2018–19
A N N UA L R EP O R T
AFAC acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as traditional custodians of Australia and MÄ ori, as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa-New Zealand. We recognise their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and their rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and future.
CONTENTS 06
President’s message
07
CEO’s message
08
AFAC governance
12
Business units and partners
20
Key projects
34
Events and professional development
Copyright © 2019, Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council All rights reserved. Copyright in this publication is subject to the operation of the Copyright Act 1968 and its subsequent amendments. Any material contained in this document can be reproduced, providing the source is acknowledged and is not used for any commercialisation purpose whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner.
46
Recognition of achievement — sector awards
50
AFAC collaboration
60
Financial highlights
OUR VISION Integrated fire and emergency management supporting resilient communities.
OUR PURPOSE AFAC is the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice, for the benefit of our members and through them, the community. We will be recognised and have impact as the National Council for fire and emergency services, through collaboration and influence.
OUR VALUES RESPECT COLLABORATION MUTUAL OBLIGATION MUTUAL BENEFIT EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE AFAC has continued to have impact as the National Council for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand. Alongside the delivery of nationally-agreed doctrine, professional development and national projects, this year provided opportunities for reflection, review and planning for the future. The 10th anniversary of the Victorian Black Saturday fires, apart from being a solemn memorial to the 173 who died on the day, gave us an opportunity to reflect on how we have progressed as an industry. Since then, agencies have worked together nationally to learn from each other and improve capability in a number of ways. Key projects such as national warnings, fire danger ratings systems, national resource sharing, professionalisation and sharing knowledge across jurisdictions can be attributed to the sector learning and improving together over the past decade. The AFAC Board met bi-monthly over the last 12 months to progress the strategic priorities for AFAC and the broader emergency management sector. This year we published the AFAC Strategy 2019– 2023. This strategy outlines the approaches, services delivery, partners, stakeholders and national capabilities that respond to the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services 2017–2021. AFAC is committed to ensuring that research supports our fire and emergency service organisations into the future. The AFAC Board met with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC (BNHCRC) Board met to discuss the importance of research continuing beyond the funding of the BNHCRC, which concludes in June 2021. AFAC has formed the AFAC Research Committee, which has been tasked with reviewing and progressing this issue. As a member of the Male Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group, I am pleased that we have continued our mission to improve diversity and inclusion across the sector. A key development was the publication of a progress report which included case studies and data on gender representation. It marks the first time this data has been collected and reported at a national level. A key capability for AFAC is the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) and its ability to mobilise resources to support our members and colleagues overseas when they need it most. The NRSC supported international deployments to Canada and the United States as well as supporting interstate deployments over the 2019 summer period. On behalf of the AFAC Board, I would like to express my gratitude to those across the membership, the AFAC CEO and staff for their efforts throughout what has been another successful year.
PAUL BAXTER, QSO Commissioner, Fire and Rescue NSW AFAC President
06
Overview
Welcome
CEO’S MESSAGE AFAC was created by, and exists to support, our members. ‘We are here for you’ is the key message I have promoted over the year. This philosophy drives the work of AFAC as the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice. Through AFAC’s collaborative approach, we continue to solve problems with collective effort and have influence and impact as the National Council. The AFAC Secretariat maintains three companies, four business units and manages the project office for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System and National Warnings projects. Each of these initiatives respond to the needs of our members to work towards building safer and more resilient communities. In decades to come, these national projects will reshape our interface with communities regarding fire danger and communicating the consequences of natural hazards. Significant achievements have been made in the built environment and community safety area. AFAC worked to influence changes to the National Construction Code, requiring Class 2 and 3 residential buildings up to 25 metres to be fitted with sprinklers. In partnership with FPA Australia, AFAC has been active in supporting the launch of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition. During the 2018–19 year, AFAC conducted a total of 100 Collaboration Group meetings, bringing together 875 individuals across 34 groups representing our 31 member agencies. This is a significant achievement that reflects the ever-growing need for fire, emergency services and land management agencies to work together for the benefit of communities across Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the Collaboration Framework, AFAC conducted 42 events, offering members and the broader emergency management community access to essential professional development and learning opportunities. The AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ conference and exhibition in Perth, Western Australia, explored how change is affecting our industry through the theme ‘changing lives in a changing world’. Given the impacts of a changing climate on fire and emergency services, the AFAC Climate Change Group produced a position on climate change and talking points to assist our members with consistent messaging ahead of the summer operational season. Following fire campaign events in Australia and New Zealand, AFAC has assisted its members to complete three independent operational reviews. These reviews offer AFAC members the opportunity to have an independent third-party inquiry into an incident to offer informed and constructive learnings. Reflecting on what was a busy year for AFAC, I want to offer my thanks and gratitude to all AFAC members, the AFAC Board and National Council and AFAC staff for their efforts throughout the year.
STUART ELLIS, AM Chief Executive Officer, AFAC
07
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
AFAC GOVERNANCE Elected by the AFAC National Council, the AFAC Board provides governance oversight to the effective management of the organisation. The Board meets bi-monthly. Board members hold office for two years and are eligible for re-election.
PRESIDENT
DEPUT Y PRESIDENT
DEPUT Y PRESIDENT
PAUL BA X TER, QSO
K ATARINA CARROLL, APM
SHANE FIT ZSIMMONS, AFSM
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Fire and Rescue NSW
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
NSW Rural Fire Service
Paul Baxter was appointed Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW on 16 January 2017. Commissioner Baxter was previously National Commander and CEO of the New Zealand Fire Service and the National Rural Fire Authority, which comprises 10,000 volunteers and 2,200 career staff serving at 650 fire stations nationally. He has more than 30 years of fire service experience, originally serving as a volunteer firefighter, then as a firefighter with the New Zealand Air Force. He became a full time firefighter with the New Zealand Fire Service and worked through the ranks until being appointed as National Commander and CEO a year after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. He holds a degree in business, is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers, a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Management, and has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the United States Fire Academy.
Katarina Carroll commenced as Acting Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner in January 2015, and was appointed Commissioner on 1 August 2015. She is responsible for efficiently leading all divisions of QFES and implementing a renewal process arising out of recommendations made in a number of recent reviews into the organisation. She came to QFES from the Queensland Police Service, where she was Assistant Commissioner and Program Executive for the Brisbane G20 Summit in 2014. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the emergency services, and has been awarded the Australian Police Medal, National Police Service Medal, National Emergency Medal and the National Medal. She is a graduate of the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Foundation. Katarina was appointed Queensland Police Service Commissioner later in 2019.
Shane Fitzsimmons has over 30 years’ experience with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), serving as both a volunteer and salaried officer. In 2004 he was appointed as the inaugural AFAC Visiting Fellow to the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM), and in September 2007 he was appointed Commissioner of the NSW RFS. He was appointed a Director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in March 2008 and was Chair of the NAFC Board from 2009 to 2013. He is a member of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee and the NSW State Rescue Board, and was Chairman from 2008 to November 2015. He was awarded the National Medal in 1999 and the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in 2001.
