Monaro RFS

Memberships

There have been a number of cases where financial members of local brigades have incorrectly assumed that they automatically are full members of the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

Many brigades have a number of people who contribute financially to that brigade without ever becoming a member of the RFS. This situation becomes a problem when those people nominate for a course or make other claims relating to RFS service or membership benefits.

Brigades can request a report of membership status from their local fire control centre then the names of their members can be checked against that report.

Anyone who needs to upgrade their membership status can complete a new membership form or an existing membership form (depending upon the circumstances). Your local fire control centre staff can help with this process.

Pre-Requisites

For each qualification there are a number of competencies that must be assessed before the qualification can be awarded. Sometimes these competencies are awarded as part of previous training and assessment. Competencies that have been awarded as part of earlier training and assessment are known as pre-requisites.

How does the nominations process help?

An early nomination to attend a training event gives our Learning and Development Officer enough time to review the nomination to ensure that:

1. The nominee is indeed a member of the RFS, and
2. All of the pre-requisites have been addressed.

The problems associated with failure to nominate

Members who attend organised training courses without first nominating can create problems such as:

1. Membership status may not be up to date (insurance concerns).
2. Insufficient pre-requisites that may void the qualification.
3. Insufficient resources to run the course (instructors, food and training material)

It is particularly unfair when others have been turned down then a member who did not nominate expects to be included.

In fairness to all of our members we will be tightening up on this issue.

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, has released for public comment draft legislation that extends the tax deductible donation support to all 6,200 Australian volunteer fire brigades.

The RFSA’s Peter Olah noted the exposure draft had adopted a number of the Association’s recommendations in relation to extending tax deductible donations to all volunteer rural fire brigades. He said the Association will be making a submission on the exposure draft on behalf of its members.

The closing date for comments is 25 May 2010.

Find out more
 

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry made an announcement on 28th February that the Government will change the tax law to help volunteer bushfire brigades attract more donations.

"The Rudd Government will extend tax deductible donation support to all volunteer bushfire brigades," the Assistant Treasurer said.

"The memorial services earlier this month on the anniversary of the tragic Victorian bushfires highlighted the professionalism, selflessness and bravery of volunteer firefighters."

"Australia's volunteer firefighters perform an essential community service and they deserve all the help they can get to attract donations vital to their existence."

"There are more than 6,000 volunteer brigades in Australia – but less than a third can access tax deductible donations and that eligibility has recently come under question."

The volunteer fire brigades currently holding tax deductible status are considered public benevolent institutions (PBIs), that is, they are considered not-for-profit institutions organised for the direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness.

Recent legal cases have led the Commissioner of Taxation to consider that volunteer brigades do not meet the strict PBI criteria.

"The Rudd Government will act to ensure not only those fire brigades that already access deductible donations remain capable of receiving tax deductible support, but we'll also extend such support to all volunteer bushfire brigades," said the Assistant Treasurer.

"Because of their outstanding community contribution, we believe volunteer fire brigades should be able to access support by tax deductible donations, so we are developing an alternative solution which will now benefit all 6,200 volunteer brigades."

The Government will immediately begin a process of consultation with the States and Territories on the best mechanism for extending deductible gift recipient (DGR) support to all brigades in a way that is consistent across jurisdictions and minimises overall administrative burden.

For the past two years the Rural Fire Brigades who have applied for the Deductible Gift Recipients Authority from the Australian Tax Office have had their applications put on hold or declined whilst the ATO reviews their eligibility.

For some time now, the NSW Rural Fire Service has been negotiating with the Australian Tax Office, seeking a resolution to this matter.

Recently, the Rural Fire Service Association has been lobbying the Federal Attorney General's Office to support Rural Fire Brigades through resolving this matter & legislating for Rural Fire Brigades to be eligible for DGR status.

We welcome the announcement by Senator Nick Sherry as a very positive step in assisting Rural Fire Brigades in their fundraising endeavours. We also acknowledge the efforts of the NSW Rural Fire Service and Rural Fire Service Association in achieving this outcome.

For further information or assistance with this matter please contact Langdon Gould on 6455 0455.