Under the program, the government matches every dollar paid by volunteer groups with a $2 co-contribution to a maximum of $250,000.
With applications to open on Thursday, April 16, CFA acting chief officer Alen Slijepcevic is encouraging brigades and groups from across the state to apply.
“VESEP grants support volunteers by providing funding to replace or purchase equipment such as vehicles, trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers and can also include minor facility improvements,” he said.
The funding is available through five categories, including tankers, specialist and support vehicles, operational equipment, volunteer amenities costing less than $5000 and minor works costing less than $250,000.
One of the key focuses of the program is set to be aiding brigades that have not previously benefited under VESEP and which may have limited capacity to fundraise.
In the previous 2025-26 round, CFA received more than $22 million across 168 successful VESEP projects, including 14 medium tankers, 12 ultralight tankers and the replacement of 28 field command vehicles.
It also funded minor works at 35 stations.
Brigades and other groups can only apply for one project per funding round, as per Emergency Management Victoria guidelines.
Applications for the 2026-27 funding round close on Thursday, June 11, and pre-registration for minor works closes on Thursday, May 28.
More information, including how to apply, can be found at https://tinyurl.com/4xh23kd4
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