December 2012 – present.
08
October 2015 – June 2019.
October 2016 – present.
Overview
Governance
TREASURER
DARREN KLEMM, AFSM
CHRIS ARNOL, AFSM
STEPHEN GRIFFIN
Commissioner
Chief Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA
Tasmania Fire Service
Darren Klemm has more than 27 years of experience in fire and emergency services, having served three years with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service before joining the WA Fire Brigades Board in 1993.
Chris Arnol joined the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) as a recruit firefighter in 1985.
Victoria State Emergency Service Stephen (Steve) Griffin was appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Victoria State Emergency Service in May 2014. He came to Victoria State Emergency Service from the Geelong City Council where he was CEO for five years. Prior to this, he has collected over 28 years of local government experience including City of Melbourne, City of Werribee and the Wyndham City Council, where he was the recovery manager. Throughout his career, Steve has been recognised for his transformational leadership and robust management of service delivery programs and corporate functions. April 2015 – present.
Over the last six years he has successfully delivered and implemented a number of high level strategic reforms, and has been responsible for significant structural and cultural reform in the training and professional development of personnel and volunteers in the Department of Fire and Emergency Service, including management of the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy and the introduction of the Professional Pathways competency-based framework. He has been involved in strategic operations at State and Incident Controller level during significant emergencies such as the Waroona, O’Sullivan and Toodyay bushfires and Tropical Cyclone Olwyn. Commissioner Klemm is a member of a number of national committees concerned with emergency management in Australia, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Management from the Australian Institute of Management.
In 2009 he moved to Western Australia where, as Assistant Commissioner for Country Operations, he was responsible for fire, SES and marine rescue services. In the wake of major bushfire inquiries, Chris helped to drive corporate reforms that delivered a ‘new’ Department of Fire and Emergency Services in WA. Chris has been deployed operationally, interstate and overseas on many occasions and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2007 for his studies into rural/urban interface fires. He also represents Tasmania on the Australia and New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. Chris was appointed Chief Officer/Chief Executive of the Tasmania Fire Service in 2016. Since then his focus has been on a fresh agenda of emergency service integration, legislative reform and business improvement. October 2018 – present.
October 2018 – present.
09
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
NEIL COOPER, PSM
RHYS JONES
STUART ELLIS, AM
Senior Director, Fire, Forest and Roads
Chief Executive
CEO (non-Board member)
ACT Parks and Conservation Service
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
AFAC
Neil Cooper is currently the Manger of the Fire Management Unit with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. He completed his BSC (Forestry) degree at the Australian National University in 1982. His early career saw him involved in plantation forestry establishment, silviculture and harvesting up until 1999 when he took on the role of Manager of Fire with the then ACT Forests Department. Since then he has been on several overseas deployments to the United States, involved in a number of large campaign fires in Australia and presented papers at international forums including the United Nations in Rome in 2010 and 2012.
Rhys Jones is the first Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, which was established on 1 July 2017. He is responsible for leading the integration of urban and rural fire in the new organisation and towards full unification from 2020.
Stuart Ellis was an army officer for over 22 years serving with the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. In 1996 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer/Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service. In 2002, he established a consultancy company and has been involved in over 20 operational reviews including the Canberra Bushfires, the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission and the operational response to the Christchurch Earthquake. Stuart was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AFAC in 2012.
October 2013 – present.
Rhys is a strong advocate of equity and diversity and understanding how different groups work together has been a consistent theme throughout his military career.
Rhys comes from a Defence background, where he rose to Chief of Defence Force (CDF) over a 35-year career. He has led a large, complex organisation through a period of change and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the largest civil assistance organisation ever conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force.
October 2018 – present.
AFAC BOARD MEETING AT TENDANCE DIRECTOR
C Arnol
P Baxter
K Carroll
N Cooper
G Crossman
S Fitzsimmons
S Griffin
R Jones
D Klemm
J Reilly
NUMBER ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND
3
5
5
5
1
5
5
3
2
1
NUMBER ATTENDED
3
5
3
4
0
5
3
3
2
0
10
Overview
Governance
AFAC NATIONAL COUNCIL, MEMBERS AND AFFILIATE MEMBERS AFAC members support Australian and New Zealand communities through mitigation and response phases of emergency management and support the transition to recovery. We build knowledge by bringing together collaborators from across jurisdictions, capabilities and hazards to find opportunities and solve problems with collective effort. Senior representatives of fire and emergency service agencies from Australia and New Zealand form the AFAC National Council. Please note all AFAC member, affiliate member and National Council representative names have been listed as correct as at 30 June 2019.
31 MEMBERS
21 AFFILIATE MEMBERS
AUSTRALIA WIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Airservices Australia Department of Home Affairs, Emergency Management Australia (DHA-EMA) Parks Australia (PARKSAUS)
Department for Environment and Water, SA (DEW-SA) ForestrySA (ForestrySA) South Australian Country Fire Service (SA-CFS) South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SA-MFS) South Australian State Emergency Service (SA-SES)
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACT-ESA) ACT Parks and Conservation Service (ACT-PCS) NEW SOUTH WALES Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (ForestryNSW) NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) NSW State Emergency Service (NSW-SES) Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW (OEH-NSW) NEW ZEAL AND Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) NORTHERN TERRITORY Bushfires NT (BushfiresNT) Northern Territory Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service (NTFRES)
TASMANIA Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania (PWS-TAS) Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STTAS) Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) Tasmania State Emergency Service (TAS-SES) VIC TORIA Country Fire Authority, Victoria (CFA-VIC) Forest Fire Management Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (FFMV-DELWP) Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, Melbourne (MFB-VIC) Parks Victoria (PARKSVIC) Victoria State Emergency Service (VIC-SES)
QUEENSL AND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Parks and Wildlife Service (DBCA-WA, PWS) Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA (DFES-WA)
Australasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Australian Red Cross Brisbane City Council Bureau of Meteorology Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA) Department of Conservation New Zealand Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria (DHHS-VIC) Emergency Management Victoria Geoscience Australia Hong Kong Fire Services Department HQPlantations Pty Ltd Melbourne Water Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management National SES Volunteers Association NSW Environment Protection Authority Office of Emergency Management, NSW Pacific Islands Fire Emergency Services Association (PIFESA) South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) State Emergency Management Committee, WA Surf Life Saving Australia
11
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
01
12
BUSINESS UNITS A N D PA R T N E R S
01
Business units and partners
13
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
AIDR In its fourth year AIDR, an initative funded by Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, continues to deliver a program of work aligned to its core purpose of enabling disaster resilience. An independent evaluation of AIDR this year found it ‘delivered considerable value for money and that the team delivered on their contract obligations and in a number of areas overachieved’. Several recommendations were made, which are in the process of being implemented. Through themed knowledge products, services and events, AIDR facilitates professional and community development to support shared responsibility for a more disaster resilient Australia. AIDR’s role in knowledge management is reflected in the growing wealth of resources on the Knowledge Hub, including the Australian Journal for Emergency Management, the Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection, the National Disaster Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Database and the Australian Disaster Resilience Glossary. AIDR’s Professional Development Program is key to sharing knowledge among emergency management agencies, volunteers, educators, researchers and community groups who have been affected by disaster. Working closely with QFES, AIDR also developed the High Consequences Decision Making and Leadership in Disaster Crisis and Adversity professional development modules, which were very well received. In 2019, AIDR delivered new events, such as the Meteorology for Disaster Managers Masterclass, and attracted a record number of abstracts, applicants and registrants for existing events, including the Resilient Australia Awards, the Lessons Management Forum and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference.
