Country Fire Authority (CFA)
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    Country Fire Authority (CFA)
    (41 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Country Fire Authority (CFA)

    3.341 ratings in total
    5
    14
    4
    5
    3
    10
    2
    5
    1
    7
    79%
    Rate salary as high or average
    51%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.3(41 ratings)
    Career development
    2.9(41 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.7(41 ratings)
    Management
    2.7(41 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.0(41 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.1(41 ratings)
    Ratings for Country Fire Authority (CFA) are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 41 reviews sorted by most recent
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    5.0
    Firefighter
    Apr 2026
    Rochester VIC 3561Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    It is a steep learning curve but wonderful volunteering to the community.
    The good thingsSaving lives and property, volunteering for the community.
    The challengesNothing I have found is challenging.
    5.0
    District Support Officer
    Oct 2025
    Warragul VIC 38204 to 5 years in the role, current employee
    Best job in the world.
    The good thingsBest place I have ever worked. The are no two days the same and there is always something new to learn.
    The challengesIt's a Government organisation, there will always be politics, that won't change.
    3.0
    District Support Officer
    Feb 2025
    Chirnside Park VIC 31165 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Untethered mountain goats led by eunuchs.
    The good thingsPassionate volunteers and staff who strive to preserve the integrity of this once great fire service. Individual friendships and many things to learn from a variety of areas. Beware learning too much, though, as you will be tasked with doing everyone else’s jobs, or excluded/micro-managed out.
    The challengesThe notable shift from “dynamic 24/7 emergency service” to a “customer-oriented, Mon-Fri corporate business”. The introduction of management with great CVs but little-to-no emergency service knowledge or interest has led to the demise of a passionate and knowledgeable culture in some areas.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Volunteer firefighter
    Dec 2024
    West Gippsland & Latrobe Valley VIC1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Terrible.
    The good thingsOther than training for the general firefighter course,.I'd say there really isn't any.
    The challengesToo many egos. They say they want to help the community but volunteers do it for the wrong reasons. It's for their own ego. Very political and lots gossip. I wasn't very welcomed in my first 12 months which is a shame as it did enjoy thee firefighting side of things. I just didn't think sticking around was worth the politics.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Support Specialist
    Aug 2024
    Burwood East VIC 31519 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Great people but exhausting workplace.
    The good thingsThe people are individually great. As a state based organisation you can likely see lots of great parts of the state. Decent pay.
    The challengesBefore 2009 CFA was a great, agile organisation rooted in communities. Now its just a political and overly union influenced government agency. Poor communication, 'silod' teams, executives with no drive or direction and complex and competing business reporting and strategies. Training is a complete joke for corporate staff. No accountability anywhere.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    not saying
    May 2023
    Burwood VIC 3125
    Think long and hard before taking a job or contract here. Micromanagement by people who sound as if they ate the MBA manual whole. A shambles.
    The good thingsstaff trying to hold things together
    The challengesendless mba style what-personality-type-are-you courses that management have been sold. zero thought goes in to getting the job done.
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Business Analyst Various Levels
    Feb 2022
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    The new hierarchy are all talk no action. Don't be fooled the new hierarchy do not support work/life balance they have an archaic management style is 1950's they don't care about their people - they say they do but their actions say something quite different. Morale has never been this low. The Senior management need to evolve - READ THE ROOM!!!
    The good thingsCommunity spirit and dedication
    The challengesThe Hierarchy and management
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Community
    Apr 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role
    Disappointing, worst management culture possible.
    The good thingsGreat colleagues, some really wonderful people there
    The challengesAppalling management, mostly unqualified people who just hung around and big noted themselves until they got promoted.
    10 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Projects
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Wouldnt return
    The good thingsGood leadership in operation side of organisation
    The challengesSilo operation of support functions and non operation divisions. Extremely hierarchical.
    12 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Volunteer Firefighter
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    A lifetime experience never to be forgotten
    The good thingsGreat culture. Amazing support base. Always room for personal growth.
    The challengesEvery attendance challenges you to the core. The great thing is you get to choose which challenge to accept.
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Fire Prevention and Preparedness Department
    Mar 2020
    There are some wonderful people in this organisation who are not given enough credit or the career progression they deserve and overall it was a disappointing and stressful experience.
    The good thingsSome people who work here are incredible and really deserve to be recognised for the amazing work they do.
    The challengesManagement and career progression. Unfortunately the management in this organisation is not up to the standard it should be. The people who are hired to be managers are typically not the best candidates and have most likely just been working within the organisation for a number of years. It is also very difficult to speak out against management without large amount of detailed support from other team members however many people are afraid to speak out.
