CFA Regulations 2025

The CFA Regulations 2025 provides the operational framework that CFA operates under.

In Victoria it is legislated that regulations expire every 10 years, to support the government to develop better options that do not simply maintain the status quo. 

This enables significant changes in technology, community expectations and business practices to be considered so that the basis for analysis is the nature of the problem today, and not 10 years ago. 

In anticipation of the DJCS commencing its formal review of the Regulations, in early 2023 CFA commenced engagement with volunteers, staff and other key stakeholders to seek feedback on the current operation of the Regulations. CFA was also aware of existing areas of improvement in the regulations due to matters or issues identified over the life of the 2014 Regulations. 

Following the engagements with stakeholders about the operation of the current Regulations, CFA developed policy proposals for approval by the CFA Board. These policy proposals aimed to guide CFA's advice to DJCS on their drafting of the new Regulations. 

Following the approval of the CFA Board, CFA consulted with key stakeholders on these policy proposals. DJCS reviewed and endorsed the policy proposals. The policy proposals were then approved by the Minister for Emergency Services. 

The approved policy positions formed the basis for the development of the Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Regulations, which were open for public consultation via Engage Victoria between 12 March - 13 May 2025. 

Yes, in some circumstances, there will be changes. 

There are four key areas of change: 

1. Regulations about the management and administration of CFA, which affect CFA members or employees; 
2. Regulations pertaining to CFA membership and the rights and obligations of CFA volunteers, which affect CFA members, prospective members and other persons (e.g. volunteer discipline and dependants of members entitled to compensation under CFA’s Volunteer Compensation Scheme). 
3. Regulations about fire prevention and control, which affect all individuals and businesses in country Victoria; and include specific regulatory requirements affecting the private plantation forestry sector, and companies providing automatic fire alarm monitoring services; and 
4. Regulations about fees and charges for CFA services, which affect users of the services for which charges may be imposed. 

A significant number of the proposed changes are administrative in nature.