14
The Emergency Management Scholarship Program has completed its fifth and final round, with scholarships awarded to volunteers from all jurisdictions across a wide range of volunteer agencies. The Volunteer Leadership Program also continued across regional locations in all jurisdictions. Recognising young people as active participants in community resilience, the Disaster Resilient Australia-New Zealand School Education Network (DRANZSEN) has engaged with an increasingly diverse network, including local government and youth-focused organisations like Scouts and Save the Children, to bring new perspectives to light. The Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning continues to promote a holistic approach to prescribed burning for ecological, cultural and community safety outcomes. In 2019, it delivered informative resources and field trips and established the inaugural Excellence in Prescribed Burning Award. AIDR draws strength from the support and expertise of its partners: AFAC, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, Australian Red Cross and the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. AIDR’s partners utilise their capability and networks to ensure AIDR products and services are responsive to the demands of the broader emergency management and disaster resilience community.
01
Business units and partners
NAFC The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) co-funded by the Australian Goverment and states and territories, provides a cooperative national arrangement for provision of aerial resources to states and territories for firefighting and emergency response.
Over the season, the capability was deployed to 13 incidents, with firebombing undertaken on 20 nights. This included a world first of hover-filling at night from open water sources for increased productivity.
2018–19 BUSHFIRE SEASON
PROCUREMENT
For 2018–19, NAFC contracted 150 specialised aircraft services on behalf of states and territories. The first service commenced availability in the Northern Territory on 2 July 2018 and some services continued well into May 2019, underlining the extended nature of the bushfire season. Six large fixed-wing airtankers (LATs) were contracted, including the brand-new Boeing 737 Fireliner based in NSW. This Fireliner was used for the first time anywhere in the world in November 2018 in NSW and soon after was dispatched to bushfires in Queensland.
NAFC completed several major procurement processes over the period, including a major Invitation to Tender that saw new contracts delivered for over 90 specialised aircraft services. A further tender process to provide aerial firefighting resources from 2019–20 onwards was also initiated. Work was also commenced on establishing a national framework and process for collaborative procurement of ‘call when needed’ (casual hire) aircraft services.
Recognising the potential of the 2018–19 bushfire season, the Australian Government provided $11m of additional funding for aerial firefighting resources, bringing the total contribution to nearly $26m for the year. This very welcome additional funding enabled the retention of strategic aircraft resources, including LATs, for the extended season. At least one LAT was available from 27 August 2018 to 3 May 2019, a total of 250 days. Heavy helicopters were available for 162 days. 2018–19 saw high levels of activity and extended seasons in many jurisdictions and considerable movement of aviation resources between states and territories under the NAFC resource sharing arrangements. This included risk-based pre-positioning of aircraft as a readiness measure. The LATs were used extensively in their home states of NSW and Victoria and were also shared for operations in Queensland and Tasmania. The season was exceptionally busy for the four specialist fire mapping aircraft contracted by NAFC for NSW and Victoria, which provide real-time infra red images and maps of fires to response agencies. The supplementary federal funding supported the placement of one of these aircraft in Western Australia for the first time. One significant incident was recorded during the season, when a contracted heavy helicopter collided with water on approach to hover-fill in Victoria during January 2019. The three-person crew escaped with minor injuries. NIGHT FIRE SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS
ARENA ARENA, the national information system for aviation, has been collaboratively developed over recent years by NAFC and state and territory agencies and now provides a unique, world-leading approach to the provision of integrated information to support aviation management. During 2018–19, ARENA transitioned from the development phase with the roll-out of the final major block of functionality, Electronic Flight Operations Returns (eFORs). SIMULATION TO SUPPORT AVIATION RELATED TRAINING NAFC sponsored a project to examine the potential for use of simulation in aviation training, with a view to increasing capability for aviation management and support across the country. As part of the project, NAFC hosted a Simulation Summit in June 2019. FIRE AVIATION TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK In collaboration with the AFAC Learning and Development Directorate, a major project to review the national Fire and Emergency Services Aviation Training and Assessment Framework was commenced, with a review of the various aviation management and support roles. This project is expected to be finalised during 2019–20. THANKS In June 2019, Greg Nettleton AFSM finished as Chair of the NAFC Strategic Committee and NAFC Board after nearly four years in the role when he retired as Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service. We thank Greg for his service and expertise during his time as Chair.
NAFC continued to support Victoria’s development of night aerial firefighting capability. The program progressed well over 2018–19, with an Australian first occurring on 4 January 2019 — the first night firebombing by a helicopter at a bushfire incident.
15
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
NATIONAL RESOURCE SHARING CENTRE The Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee (CCOSC) tasks the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) to support interstate and international deployments of fire and emergency service personnel between Australian states and territories, New Zealand and Canada and the United States of America (USA). In 2018–19 the AFAC NRSC was busy both domestically and internationally with deployments. During August and September 2018, approximately 140 Australian and New Zealand personnel were successfully and safely deployed to the USA and over 90 personnel to Canada in 2018. The AFAC NRSC provided central coordination for these deployments and worked with operational hubs of NSW Rural Fire Service and Emergency Management Victoria. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has been established as a third operational hub for the AFAC NRSC, and AFAC signed an MoU with FENZ that supports and outlines the arrangements for the AFAC NRSC to support coordination of joint Australian and New Zealand international deployments to the USA and Canada. The safety and fatigue management plans for the USA and Canada were reviewed extensively in 2019 and included review by a safety visit team who travelled to the USA and Canada in June 2019. Domestically, the AFAC NRSC also supported significant interstate assistance during a very busy summer season of 2018–19 with over 1,100 interstate and New Zealand personnel deployed to the campaign in Tasmania, over 1,200 personnel into Queensland, and over 700 personnel into Victoria. The AFAC NRSC National Deployment Registry has been trialled and utilised to support interstate requests and build domestic teams. Further enhancements were made to the registry to improve reporting, adding data fields and a portal to store key deployment information. Later in 2019, to further enhance synergies between the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) and the AFAC NRSC interstate and international deployments, the EMPS data base will be integrated into the registry system. Internationally, the AFAC NRSC continued to support the Pacific Island Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) project in 2018–19 through AFAC’s Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network (PILON). This included supporting regional training workshops across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia in early 2019 for incident management and working in emergency operations centres. The material used was adapted from AIIMS and contextualised for the Pacific. The AFAC NRSC Strategy 2019–2023 was developed alongside a work plan of deliverables to meet its objectives over the next several years.
