In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening fire preparedness and intergroup collaboration, members of District 11’s Group Management Teams gathered recently for the inaugural Group
Management Team (GMT) Development Program.
Held over two days, the program brought together Group Officers (GOs), Deputy Group Officers (DGOs) and key stakeholders from Catchment Teams and the Volunteer Sustainability Team.
The goal: to foster unified operations across the district and enhance the resilience of local fire brigades ahead of the upcoming fire season.
The development program is designed to:
– Improve operations of the Local Command Facility (LCF)
– Standardise induction processes for new GOs and DGOs
– Align group practices across the district
– Boost group sustainability and service
delivery to brigades
Participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions focused on:
– Defining the roles and purpose of Groups, Group Officers, and the GMT
– Understanding the District Planning Committee (DPC) and the AIIMS framework
– Creating personalised learning plans and strategies for mentoring others
– Developing risk profiles and gaining deeper insight into their local areas
A standout moment came Saturday evening during a panel-style Q&A session with seasoned Group Officers, who collectively brought 127 years of CFA experience and more than 30 years in group leadership roles.
Their insights offered invaluable guidance to newer members stepping into leadership positions.
Commander Aaron Worcester formally presented white helmets and epaulettes to newly appointed officers:
– Jon Marshall, Group Officer – Mt Delegate Group
– David Whitlock, Deputy Group Officer – Mt Delegate Group
– Richard Johnstone and Bronnie Jonkers, Deputy Group Officers – Orbost Group
– Yvonne Werner, Group Secretary – Omeo Group
The weekend concluded with a AIIMS taster followed by a hands-on simulation exercise led by Mitch Emmett and Group Officer Rod Bayliss, followed by a tour of the Tambo Group LCF.
Group Officer Len Jeffs also introduced the newly developed Scribes Course from Mitchell Group and the innovative “Yellow Box” initiative, recently presented to the DPC.
This inaugural program marks a significant step forward in District 11’s commitment to operational excellence, leadership development and community safety, and was supported by the Victorian State Government through the Valuing Volunteers Program Funding.
