VRA on RFS network

RFS, SES, SLSA, VRA, SJA
Comms107
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VRA on RFS network

Post by Comms107 » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:39 am

Ive been listing to rfs radio and been hearing VRA from wagga on there network hopefully good thing to come.
:D

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Bigfella237
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by Bigfella237 » Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:47 am

I didn't think there were many VRA units left? All the ones around here were closed and rolled into SES units years ago.

Makes sense for them to share the RFS network I guess, at least in areas outside the GRN footprint.

Andrew

P.S. Just noticed that was your first post, welcome to the forum!

P.P.S. Sorry, just noticed that you've been here for years, maybe congrats on your first post then! :D

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Macca
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VRA on RFS network

Post by Macca » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:15 pm

The VRA on the Central Coast have had RFS radios fitted into there trucks so it won't be long before they switch over .

Farsouthscanner
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by Farsouthscanner » Sat Aug 19, 2017 4:55 pm

Will have to keep an ear out for the Bega guys down this way, haven't heard anything from them for ages.

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JAFO
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by JAFO » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:08 pm

There was a lot of disappointment and talk a couple of years ago after VRA Squads lost access to Regional Police Radio Networks and what direction the VRA was looking at heading towards with regards to upgrading the VRA radio network. Basically there were many unhappy VRA Members out there who did not like the fact they lost local comm's arrangements with their local Police.

The talk back then was, the VRA were looking at having to have in place some kind of 24/7 Central Dispatch to coordinate with Police Radio to provide Incident Updates to activated VRA Squads . . . but how this was going to be achieved? Many more regional/remote VRA Squads were worried about the cost involved in implementing a modern communications network and how many Squads would fund such.

If they are looking at or have come to an agreement with the RFS to use the RFS Radio Network, this would have major benefits and cost savings for VRA Squads and maybe direct dispatch via the States ESCAD via the RFS.
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Macca
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by Macca » Sun Aug 20, 2017 5:29 pm

JAFO wrote:There was a lot of disappointment and talk a couple of years ago after VRA Squads lost access to Regional Police Radio Networks and what direction the VRA was looking at heading towards with regards to upgrading the VRA radio network. Basically there were many unhappy VRA Members out there who did not like the fact they lost local comm's arrangements with their local Police.

The talk back then was, the VRA were looking at having to have in place some kind of 24/7 Central Dispatch to coordinate with Police Radio to provide Incident Updates to activated VRA Squads . . . but how this was going to be achieved? Many more regional/remote VRA Squads were worried about the cost involved in implementing a modern communications network and how many Squads would fund such.

If they are looking at or have come to an agreement with the RFS to use the RFS Radio Network, this would have major benefits and cost savings for VRA Squads and maybe direct dispatch via the States ESCAD via the RFS.
bi Totally agree [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]


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news
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by news » Mon Aug 21, 2017 1:26 am

JAFO wrote:There was a lot of disappointment and talk a couple of years ago after VRA Squads lost access to Regional Police Radio Networks and what direction the VRA was looking at heading towards with regards to upgrading the VRA radio network. Basically there were many unhappy VRA Members out there who did not like the fact they lost local comm's arrangements with their local Police.

The talk back then was, the VRA were looking at having to have in place some kind of 24/7 Central Dispatch to coordinate with Police Radio to provide Incident Updates to activated VRA Squads . . . but how this was going to be achieved? Many more regional/remote VRA Squads were worried about the cost involved in implementing a modern communications network and how many Squads would fund such.

If they are looking at or have come to an agreement with the RFS to use the RFS Radio Network, this would have major benefits and cost savings for VRA Squads and maybe direct dispatch via the States ESCAD via the RFS.
All a waste of money. They should just join all these agencies under one banner similar to the DFES model in Western Australia.

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JAFO
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by JAFO » Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:31 am

news wrote: All a waste of money. They should just join all these agencies under one banner similar to the DFES model in Western Australia.
Yeah not as simple as that. You must remember, thoses WA Fire & Emergency Services . . . WAFR, WARFS & WASES are all Government Agencies . . . so they will do what is forced upon them.

The VRA are not . . . the VRA Group is made up by individual Squads with next to no funding from State or Local Governments . . . so there is no cost saving benifit in the Government forcing the VRA to murge with the RFS or SES and realy, it would be like asking RFS Volunteers to murge with FRNSW . . . it might be a good idea, but not realy likely to happen.
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news
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by news » Tue Aug 22, 2017 2:09 am

JAFO wrote:
news wrote: All a waste of money. They should just join all these agencies under one banner similar to the DFES model in Western Australia.
Yeah not as simple as that. You must remember, thoses WA Fire & Emergency Services . . . WAFR, WARFS & WASES are all Government Agencies . . . so they will do what is forced upon them.

The VRA are not . . . the VRA Group is made up by individual Squads with next to no funding from State or Local Governments . . . so there is no cost saving benifit in the Government forcing the VRA to murge with the RFS or SES and realy, it would be like asking RFS Volunteers to murge with FRNSW . . . it might be a good idea, but not realy likely to happen.
WA Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) units might all be govt owned but are not forced or controlled by state govt. Many units are funded by local govt(124 units in WA) including a very large amount of assets. The final decision on what the unit does sits with the local govt not DFES.

There are many stations where BFS, SES and paid firefighters co-exist in the one building just fine.....

P.S Due to social media policy, I can't make further comments :mrgreen:

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JAFO
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Re: VRA on RFS network

Post by JAFO » Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:22 pm

news wrote:WA Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) units might all be govt owned but are not forced or controlled by state govt. Many units are funded by local govt(124 units in WA) including a very large amount of assets. The final decision on what the unit does sits with the local govt not DFES.

There are many stations where BFS, SES and paid firefighters co-exist in the one building just fine.....

P.S Due to social media policy, I can't make further comments :mrgreen:
News or what ever your name is . . .

NSW is not that different from WA, in that up to 10 - 15 years ago the NSW RFS and SES were all mostly funded and controlled by Local Councils, with a big portion of the RFS Zone funding being collected through Local Councils through the Bush Fire Levey placed on Council Residents Rates, with State Government funding and providing State, Regional and Zones Staff to provide Service Administration, Logistics and Training support.

So the VRA, is solely automatic from any Government Bodies . . . the ability to have them come under a Government Authority or Group is not as clear cut as you may think it is.

The is a "Non Government Organisation", apart from the yearly Grant from the NSW Government that only just covers Squad Insurances (including mine), the VRA has NO State or Local Government funding provided at all officially, all funding for the Service Administration, Logistics and Training support is funded through Squad Membership Fee's, ponsorship's (NRMA was a big Sponsor a few years ago), Community Grants etc . . . all the VRA Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and SOG's to comply with State Government Acts & Regulations have been developed over the years by the elected VRA Squad Volunteer's into the State Managment Group . . . no Paid Staff at all.

So again, the ability to have them come under a Government Authority or Group is not as clear cut as one would think it should be, and even the idea of the VRA being granted access to the RFS Radio Network would have thrown up some legal hurdles and Government Red Tape, not to mention funding issues arrangements of radio equipment etc. But given the VRA's recent intervention within the RFS with regards to Rescue Accreditation . . . maybe some kind of MOU or Cooperation between the two have been formulated to benefit both Orginisations that is exceptable to the Government.
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