16
FENZ firefighters deployed to Tasmania during summer of 2019 (top). Train-the-trainers incident management workshop participants in Pohnpei, March 2019 (bottom). Photos: AFAC NRSC
01
Business units and partners
EMPS In 2015, AFAC launched the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) with the aim of creating an industry designed and endorsed program to benchmark the professional expertise of staff and volunteers against nationallyagreed standards. The scheme is overseen by the EMPS panel, which is made up of senior, experienced practitioners from across Australia and New Zealand and chaired by the AFAC CEO. During the year we welcomed a number of new panel members as original members completed their terms of office. In October 2018, AFAC National Council decided that credentialing under EMPS would be funded collectively across AFAC members, rather than through individual applications. In 2018–19, we developed a number of new professional standards (certified and registered) to support practitioner credentialing. At the end of the financial year there were 22 distinct credentials available for application. Our other focus in 2019 was to expand the current number of registered practitioners by working with AFAC member agencies to register their staff and volunteers who meet the requirements. Our strategic vision is to provide recognition of emergency management as a profession, encompassing the full range of activities currently undertaken before, during and after emergencies.
17
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
BUSHFIRE AND NATURAL HAZARDS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE As an important partner in the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC participates in long term national research to directly support fire and emergency services personnel across the country. This research helps to mitigate the impact of natural hazards and better prepare communities for when they occur. The CRC’s research program is driven by end user needs that focus on natural hazard mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery across Australia and New Zealand. In this multi-hazard environment, emergency service agencies, government departments and non-government organisations, including AFAC, benefit greatly from the development, utilisation and delivery of the research program. This culture of research to drive continuous improvement is now part of the sector, and AFAC has played an important role in this. AFAC has a formal role in the CRC through its CEO sitting on the Board, as well as the AFAC staff directors’ membership of CRC project end user groups. This is reciprocated by regular CRC participation in AFAC Collaboration Group meetings, with the CRC’s Research Advisory Forums aligned where possible to Collaboration Group meetings to maximise participation. This relationship extends to the annual conference of AFAC and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC each year, where CRC research developments are made visible to an audience of thousands. The partnership extended this year to the 12th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference, with AFAC a key contributor through specialist panel sessions at this CRC-hosted event. The partnership includes collaboration at many other events, conferences, and research utilisation workshops across the country, alongside products such as the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for northern and southern Australia, and Fire Australia magazine. AFAC and the CRC also work together with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, primarily on the Australian Journal of Emergency Management. The CRC and AFAC joined forces to share exhibition space throughout the year at relevant conferences, including the Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services conference in Perth, the International Women’s Day event in Melbourne and the Emergency Management Conference in Melbourne. The collaboration between both AFAC and the CRC ensures there is two-way communication and a joint approach to making Australia and the wider region more resilient and prepared for natural hazards.
18
01
Business units and partners topic
Dr Richard Thornton launches the Seasonal Outlook. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management July edition (Photo: AIDR). Animesh Kumar presents at the 12th Australiasian Natural Hazards Management Conference. Attendees at a Research Advisory Forum. Deb Sparkes, AIDR, speaks at a Research Advisory Forum. Photos: BNHCRC
19
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
02
20
KEY PROJEC TS
02
Key projects
21
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
RESEARCH COMMIT TEE
HOME FIRE SPRINKLER COALITION
A new AFAC Board committee was formed this year in recognition of the need for a more cohesive effort to gain substantial funding post the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC in 2021.
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is a partnership between AFAC and Fire Protection Association (FPA) Australia to provide the leading national resource for independent, non-commercial information about home fire sprinklers. The HFSC was formed as a result of the work between Fire and Rescue NSW, AFAC and FPA Australia to introduce new sprinkler requirements into the National Construction Code (NCC). This change came into effect on 1 May 2019. The most significant part of this work is the ability to fit sprinklers to a domestic water supply for class 2 and 3 (residential) buildings under 25 metres. This also opens the opportunity to fit cost-effective sprinklers to Class 1a buildings (1 and 2 storey single dwelling homes).
The Research Committee is chaired by Rhys Jones, Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The role of the Research Committee is to advise council on research priorities, delivery options, outputs and utilisation and the development of research capability within AFAC. It also oversees the success and utilisation of existing research projects undertaken to support AFAC and its agencies, recommends initiatives and investigates opportunities for research and research utilisation. At its inaugural meeting in April 2018, the Research Committee: ˃˃
Confirmed they would work to support the strategic agenda as outlined in the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services 2017–2021.
˃˃
Instigated a stocktake of current and planned agency research, with work underway to publish a research register.
˃˃
Agreed to provide strategic oversight on Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC tactical research fund applications.
˃˃
The research register is made up of contributions from AFAC members agencies and the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC and will be available to members to assist with collaboration on areas of similar interest.
22
This year the HFSC has focused on building the capacity of the industry to design and install the new sprinkler specifications. HFSC has also expanded its marketing and communication collateral through filming a side-by-side burn of a sprinklered and unsprinklered room, development of professional video segment utilising AFAC TV and development of a website: www.homefiresprinklers.org.au In order to penetrate the Class 1a market, HFSC has engaged with developers in a number of states regarding the installation of residential fire sprinklers in new estates. All fire services in Australia endorsed the proposal for change to the NCC to require residential sprinklers. Fire agencies are partners in the HFSC and have a role to play in promoting this work.
02
Key projects
Test burn comparison (top). Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition launch at Fire and Rescue NSW(bottom). Photos: HFSC
23
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
AUSTRALIAN FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM (AFDRS)
MALE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE FIRE AND EMERGENCY GROUP
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) program is designing, developing and implementing a national fire danger rating system to better describe the overall fire danger and risk to communities, emergency service agencies and others.
April 2019 marked two years since the Male Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group was formed. Leaders of the fire and emergency services sector are committed to advancing gender equality and creating more diverse, safe and inclusive working environments for all staff and volunteers.
AFAC is contracted as the Program Management Office (PMO), and acts as the secretariat to the Program Board, with responsibility for liaising with project managers to draw together the individual project elements. The key deliverables through 2018–19 include the completion of the research prototype that better categorises fire behaviour, and the completion of the Australia’s third largest community research effort carried out to better understand the effectiveness of the current system and confirm the new system is designed to deliver correct messaging. These outcomes were used to develop the program management plan for the next three years from 2019–22 and commence the following work towards the next stage: ˃˃
The operationalisation of the new fire behaviour index.
˃˃
The development of a prototype for other indices that consider ignition likelihood, suppression capability and the fire impact.
˃˃
Development of the decision making framework, where extensive consultation with key stakeholder groups will inform the design of the new fire danger rating system and scope the dimensions of change required prior to the proposed rollout in 2022.
