Local fire chiefs are calling for support for a petition that, if successful, could create a significant safety net for volunteer firefighters.
Katherine Lamont, a member of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, has put together a parliamentary petition to change ACC legislation to give volunteer firefighters the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid colleagues.
The petition states: “12,000 volunteer firefighters are excluded from certain ACC benefits due to being classified as non-employees. We believe ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of these volunteers must be a top priority for the government; we need action; our volunteers are vital; there is a duty of care that is being missed, and volunteers are suffering”.
Mental health injury
Te Puke fire chief Dale Lindsay said volunteer firefighters were not always covered for illness, injury or mental health issues.
He said even if they were eligible, they would still have to prove a single incident had caused a mental injury such as PTSD.
He said that situation did not support those who have serious mental health concerns because of their years of exposure to many different types of traumatic incidents.
Dale Lindsay has been a firefighter for nearly 40 years.
“Why should we not get the same level of attention afforded to other people in the same vocation?”
Lindsay said it could be argued that as volunteers, they were possibly less prepared for what they might face, although in recent years Fire and Emergency had recognised the impacts on firefighters’ mental health.
“They are trying to train us more for it, but you can only do so much training for the confronting stuff in terms of mental health.”
Lindsay has been a volunteer firefighter for 40 years and said he knows at some calls the effects can be instantaneous and massively triggering.
“You can encounter massive trauma from one scene. I’ve still got multiple scenes I can recall vividly in my mind that will never leave me.”
Stress and pressure
On the other hand, he knew of volunteers who had suffered because of the cumulative build-up of stresses and pressures.
“Then the tiniest thing can trigger a meltdown.”
Lindsay said volunteers had day jobs and if they couldn’t perform those jobs due to emotional problems resulting from firefighting, that’s “pretty unfair”.
With the increased awareness has come a lot more care with new recruits.
“We do make people aware of it when they join, there’s a lot of focus and training around the mental health side of things now. We are very, very careful how we expose new recruits to [situations].”
ACC policies
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment accident compensation policy manager Bridget Duley said the no-fault scheme provided broad-based cover to everyone in New Zealand who was injured in an accident.
“Under ACC, volunteer firefighters are eligible for this type of cover, which includes any physical injuries they suffer on the job such as scrapes, sprains, broken bones or head injuries.
“Where a physical injury causes a mental injury, the mental injury is eligible for cover if the physical injury is already covered under ACC.”
For example, if a volunteer firefighter received cover following an accident where they fell and suffered a spinal injury, they may also be eligible for mental injury cover if it could be proven that they subsequently developed depression as a result of their physical injury.
“ACC also provides additional types of cover that are specific to paid employment, including cover for work-related mental injuries and occupational diseases.
“These types of cover are available only when the injury is caused by paid work. Work-related claims are funded by employers based on their payroll. As volunteers are not reflected as employees in workplace payroll systems, funding additional cover in a fair way may require changes to how ACC levies are collected.”
Duley said past expansions to the Accident Compensation Scheme to cover different mental injuries have been carefully considered to ensure they remain accident-related and balance the interests of ACC levy payers and considerations around financial sustainability.
“Any future reforms would need to consider the benefits of ACC support to people suffering from mental harm alongside costs to levy payers and the Government, and the impacts on the mental health workforce.
“It is important to note that those in volunteer roles can still access mental and other health services via the health system.
“As the petition is currently ongoing, I won’t be able to comment specifically but I will be following the process.”
Government response
Scott Simpson, Minister for ACC, said he acknowledged the volunteers in emergency services who made an incredibly important and selfless contribution to communities around New Zealand.
Minister for ACC Scott Simpson.
“I note the petition closes for signatures this month, and I acknowledge the efforts of those who are raising awareness of this issue that is close to their hearts. There is a process for petitions made to Parliament, and I will be watching that as it takes place.”
Local support
Maketū chief fire officer Shane Gourlay supports the petition. He said there were “a few things” career firefighters could get that volunteers couldn’t, and “that’s just one of them”.
Maketū chief fire officer Shane Gourlay. Photo / George Novak
Pukehina chief fire officer Errol Watts said he supported the petition “100%”.
“These people are the salt of the earth. They give up their own and their families’ time and I can’t see any better people to receive it to be honest.”
Pukehina fire chief Errol Watts. Photo / John Borren
The petition closes on April 30 and has received well over 30,000 signatures.
