What you'll learn
- How to understand bushfire risk.
- How to have a conversation about bushfire safety with the person you care for.
- Questions to ask to begin the planning process.
- How to help the person you care for to develop a written plan using the tools provided.
- Where to get more fire safety support with person you care for.
Who is it for?
This online learning module is for carers of people who live in an area at risk of bushfire. You might care for a partner, friend, parent or child that would find it difficult to evacuate in the event of a bushfire. This module is for you.
Why bushfire planning is important
The person you care for is at higher risk in a bushfire
Bushfire planning is important for everyone who lives in regional and rural areas, but it's particularly important for people who can't easily leave early in a bushfire without support.
These are people who might have a medical condition, a disability or are frail and live alone. Usually, they need support to stay living at home.
We know from research these people are at higher risk of death or injury in a bushfire.
You can help them make a bushfire plan
As a carer for someone at higher risk, you are in a unique position to help the person you care for think about the risks of bushfire. You can also help them develop a bushfire plan using this specially developed online learning module.
A person-centred approach
Research shows that people are more likely to take action and survive fire when they are involved in their own planning and decision making.
This online learning module is designed to help you provide the person you care for with an opportunity to actively participate in their own emergency planning and decision making processes.
Topics covered by the module
The online module covers seven key areas:
- Who needs to be prepared: what is bushfire preparedness and who needs it?
- Your role: how to help the person you care for.
- Start the conversation: questions to get the bushfire safety conversation going.
- Build the Plan: six key areas to develop a Bushfire Survival Plan to leave early.
- People who choose to stay: advice for people who do not want to leave or make a plan.
- Making it all work: referral pathways and a reminder of the key steps
- Resources at your fingertips: links to resources and where to learn more.
How to do the module
Online, anytime
This resource is an online learning module which is available for you to complete anytime. It is free and takes around an hour. You can save your progress and come back to finish the module another time.
We recommend doing the module on a laptop or PC, not on your tablet or phone. It will also work best using Google Chrome as your browser.
What to expect
The module includes videos with subtitles, and quizzes to test your knowledge as you go. You will need to have basic reading and writing skills to do it.You can request a certificate of completion at the end to say you have done the module.
Create an account to begin
You will need to create a free account with CFA to access the module. You will be asked to register with your email address and verify your account via email before you can log in.
With a CFA Learning Hub account, you can save your progress as you go and gain access to a range of CFA online learning modules.
If you need help
You can find detailed instructions on how to create an account, log in and complete the module in the PDF below.
Bushfire Planning - You and the person you care for - Step by step guide on completing the module (PDF 1012.9KB)
CFA-run group sessions
This module can also be run as a group session—online or in-person. Contact your local CFA office or email communityprograms@cfa.vic.gov.au for more information.
Module cost
Free.
What carers have said about this online learning module
Rebekah's experience
[Bushfire Planning: You And The Person You Care For - Learning Module]
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Rebekah lives in a high fire risk area and cared for her daughter who has a neurological disorder.
Rebekah has completed CFA's new e-learning module to help carers plan for fire season.
[Rebekah Clarke: Bushfire Planning for Carers]
I wish it had been around when I was, being in that carer role honestly because even though I had that background knowledge and could, sort of, I guess relate it and extend it to being a carer in our situation, it was a real challenge and I think, the way the module works is just it's so simple to follow, it gives you really practical advice, of what to think about.
Everyone's circumstances are obviously different so it doesn't, give the detailed advice specifically for you, but it tells you the areas that you need to talk with the person your caring about yourself, or perhaps talk to the health professionals or other service providers that are working with them, so that you can get plans in place to set everyone's minds at ease.
When there's fire warnings and things out, everyone gets prepared, and often people do that in a hurry at the last minute and for people without those extra challenges of disability, you know they can probably swing it sometimes by doing that. But for someone with disability, or someone who's elderly or people caring for them everything just takes longer. Not even just the planning and preparation, but also the actual evacuating, it's a much bigger event if that's what you need to do.
The way the module works is it's so simple to follow and it gives you really practical advice for what to think about.
- Anonymous
Its good to know how to care for others in an emergency and for ourselves too.
- Anonymous
Very easy to understand and follow.
- Anonymous
Well and truly worth the time to do this course.
- Anonymous
Key resources
This online learning module developed in partnership with Carers Victoria.
Page last updated: Wednesday, 26 August 2026 5:07:28 PM