The PMO has undertaken extensive and targeted communication through conferences and workshops to promote dialogue around the program and enable agency participation in the AFDRS development.
24
A major achievement was the release of a progress report in November 2018 which provided data highlighting the significant under-representation of women across the sector. Women’s representation across the workforce sits at 22 percent overall. Of concern, women make up only 7 percent of management roles in frontline service delivery – these operational roles include firefighting, which is on the critical pathway to many senior leadership and executive level positions in the sector. 10 percent of current operational executives (key management personnel) in fire and emergency services are women. This is inconsistent with modern workforces, as well as community needs and expectations. Our sector leaders want to challenge a prevailing stereotype that the best people available for preventing, preparing for and managing fire and emergencies are predominantly men. In taking the ‘panel pledge’, these leaders and others in our sector have committed to not participating in panels where there is no significant contribution by women. This commitment has extended to the AFAC national conference and is a strong demonstration of modelling the change desired for our sector. The group have also committed to increase women’s representation to at least 30 percent on major industry leadership and policy forums by the end of 2019, working towards 40 percent by the end of 2020.
02
Key projects
NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING DATA
PUA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING PACKAGE (PSTP) AND AFAC GUIDES
In 2019, AFAC accessed training data collected for 2013–17 from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). NCVER collects, manages and communicates research and statistics on vocational education and training (VET) using the Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS).
The transitioned PUA Public Safety Training Package was endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee on 5 June 2019. This project involved the review and transition of 31 qualifications (30 transitioned, one new), 41 skill sets (24 transitioned, 17 new) and 240 units of competency (162 transitioned, 62 reviewed, 16 new). The fire and emergency services participated in the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) established to represent their qualifications.
Accredited training underpins the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) and the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC). An independent profile of the accredited fire and emergency services training activity in Australia will inform future decision making and planning for both EMPS and AFAC NRSC. When AVETMISS data reporting became mandatory, AFAC successfully negotiated with the Department of Education and Training for exemption arrangements for AFAC members unable to comply. The exemption period has now expired and every RTO registered as at 31 December 2018 now reports all VET student enrollment activity and VET award issuance activity conducted in 2018. While data collated by AFAC is conservative, it confirms strong accredited activity with 5,422 fire qualifications being awarded for the period and over 250,000 units of competency being awarded from within the fire and emergency services’ qualifications.
AFAC, working with all stakeholders, held 87 meetings involving over 150 subject matter experts to review more than 160 existing units and to develop six new units. Representatives from the Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA), United Firefighters Union of Australia and many other subject matter experts from within the AFAC membership and from other public safety organisations worked together to undertake this work. The AFAC Collaboration Framework was essential to the success of this process. Subsequent to the endorsement of the Training Package, AFAC produced and published four guides. The FAQs Guide provides advice, guidance and direction to the questions frequently asked by RTO auditors and students and ensures consistency in interpretation and application of the Training Package. The remaining guides focus on models of training delivery, approaches to learning and assessment, and a list of web sites and references to support developers when updating their resources. Industry case studies illustrating how AFAC members are delivering, designing and assessing their training to meet workforce needs are included. The guides provide industry, auditors, RTO managers and trainers and assessors with an overview of the strategies being used by fire and emergency service organisations to build their workforce capability. The success of this work supports the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme and the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre.
25
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
CLIMATE CHANGE
FIRE PREDICTION SERVICES
The AFAC Climate Change Group (CCG) was established in April 2018 and has since developed a revised national position on climate change, and a nationally consistent talking points resource to support AFAC members when discussing issues post-incident that relate to climate change.
The Fire Prediction Services (FPS) Board that governs Fire Predictions Limited, met on three occasions in 2018–19. The FPS Board has approved a significant project to investigate future directions for bushfire simulators. Business requirements for a national bushfire simulator are being developed collaboratively with all AFAC members. These will be finalised in late 2019 and will inform the evaluation of Phoenix, SPARK and other options for future development. A cost benefit analysis was commissioned to explore the benefits of investment in a national bushfire simulator. This will be finalised in late 2019.
The AFAC CCG collectively developed its Strategic Work Plan for 2019–2021, which was endorsed by AFAC National Council on 30 April 2019. The focus areas are adapted from the Council endorsed priorities for action outlined in the 2018 Climate Change and the Emergency Management Discussion Paper. Drafted portfolio areas include: ˃˃
Research and development – Support climate change science and adaptation approaches. These need to be constantly resourced, reviewed and applied in sector decision making and planning.
˃˃
Supporting and providing leadership towards climate adaptation and integration of climate change into sector governance planning and policy – This includes establishing a knowledge base of case studies, good practice, templates and decision support tools.
˃˃
Effective communication, stakeholder engagement and influence – This involves establishing a communications and stakeholder engagement plan to provide direction for AFAC and AFAC members on climate change communications and developing key information and communication products.
˃˃
Workforce – Links to impacts on health and wellbeing, volunteering models and staffing. Portfolio managers to further explore this area.
˃˃
Resourcing – To develop guidance on resource implication of climate change for emergency services. Look at incentivising the transition to renewables and ethical procurement decision making processes.
˃˃
Integration into the AFAC Collaboration Framework – To assist AFAC groups to identify how climate change may impact their work, embed into core business and offer solutions/support.
The priority area for the remainder of 2019 is to develop the AFAC CCG communications plan. The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Tactical Research Fund proposal is expected to commence during 2020, with the aim of providing AFAC members with the latest knowledge and information related to climate change impacts and risks, and how these relate to their organisational governance, policy, operational planning and practice.
26
In addition, FPS has been working cooperatively with CSIRO to investigate the potential suitability of the CSIRO SPARK simulator to meet future user requirements. CSIRO have provided the SPARK code to FPS for evaluation of software architecture and ability to meet the identified business requirements. Discussions on potential cooperative development arrangements between CSIRO and FPS have commenced. FPS has also provided ongoing operational support to current fire agency licencees of Phoenix, with a user manual and technical reference guide being developed, and software upgrades implemented to address identified high priority issues. Phoenix was also identified as ‘a valuable intelligence resource’ that was ‘worthy of building on’ in the 2019 review of the Queensland bushfires.
02
Key projects
AFAC INDEPENDENT OPERATIONAL REVIEWS AFAC offers its members the opportunity to request independent operational reviews of the way specific incidents or operational periods have been managed. Through AFAC’s extensive professional networks, teams of expert reviewers, with hazard-specific knowledge and understanding of the fire and emergency services organisational and operational environment, can be assembled to produce independent reports to support learning lessons and continuous improvement. In 2018–19 AFAC conducted two independent operational reviews. ˃˃
A review into the 2018–19 bushfire season in Tasmania, led by Deputy Commissioner Mal Cronstedt from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA and supported by Guy Thomas, Director Operational Support, Park Services at Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The review was conducted at the request of the Tasmanian Government between March and June. It produced a report into aspects of the season, including the specific management of individual fires, state command control and coordination arrangements and fuel management. A report was delivered to the Tasmanian Government in July 2019.
