Volunteer Firefighters Campaign for Equal ACC Coverage

Local fire chiefs are backing a parliamentary petition calling for equal ACC coverage for volunteer firefighters. The petition, initiated by Katherine Lamont of Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, seeks to change ACC legislation so volunteer firefighters receive the same benefits as their paid counterparts.

Te Puke fire chief Dale Lindsay, who has served for 40 years, highlighted that volunteer firefighters often face mental health challenges from traumatic scenes but lack adequate coverage. Currently, volunteers are excluded from certain ACC benefits due to being classified as non-employees. Lindsay noted that while volunteers have day jobs, they may struggle to perform them due to emotional problems from firefighting incidents. The petition emphasises that the government has a duty of care to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the 12,000 volunteer firefighters across the country.

Originally published in Te Puke News by Sun Media.