During National Carers Week (October 13-19) CFA urged Victorians who care for others living in high bushfire risk areas to make a fire plan using CFA's online module ahead of summer.

The learning module Bushfire Planning: You and the person you care for, developed with Carers Victoria, is for anyone who provides informal unpaid care or support to family members or friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic health issue or age-related condition. 

The one-hour online lesson dives into who needs to be prepared, important roles played, how to start a conversation and build a plan, when to choose to stay or go, how to make it all work and what resources are available. 

Dromana Fire Brigade member Tim Marchinton, who informally cares for his mum who lives rurally and remotely in a high-risk area said the module has been a valuable tool in setting her up for any type of emergency.

"Sometimes mum is on her own, and she lives in an area surrounded by a lot of natural bush, so we needed to have something that she could enact if I wasn't here," Tim said.

Tim and his mum watched the module together, then went through what they learnt, condensing it into a checklist and a survival plan that she has nearby at all times.

"She now has a packed bag, with everything essential by the door as recommended, and we re-check that every summer. We make sure the batteries are fresh, that radios are in there with bottled water and a bowl is there for the dog," Tim said.

"She knows on a Total Fire Ban (TFB) day to listen to the radio continuously, and to make sure her phone is always charged."

Since launching, 580 people have completed the module, with a further 184 currently in progress and another 107 enrolled to begin.

Visit CFA's website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/carers for a step-by-step guide on how to complete it. To learn more about Carers Victoria, visit www.carersvictoria.org.au