˃˃
Fire and Emergency New Zealand requested a review into the management of the Tasman fires of February–March, which was led by Neil Cooper of ACT Parks and Conservation Service. Field work was carried out for the review in June 2019 and a report delivered to Fire and Emergency New Zealand in September 2019.
A third project, using a lessons management approach to review aspects of the management of the East Victorian bushfires of January to March 2019, was commissioned in the 2018–19 financial year. The bulk of the work on that project was carried out in the following financial year and will be reported in next year’s annual report. AFAC Director Capability and Assurance, Paul Considine assisted these independent reviews.
Members of the review team inspect threatened vegetation communities near Lake Rhona, Tasmania. Photo: Paul Considine
27
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
DOCTRINE
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES
AFAC Doctrine is our most significant intellectual property asset, articulating a collective emergency management knowledge. Aligned to the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021, AFAC Doctrine is created to benefit our members, and through them, the community.
AFAC, on behalf of its members, actively contributes to parliamentary inquiries within the context of achieving a service that meets the needs of fire and emergency services agencies in the future. Whilst individual agencies and jurisdictions do lodge submissions which are often of a technical nature, the advice of AFAC remains broad and strategic. In the last 12 months, AFAC lodged the following public submissions:
Doctrine is produced through AFAC’s Collaboration Groups and is presented to AFAC National Council for endorsement. Each year, the Council receives new doctrine proposals, withdrawals and revisions, which must achieve an 80 percent approval vote before ratification.
˃˃
Inquiry into the role of Commonwealth, state and territory governments in addressing the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers This submission highlighted the work being done nationally to collaborate and share findings on the mental health of fire and emergency service personnel through AFAC and the AFAC Mental Health and Wellbeing Network. AFAC were also represented at a public hearing for this inquiry.
˃˃
Inquiry into the impact on the agricultural sector of vegetation and land management policies, regulations and restrictions This submission demonstrated the work being done in the industry around land management, including the Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning’s National Burning Project, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System program and through the AFAC Collaboration Framework.
˃˃
Inquiry into the provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency services at Australian airports AFAC’s submission stated that the provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency services at Australian airports is currently supported by appropriate planning, operational readiness and multi-agency training exercises at all airports, as stated in each Aerodrome/Airport Emergency Plan. AFAC and AFAC member agencies support the current structure of Airservices Australia Aviation Rescue Firefighting Services.
New AFAC Doctrine added this year includes: ˃˃
Community Messaging for the Use of the NBN in Emergency Events
˃˃
Data Quality Assessment
˃˃
Emergency Services Support Role to Deliberate High Threat Incidents
˃˃
Fire and Emergency Services and Climate Change
˃˃
Fire Safety in the Built Environment
˃˃
Intervention Programs for Juveniles with Fire Risk Behaviours
˃˃
Managing Bushfire Smoke Exposure
˃˃
Managing Tree Hazards
28
02
Key projects
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS ACHIEVEMENT REPORT 2018 The Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021 provide guidance to fire and emergency services to ensure activities are focused on supporting resilient communities, trusted response, credible and timely information, effective governance and research. They ensure emergency management organisations are positioned to better meet challenges of changing community needs and expectations, an ageing, growing and diverse population, natural disasters, national security and organisational change. The work undertaken by AFAC and its members goes to the heart of the overarching principles articulated in the Strategic Directions: primacy of life, trust and confidence, interoperability, and accountability. AFAC presents an annual Strategic Directions Achievement Report referenced against the Strategic Directions. The 2018 report is provided to ministers who have responsibility for policing and emergency services. Through 25 selected initiatives, the report demonstrates the work that has been completed over 12 months by all jurisdictions in conjunction with AFAC members and our partner agencies. The 2018 report offers a sample of initiatives undertaken rather than an exhaustive list of all work relating to the Strategic Directions. Together, these initiatives support a more disaster resilient Australia by demonstrating a level of national capability, based on operational readiness and underpinned by the most current qualifications and standards available, alongside lessons management and research utilisation.
Strategic Direction Three — Source of credible and timely information: The Tottenham fire in Melbourne’s west took 16 days to extinguish and required frequent community updates. Photo: MFB
29
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
NATIONAL WARNINGS
STANDARDS INVOLVEMENT
In October 2017, the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee (CCOSC) committed to a nationally consistent threelevel warning framework across multiple hazards.
AFAC plays a key role in the development and revision of Australian and International Standards which advance and guide the interests of the broader emergency management sector. These include:
At that time, CCOSC acknowledged the divergent approaches to warnings frameworks in jurisdictions across Australia and committed to a consistent national warnings framework across all states and all hazards based on a three-level warning system.
˃˃
Standards Australia
˃˃
Joint Standards Australia and New Zealand Standards Committee (AS/NZS)
In response to this resolution, the AFAC Warnings Group established a project plan in February 2018 – Towards a National Warnings Framework.
˃˃
International Standards Organisation (ISO)
˃˃
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
˃˃
Fire Protection Association Australia (FPAA)
One of the project objectives was to establish a sound evidence base to move towards a national three-level warning framework for all hazards, including the review of existing research and identifying any requirements for further research.
˃˃
National Association of Steel-Framed Housing Inc. (NASH)
Over the past 12 months, one of the largest social science research projects ever conducted in Australia was undertaken. Led by the South Australian Country Fire Service on behalf of the AFAC Warnings Group, the research involved both quantitative and qualitative research. Two rounds of surveys and 49 focus groups have been conducted with communities across Australia, involving more than 12,000 individuals.
AFAC and its members have a significant voice to drive progress in the sector through the Standards Representatives Network. All AFAC member agencies are consulted when comment is provided in relation to the development or revision of Australian or International Standards, ensuring the collective view of AFAC member agencies is put forward. Primarily AFAC participation focuses on: ˃˃
management of fire related risks
˃˃
fire protection and fire safety
The research sought to understand how communities receive and respond to warnings and the actions they take.
˃˃
standards for firefighter’s personal protective equipment
˃˃
fire protection systems and equipment
Key findings were:
˃˃
fire safety systems and equipment
˃˃
The community supports a three-level warning system across multiple hazards.
˃˃
storage, transportation and handling of dangerous goods and hazardous materials.
˃˃
The community has clearly indicated that a warning system must be simple to understand and flexible. That is, the framework needs to be flexible to include other hazards and to ensure we maintain a consistent national warnings framework.
˃˃
There is no significant difference in results across jurisdictions or hazards.
This research will be used as the evidence base to develop a national three level warning system for multiple hazards across Australia.
