Lawyers for the VFBV.
When you have suffered an injury during the course of your service, the process of making a claim can often be stressful and complicated.
Our team of Injury Law Accredited Specialists will work with you to ease the burden of making a claim for compensation with the CFA and help you on the road to recovery.
We have a close working relationship with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) and are aware of the unique challenges faced by volunteer firefighters.
Understanding your entitlements
The CFA is committed to protecting the health and well-being of its volunteers. If you are a Registered Volunteer Member, a Casual Firefighter or a Volunteer Auxiliary Worker for the CFA, you are entitled to compensation for a physical or mental injury sustained, or disease suffered, as a result of your service with the CFA. We can help you through this process and ensure you receive your proper entitlements.
If you are injured at work you are entitled to compensation.
Supporting you before, during and after your injury
If you are injured whilst volunteering with the CFA you should report the incident to your Regional Office as soon as possible and ask them for a personal injury compensation form. You need to fill out this form to give to your Brigade Captain or Officer in Charge.
Understanding your rights to compensation
If you are a Registered Volunteer Member, a Casual Firefighter or a Volunteer Auxiliary Worker for the CFA, you are entitled to compensation for a physical or mental injury sustained, or disease suffered, as a result of your service with the Country Fire Authority (CFA). We can help you through this process and ensure you receive your proper entitlements.
The CFA’s compensation scheme is provided for under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and is administered by the CFA. It is a separate scheme to WorkCover.
You can also claim compensation for any disease you have suffered as a result of your service with the CFA, provided that your service was a significant contributing factor to you contracting the disease.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe it is as a result of your CFA service, you can also lodge a claim. The Victorian Government has formed the Firefighter Assessment Panel to manage cancer-related claims brought by firefighters. As with other disease claims, you will need to prove that your service with the CFA significantly contributed to you contracting cancer.
Entitlements explained
You can claim weekly compensation for loss of earnings you incurred while you were off work. CFA can pay your full salary (to a maximum of $2,111.55 per week) for 156 weeks. The amount payable to you may be reduced after this period.
You can also claim compensation for all reasonable medical expenses that you incur as a result of your injury, including hospital costs, medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also be entitled to claim a lump sum benefit if you are permanently disabled. You are entitled to receive this benefit regardless of whether the incident that caused your injury was your fault or not.
In cases where your injury was caused by the negligence of the CFA or someone else, you may be able to bring a common law claim (sometimes called “suing”) against the CFA. You have three years from the date of your injury to make this claim.
What should I do if I am injured while volunteering with the CFA?
You should report the incident to your Regional Office as soon as possible and ask them for a personal injury compensation form. You need to fill out this form to give to your Brigade Captain or Officer in Charge.
No win, no fee
Our injury law team offers ‘no win, no fee’ in most CFA compensation matters. We offer all our new clients a no cost and obligation free first appointment and would be happy to discuss how we can assist you further during this time.
Speak with a lawyer.
Our Melbourne-based Principals are all Accredited Specialists of the Law Institute of Victoria. The first consultation is always free and you’ll never incur any costs without explicit agreement.
Jeremy King.
Principal.
- Injury Law & Police Misconduct
- 03 9890 3321
- Email Address: j.king@robinsongill.com.au
Did you know?
Robinson Gill Lawyers have provided VFBV with legal support and advice for many years and have a strong understanding of CFA volunteer culture and values.
All CFA District 13 Volunteers who are members of Brigades/Groups affiliated with VFBV are eligible for a free standard will.
To receive your free standard will*, please
request a Will Instruction Sheet by emailing
vfbv@robinsongill.com.au
If your personal situation or assets are more complicated, you may require a non-standard will. In this situation, our experts will review your will information sheet and provide a quote. VFBV members will receive a 20% discount for non-standards wills.
* A standard will is where all the assets are left to beneficiaries with no special conditions attached.
Resources & FAQs
Answers to common questions in
relation to the expertise.
WorkCover: You cannot be serious!
John McEnroe’s famous edict can strike a shiver down the spine of any plaintiff personal injury lawyer. This is because proof of ‘serious injury’ is the threshold for making a common law claim for damages under either the WorkCover or TAC schemes.