About the MEU Project

In 2011, CFA was supplied with two Mobile Education Units as part of the Bushfires Preparedness Program in response to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The MEUs were large, modified buses with extendable pods that allowed people to enter and walk through the vehicle while engaging with content and CFA personnel.

In 2018, an engineering inspection of the MEUs identified several costly issues in relation to safety and reliability and recommended they be decommissioned.

After consideration, the CFA Board approved funding of $950,000 through the Transformative Initiatives Program for a MEU project that provided flexibility to regions to engage and deliver community programs and providing a new platform for volunteer support and engagement.

In summary:

• The fully funded lease vehicles will be regionally located and managed, with 2 allocated per CFA region. The MEU lifecycle will be 5 years, with lease and annual running costs included in the project budget.

• This vehicle can be driven on a car licence, which was one of the key priorities identified in the initial consultation.

• The vehicle will have a 2 seat capacity with towbar and cargo barrier.

• It is expected that the vehicles will be available to each region by April next year, depending on vehicle availability.

• The intent of the MEU resource is that the vehicles will be available to all members for community engagement, recruitment and promotional activities.