30
02
Key projects
AFAC IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED ON THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS COMMIT TEES Community Safety Group
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience MB-025
Public Safety, Public Administration, Business and Management/Security Built Environment and Planning Technical Group
BD-058
Thermal Insulation
BD-066
Tiltup Construction
CE-030
Maritime Structures
CS-062
Solid Fuel Burning Appliances
EL-005
Secondary Batteries
EL-042
Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems
FP-001
Maintenance of Fire Protection Equipment
FP-002
Fire Detection, Warning, Control and Intercom Systems
FP-002-01
Installation Standards
FP-002-02
Product/Panel
FP-002-03
Network Monitoring
FP-003
Fire Extinguishers
FP-004
Automatic Fire Sprinkler Installations
FP-004-03
Combined Sprinkler and Fire Hydrant Systems
FP-008
Fire Pumps and Tanks
FP-009
Fire Hydrant Installations
FP-009-01
Drafting Subcommittee AS 2419.1
FP-011
Special Hazard Fire Protection Systems
FP-017
Emergency Management Procedures
FP-018
Fire Safety
FP-019
Passive Fire Protection (Chair)
FP-020
Construction in Bushfire Prone Areas
FP-022
Fire Protection of Mobile and Transportable Equipment
LG-007
Emergency Lighting Buildings
ME-004
Lift Installations
ME-062
Ventilation and Airconditioning
ME-062-01 Ventilation and Airconditioning ME-062-09 Ventilation and Airconditioning FPAA101
Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems Design and Installation
NASH
Steel Framed Construction in Bushfire Areas
EL-003
Electric wires and cables Hazmat and CBRN Technical Group
CH-009
Safe Handling of Chemicals
CH-009-01
Emergency Response Guide Working Group
CH-009-02
Compressed Gases, Flammable Gases and Poisonous Gases
CH-009-04
Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustion
CH-009-05
Oxidising Substances
CH-009-08
Corrosive Substances
ME-002
Gas Cylinders
ME-015
Storage and Handling - LPG
ME-017
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
ME-057
Road Tankers for Hazardous Liquids and Gases
ME-070
Liquefied Natural Gas Storage and Handling
ME-093
Hydrogen Technologies Operational Equipment Technical Group
ME-030
Pumps PPE Technical Group
SF-003
Occupational Protective Footwear
SF-006
Eye and Face Protection
SF-010
Occupational Respiratory Protection
SF-018
Occupational Protective Helmets
SF-049
Firefighters PPE
SF-050
High Visibility Clothing
SF-052
Occupational Protective Clothing and Equipment
SF-053
Occupational Protective Clothing
TX-021
Sun Protective Clothing
TC/94
Personal Safety–Protective clothing and Equipment (Chair)*
TC 94/SC13 Personal Protective clothing* TC 94/SC14 Firefighters personal equipment* TC 94/SC14 Respiratory Protective Device (RPD)* - SC15 JWG NFPA
NFPA Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services PPE*
*International Standards Committee
31
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK AFAC COUNCIL
AFAC BOARD
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AN 1 — SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
2 — PROVIDING TRUSTED RESPONSE
Community Safety Group
AIIMS Steering Group
Climate Change Group
SES Community Safety Group
Learning and Development Group
Predictive Services Group
Rural and Land Management Group
Warnings Group
SES Operations Group
Predictive Services (Bushfire) Practitioners Network
Built Environment and Bushfire Planning Technical Group Community Engagement Technical Group Fire Engineering Network
Urban Operations Group
Fire Investigation Network
Fire and Emergency Aviation Technical Group
Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network
Hazardous Materials (CBRN) Technical Group Rescue Technical Group Work Health and Safety Technical Group Computer Simulation Network
32
3 — SOURCE OF CREDIBLE AND TIMELY INFORMATION
02
Key projects
CCOSC
ND NEW ZEALAND 2017–2021 4 — EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
5 — INFORMED BY KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH
Collaborative Procurement Business Strategy Group
AFAC Research Committee
Diversity and Inclusion Group
Knowledge, Innovation and Research Utilisation Network
TECHNICAL GROUP
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
PANEL
Workforce Management Group
Fleet Technical Group
Operational Equipment Technical Group
Operational Performance Technical Group Personal Protective Equipment Technical Group Volunteer Management Technical Group
GROUP NETWORK
Each Group, Technical Group and Network is listed under the Strategic Direction that best suits its remit, however all groups are underpinned by Strategic Directions Four and Five. All AFAC collaboration activities are informed by knowledge and research (Strategic Direction Five), and all work to achieve effective governance and resource management for AFAC members (Strategic Direction Four). *Accurate as at May 2019
Employee Relations Network
Mental Health and Wellbeing Network
Standards Representatives Network Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme Panel
33
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
03
E VENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DE VELOPMENT AFAC’s program of events and professional development provides AFAC members and the broader emergency management community with valuable opportunities for the ongoing development of skills and capability. As part of our knowledge management strategy, we have developed activities and program specifically targeted to exchange knowledge and professional interaction. Here are some of the highlights from the past year.
34
03
Events and professional development
35
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
LESSONS MANAGEMENT FORUM
EMERGENCY SERVICES HEALTH DUE DILIGENCE MASTERCLASS
More than 130 delegates representing a diverse range of sectors from locations as varied as the United States, New Zealand and Australia attended the annual Lessons Management event.
The masterclass, sponsored by Emergency Services Health and hosted by Fire and Rescue NSW, focussed on the needs of executive leaders and work health and safety staff who are committed to ensuring due diligence is exercised across everyday operations in emergency service organisations. Over 30 participants participated in the masterclass, representing fire and emergency services from across NSW, Surf Life Saving, ACT Ambulance and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Keynote speakers from sectors such as defence, health, airservices, transport, federal agencies and fire and emergency came together in Sydney for the two-day forum to share their learning, insights and perspectives on effective lessons management, culture, trends, recovery, learnings, research utilisation and innovative operational capability to name a few. The major theme of the forum was ‘are we learning?’ Many key themes around this were explored over the two days, including lessons, insights, frameworks, communications, capabilities and leadership.
The masterclass was led by Katherine Morris, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright law firm. Katherine Morris’ presentation covered duties under the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS), a systematic approach to risk management and current trends in regulator activity. She also applied the issues associated with risk to several case law examples. Katherine’s insights and recommendations are the culmination of many years of experience gained across high safety risk industries including construction, property, transport, and energy and resources. In her session, participants engaged actively in discussions on case studies and WHS implications for fire and emergency services agencies. The key principles covered in Katherine’ session were expanded upon by a subsequent session led by Paul Considine, Director Capability and Assurance AFAC, who led an examination of a case study based on the Galston mine incident in Scotland. The masterclass highlighted the benefits and opportunities of sharing WHS legal knowledge between presenters and participants working in diverse organisations. The sharing and collaboration opportunity provided enormous benefits to the participants and this was reiterated in the event feedback.
