Malmsbury Fire Brigade members will be among the first to benefit from a CFA program providing firefighting boots and gloves specifically for women and fitting appliance with feminine hygiene packs.
CFA infrastructure services general manager active volunteer and lead member of CFA’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee Paul Santamaria said consultation with female volunteers on the ground has driven these initiatives.
“Right across CFA, we have been fostering open dialogue through various events, forums and working groups to encourage diversity of thought and acknowledgement of the needs of all our volunteers,” he said.
“We have undergone a comprehensive review of our CFA facilities and design standards so members feel safe, respected and welcomed without discrimination.
“As a result, we are starting to roll out upgrades to our fire stations and three training campuses to be more gender neutral and to provide greater physical privacy for all members.”
Captain Linda Krive said the packs had been well received within Malmsbury 10-women strong brigade.
“Having the packs on board certainly makes it one less thing we have to think about and allows a sense of comfort knowing that if we do need something on the fireground, it will be okay,” she said.
“They will come in handy when we’re out on strike teams, as sanitary items are often overlooked when packing quickly for deployment, especially if you don’t need them at the time of departure.”
Ms Krive said many women and men have struggled with boots in the past and are looking forward to new options.
“Some of us have long, thin feet and although my feet are used to my boots after 20 years, it will make such a difference,” she said.