    8 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Firefighter
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    A great place to learn, meet people and help the community
    The good thingsAs a volunteer you only work when you can and don't do anything that you are not comfortable doing.
    The challengesSometimes it would be great to be able to help but managing this with paid work responsibility can be challenging. Especially during peak periods.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Manager
    Mar 2020
    The potential for so much more
    The good thingsThe potential to help the community
    The challengestoo slow for anything happen. Inconsistency in the delivery of policies and procedures (if there is one at all and it has been updated in the past decade)
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Infrastructure Specialist
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role
    Horrible
    The good thingsLocation and surrounding are nice.
    The challengesIncredibly bad management. Macromanagement is standard practice. Managers are highly incompetent. Don’t recommend to anyone.
    8 people found this helpful
    3.0
    DSO
    Nov 2019
    Loved the people. Management poor
    The good thingsVolunteers are great to work with
    The challengesMultiple software programs. Managers.
    4 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Legal
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role
    Poor management. No values. No loyalty to staff. Deceitful.
    The good thingsJust another large biurocracy.
    The challengesPoor management. Lack of communication. Empire builders.
    6 people found this helpful
    2.0
    DSO
    Nov 2019
    Love the people, but not the organisation
    The good thingsFantastic comradery with the staff and volunteers
    The challengesThe management is non existent, other than incident management the organisation is chaotic and lacks strong leadership
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Senior Finance Business Partner
    Sep 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Joining CFA is the best move I have made, I am proud to work here and wear the CFA logo
    The good thingsIt is a great positive environment with a big focus on healthy, safety, wellbeing, inclusion and fairness
    The challengesFor me the challenge was learning a whole new role but my colleagues have been really great in helping me learn the ropes
    5.0
    Executive Assistant
    Oct 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Would definitely work with CFA again
    The good thingsThe colleagues and management
    The challengesThe Unions and the uncertainty
    5.0
    Firefighter
    Jan 2018
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Would never give it up.
    The good thingsA great bunch of people. More like a family.
    The challengesCan be physically and mentally demanding.
    5.0
    Volunteer Firefighter
    Oct 2016
    Irymple VIC 34981 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Best life choice i have ever made
    The good thingsBeing a CFA volunteer is the best thing a person could do, it provides great life skills along with fitness, oppertunity and personal development. I would recommend to anyone to become a volunteer firefighter.
    The challengesEach time you turn out is a different and challenging oppertunity, no call is the same as the last. There is a new challenge waiting everytime your pager sounds and thats what makes it great.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Executive Assistant
    Oct 2016
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Loved working there but stressful during significant fires
    The good thingsThe people Like a big family
    The challengesFire danger periods Too stressful and demanding y
    4.0
    Pad operator / Instructor
    Sep 2016
    Horsham VIC 3400
    love it
    The good thingsknowing your protecting others
    The challengesknowing the possible out comes in different types of fires no fire is going to be the same
    4.0
    BuiManager
    Sep 2016
    Melbourne VIC 30043 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Amazing and unique place to work.
    The good thingsWork Life balance is unparalleled. Working for an amazing cause and supporting volunteers to protect the community.
    The challengesDealing with emergency situations can be high stress in some positions.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Manager Employee Relations
    Mar 2016
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Very poor culture
    The good thingsSome colleagues. Working for positive community outcomes
    The challengespoor culture, too much government interference
    3.0
    Coordinator
    Feb 2016
    9 to 10 years in the role, current employee
    People make the organisation
    The good thingsTeamwork, strong sense of family
    The challengesConstant instability of management, change for the sake of change (not well defined)
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Data Analyst
    Feb 2016
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    over average
    The good thingsrelaxed working environment
    The challengesThe organisation has got limited budgets
    4.0
    Secretary/treasurer
    Feb 2016
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    The roles I performed expanded my experiences.
    The good thingsBeing a volunteer gives you a sense of community.
    The challengesDealing with all types of people from different backgrounds and experience is an amazing challenge. You learn so much from all perspectives.
    3.0
    Sr Project Manager
    Feb 2016
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Frustrating for the most part and extremely rewarding in others
    The good thingsThe opportunity to help the community. The opportunity to work with Operational staff and experience places and events that are not available to others.
    The challengesVery closed culture.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Rather not say
    Feb 2016
    Loved the work hated the environment
    The good thingsLoved the actual work but not the environment.
    The challengesHard to fit in with a group of people who have been there for ever and don't like change
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