Volunteer bushfire fighters are essential to Western Australia’s bushfire response, often working in challenging and unpredictable settings to protect lives, property, and the environment.
Their already dangerous work becomes yet more significant when we consider the numerous occupational risks they face, many of which are difficult to control.
LGIS had the pleasure of visiting the City of Kwinana to present the 3 Steps to Safety Diligence in Safety Award. We recognised Kwinana’s outstanding commitment to workplace health and safety based upon their incorporation of our three steps ‘assess’, ‘plan’ and ‘act’.
Local governments, as employers, face many of the same challenges as other organisations when it comes to dealing with their employees. The reality is that issues or disputes with employees are inevitable, and on some occasions will lead to an employee pursuing a legal claim relating to their employment.
Injuries that happen during your commute to or from work are not covered by workers’ compensation. However, there is special protection called Journey Personal Injury cover, which is fully funded by the WorkCare Scheme for employees in the local government sector.
Since 2013 volunteer bushfire fighters have filed over 319 claims related to the diverse physical, mental, and emotional demands placed upon responders, costing the scheme over $5.6 million.
The sector’s claims data shows that volunteers can be exposed to a significant range of injuries, resulting in claims that vary
from minor amounts to multi-million-dollar settlements. The most commonly affected body parts are the lower back, knees, shoulders, elbows, hands, and fingers, which given the high average age of volunteers (60 over the past 13 years), can be especially serious and carry long-term recovery periods. This vulnerability to musculoskeletal and obvious burn injuries, coupled with the psychological stress of operating in high-pressure, high-risk environment, subsequently underscores the importance of thoughtful work health and safety and solid brigade management.
The Bushfires Act 1954 is legislation unique to WA empowering local governments to manage volunteer bushfire brigades. Under the Act, a ‘volunteer firefighter’ is defined as a bushfire control officer who is a registered member of a bushfire brigade, or a person working under the direction of that officer or member.
Since the introduction of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, volunteers are legally recognised as a worker and therefore an extension of the workplace. This means that local governments, as the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), have a duty to ensure that Work Health and Safety (WHS) standards are as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’, met by all volunteers.
Under the WHS Act 2020, the local governments duty to volunteers is also qualified by what is reasonably practicable. The local government must identify ‘what can be done’ to control the hazard and then consider whether in the given circumstances ‘is it reasonable?’. As a general rule it is recommended that members:
Current legislation does not explicitly set out what is reasonably practicable for volunteer activities. Members should however, consider the following:
When it comes to volunteer management, understanding how WorkSafe conducts investigations is crucial for safeguarding your people. Knowing what the relevant authority looks for in the event of an incident helps you identify ways to strengthen your case, mitigate risks and most importantly keep your volunteers safe.
WorkSafe requires the PCBU to follow a specific step-by-step protocol immediately after the event. Notifiable incidents include any death, serious injury or illness, or dangerous incident involving any individual (employee, contractor, visitor, member of the public, or volunteer). WorkSafe requires that you:
As a local government, you have a legal obligation to ensure these procedures are properly followed. Failing to report a notifiable incident is an offence that can result in significant penalties.
Following a report, the regulator will initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the incident occurring within the workplace. To do this effectively, the regulator will request a detailed account of the incident to determine whether a follow-up investigation is warranted. Typically, they will ask for the following information:
For local governments, it is important to promptly and accurately answer these questions. It is essential to provide this information within 48 hours of the incident to ensure compliance and support an effective investigation process. Given the high-risk levels associated with brigade activities, having a strong organisational structure in place is beneficial to better navigate this process.
As the local government is the body responsible for brigade management, the core purpose of these questions is to assess the organisations compliance to what is generally considered reasonably practicable under the WHS Act.
In conjunction with the State Emergency Committee (SEMC), the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) recently completed a comprehensive review of The State Hazard Plan – Fire 2025
A key update to the plan is the formal introduction of recommended minimum training standards (or their equivalent) which are applicable to all volunteer bushfire fighters across WA. It is important to note that this review maintains its acknowledgment of the preexisting recognition of current competency (RRC) process that is available for volunteers and staff members to demonstrate that their skills, experience and knowledge already meet the minimum standards.
The introduction of minimum training standards (or their equivalent) provides clarity for local governments as a PCBU. By adopting the minimum standards, members can have greater confidence in their ability to meet WHS obligations, protecting themselves and the sector from liability exposures.
The State Hazard Plan – Fire is underscored by a desire for a volunteering environment where individuals attending fire grounds have comprehensively met minimum training standards capable of keeping them safe across WA.
The critical next step is to ensure these standards and educational resources effectively reach volunteer brigades and receive active support from local government leaders. This will help the sector move towards greater consistency, safety, and preparedness, ultimately benefiting both volunteers and the communities they serve.
In addition to the State Hazard Plan – Fire 2025, there are a range of resources available to assist local governments in developing effective training, support, and organisational systems for their brigades:
Communication and support networks
Effective communication and support at the unit level is vital to building volunteers confidence, ensuring they are well-equipped, and prepared to respond during emergencies. By establishing clear channels for information sharing, regular briefings, and accessible resources, local governments can elevate training standards and provide consistent, up-to-date information to volunteers.
This helps create a resilient volunteer sector capable of managing increasingly complex bushfire scenarios and complying with evolving WHS requirements.
Volunteer registration systems
Accurate records of volunteers’ identities, roles, and responsibilities enable local governments to better manage their brigades, allocate resources efficiently, and clarify individual responsibilities during incidents. Registration plays a crucial role in liability protection, as it confirms who is present at incidents and ensures that decision makers know volunteers are trained to a minimum standard compatible
with upholding WHS standards.
Final thoughts
With over 20,000 volunteers dispersed across 563 brigades, volunteer bush firefighting in Western Australia presents unique challenges that demand proactive management and training. LGIS encourages local governments to harness existing resources and develop robust organisational systems and foster a safety culture prioritising volunteer wellbeing and community resilience which align with WHS standards.
Support from LGIS
LGIS has a number of dedicated teams here to assist local governments in improving volunteer bush fire provisions.
Contact our people risk team or your regional risk specialist for expert guidance to ensure responders are supported and protected. You can also visit our website at lgiswa.com.au for more information.
This year marks the significant milestone of the 30th anniversary of LGIS. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey we have undertaken together over the past three decades. Since our founding in 1995, LGIS has evolved from a practical response to emerging risks into a pioneering mutual scheme that proudly serves the diverse needs of Western Australia’s local governments.
Fostering children’s development and enhancing community wellbeing, playgrounds are undeniably an influential facet in supporting learning and social interaction. As a hugely important piece of public infrastructure, balancing the risks with the benefits of play is therefore an important issue for local governments to navigate.
Bushfires, cyclones, fatalities, cyber breaches and CCC investigations are all examples of incidents that may send your local government into crisis. If this happens, our team of experts are standing by ready to comprehensively support you through turmoil and disruption.
