volunteer officers and members, including those located in the Fire Rescue Victoria fire district, to deliver capability in the provision of the Authority's services.
The CFA Board ensures CFA carries out its functions in a manner such that services provided are effective and efficient, consistent with prudent financial management practices and safe and secure.
The CFA Board is supported by subcommittees including, but not limited to the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, People and Culture Committee and Renumeration Committee.
About the role
Unless otherwise required, the CFA Board meets approximately 12 times over the course of the year, in addition to attending relevant subcommittee meetings which occur monthly or quarterly. These meetings may run for part or full days and may be conducted during business hours. The Board consists of up to nine Board Members and a quorum will be achieved when there is at least five members present.
Members are expected to actively participate in a minimum of 75 per cent of Board meetings, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the CFA's finances, scope of services, strategic context and legal framework.
Prior to Board meetings, Board Members will be required to review agenda items and Board papers as well as meeting minutes. Board Members may also be required to attend events where CFA requires representation (including community events as delegated by the Board Chairperson from time to time).
Who we're looking for
Individuals with the following skills, experience and expertise are encouraged to apply:
* Knowledge of or experience in:
* Commercial matters (including significant commercial and business experience).
* Financial matters (including financial management and accounting capabilities and an ability to analyse key financial statements, critically assess financial performance, oversee budgets and the efficient use of resources, and oversee funding arrangements and accountability).
* Technical matters (including experience in relation to significant information communication technology programs and an ability to provide critical insights and governance).
* Operational matters (including experience in senior leadership, human resources, governance, risk management, public policy, government and stakeholder relations, strategic planning and brand and reputation management).
* Legal matters (including an ability to identify key legal risks and to provide governance in relation to the resolution of legal risks).
* Expertise in fire services, emergency management and land management or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the CFA.
Other desirable skills include:
* Governance (including an understanding of the regulatory environment in which the CFA operates, a capacity to ensure that external compliance and reporting requirements are met, and a capacity to ensure that CFA provides a safe environment for volunteers and staff and supports a culture of ongoing improvement in relation to workplace health and safety).
* Risk management and compliance/auditing (including a capacity to oversee major risks, the ability to identify key risks to the organisation in a wide range of areas—such as decision making, monitoring performance, legal and regulatory compliance— and to monitor risk and compliance management frameworks and systems).
* Environmental occupational health and safety (including an understanding of land management practices, agriculture, conservation, and occupational health and safety).
* Public administration and local government (including an understanding of the Public Administration Act 2004—which sets out key governance standards for Victoria's public sector and connection with Local Government—to ensure bushfire and emergency management approaches meet community requirements).
* Community and stakeholder management (including the ability to engage and communicate effectively with and reflect the expectations of the community and stakeholders).
* Public relations/marketing and communication (including an understanding of how to implement network and communication strategies, manage relationships, and ensure effective reputational management).
To ensure an appropriate range of skills on the Board, the Victorian Government is seeking to appoint a Board Member with strong financial and commercial acumen, ideally demonstrated through senior leadership, governance, or advisory experience.
What you need to apply
To apply, please submit your application on 'Get on Board' and include your curriculum vitae with a covering letter addressing the key selection criteria. Applicants should demonstrate one or more of the skills or experience identified in the position description.
Applications must be received by 21 June 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications will be assessed by an independent panel and interviews will be conducted for successful applicants. The selection panel will then make a recommendation to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services for final consideration.
The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that its boards reflect the diversity of the Victorian community. We encourage applications from women, people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living in rural and regional Victoria.
For all general enquiries regarding the position or appointments process, please contact David Clavarino, Director, Emergency Management Victoria on 0436 416 395.
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