36
01
Events and professional development
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE EVENT SERIES: MULTI-HAZARDS AND RESOURCE SHARING Longer operational seasons and the complexities of climate change are increasing the pressure on existing fire and emergency service resources and workforces. In addition, multiple and compounding events further complicate the emergency response process, requiring an increase in response capability and crossborder deployments. The 2019 Motorola Solutions Knowledge Event Series examined these issues from an international and local perspective with guest speakers Fire Chief and Emergency Manager Patrick Shipp from the City of Webster in Houston, Assistant Commissioner Steve Yorke, from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Luke Purcell, Manager AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC). Chief Shipp presented on the operational lessons and challenges from multi-hazard events including the national level space target hazard, Hurricane Harvey, wildfires and human-made disasters, sharing his professional insights and answering questions from the audience. Assistant Commissioner Yorke and Luke Purcell provided an Australian perspective on resource sharing, drawn from his extensive involvement in interstate and international deployments with the AFAC NRSC. For the first time, the series travelled to all capital cities in Australia and New Zealand and engaged over 600 people. Attendees gained valuable insights about the importance of effective coordination and communication with different agencies during operational periods.
Patrick Shipp presents at the Motorola Soultions Knowledge Event. Photo: AFAC
37
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE On Wednesday, May 1, AFAC hosted its annual National Memorial Service to remember and reflect upon the commitment of fire and emergency service personnel across Australia and New Zealand who have died in the line of duty. Held at the National Emergency Services Memorial on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, families were presented with an AFAC Memorial Medallion and 23 names were added to the Memorial Wall. Established last year to record the names of fire and emergency personnel who have died in the line of duty, the Memorial Wall now holds the names of 528 personnel. The National Memorial Service was officiated by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and attended by the High Commissioner New Zealand, Her Excellency the Honourable Dame Annette King. AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis introduced the day’s proceedings and said the occasion was of tremendous importance to the fire and emergency service sector and the families that support them. ‘Your presence here today, the presentation of an AFAC Memorial Medallion to families and the inscription of names who have died on duty onto the Memorial Wall, hopefully in some small way, provides national recognition and a level of comfort to those who have lost so much,’ Stuart Ellis said. ‘May they know that, our industry, our communities and our countries acknowledge their loss and offer our support.’
Lady Cosgrove, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and AFAC President Paul Baxter present a wreath at the National Memorial, Canberra. Photos: Gary Hooker
38
03
Events and professional development topic
39
AFAC
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC SIMULATION FORUM
NAFC FIRE AND EMERGENCY AVIATION SIMULATION SUMMIT
The use of simulation in the fire and emergency services is increasing and many are exploring its potential for business and capability development. AFAC, in conjunction with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC), held a Simulation Forum in Melbourne in 2019 focussed on the theme ‘exploring trends and future opportunities in simulation.’ The forum was designed for senior executives considering the adoption of simulation for incident management, aviation or other operational capability, alongside learning and development personnel and trainers involved in capability development, delivery and evaluation of training. The forum supported a half-day summit after the event to develop a business model for the use of simulation to build aviation management and support capability within the fire and emergency services sector.
The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) held the Fire and Emergency Aviation Simulation Summit on the morning of 20 June, following on from the AFAC Simulation Forum the day before. The summit was part of an ongoing project examining the potential for simulation to support and enhance aviation training and skills maintenance.
The Simulation Forum combined leading thinking and practice in the field of simulation, both in the public and private sector within Australia and internationally. The expert group of presenters explored how simulation has been combined with predictive models and other technologies within their organisations to meet multiple business and capability requirements. Presenters came from Melbourne University, Epworth HealthCare, the OPAQUE Group, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Geoscience Australia, CrisisSim and Crossbow Consulting Services. Over 40 participants attended the forum, representing 16 AFAC member agencies and some private companies. Feedback from participants was very positive and confirmed the presentations at the forum increased their understanding of how simulation can be combined with other approaches to support capability development and maintenance. The sharing of expertise and subsequent discussions provided an opportunity for participants to consider how simulation can build industry capability and improve performance.
40
Personnel from agencies across Australia and New Zealand attended, marking the first occasion that key aviation simulation practitioners have come together to understand the current and potential state of aviation simulation capability, tools and techniques. A summary of investigations from the ongoing simulation project and case studies were presented to create a snapshot of the current landscape. This was followed by blue sky thinking exercises that stimulated thinking and vigorous discussion on the potential direction of a national framework. Outcomes of the summit will be captured as part of the report to the NAFC Strategic Committee and will inform future strategic directions on the use of simulation in aviation. NAFC thanks all participants for their enthusiastic contribution. The summit was a successful and important step in continuing national collaboration in this space.
03
Events and professional development
EXECUTIVE FORUM The Executive Forum is a professional development and networking event targeted at Commissioners, Chief Officers, Chief Executive Officers and Fire Managers. The forum provides an opportunity for senior leaders to reflect on strategic and operational challenges amongst their peers. The program featured presentations on major events in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, offering an insight into the associated challenges and learnings. This was followed by sessions on fire service delivery and the Resilient Melbourne initiative, with Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers providing insights on leadership and working with politicians. A highlight of the event was keynote speaker the Honourable Troy Grant offering his reflections from his time as NSW Minister for Emergency Services, including personal insights into working collaboratively with government. The forum concluded with an open forum session, where delegates were able to share insights and challenges within a supportive environment. The Executive Forum was well received, with 97 percent of respondents acknowledging that the forum is valuable and 100 percent confirming that the event increased their knowledge and understanding of operational and leadership challenges.
AFAC President Paul Baxter at the Executive Forum. Photo: AFAC
41
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
SENIOR OFFICER COHORT FORUM
AFAC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
The AFAC National Council has recognised the need to support and develop those in our industry who aspire to, and show potential for, the most senior roles in AFAC member agencies. As such, the Senior Officer Cohort (SOC) was established, with nominations sought from Council.
AFAC, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM), offered a number of professional development courses during the financial year. Representatives from the emergency management sector across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong attended the range of programs. AFAC member agencies had a combined total of more than 90 delegates in attendance during the 2018–19 financial year.
They key event for the SOC was the 2019 SOC Forum, which was held ahead of the AFAC Executive Forum in Melbourne and invited participants to meet for a combined afternoon session and networking dinner. The SOC program covered a broad range of topics, including:
The courses offered through AIPM: ˃˃
Graduate Certificate in Applied Management
˃˃
Graduate Diploma of Executive Leadership Strategic Command Program
˃˃
briefings on AFAC, EMPS and executive development
˃˃
˃˃
leading by Leadership Victoria
˃˃
NZ Police Leadership Strategy
˃˃
executive presentation skills
˃˃
Frontline: Developing Future Leaders Programs
˃˃
course offerings and approaches from the Barrington Centre
˃˃
Balance: Women Leaders in Public Safety
˃˃
trends in strategic leadership
˃˃
Facilitate: Building Learning Organisations Workshop
˃˃
reflections from a former Commissioner.
˃˃
Evolve: Leading in Complex Environments
The event was well received by delegates, with 75 percent of survey respondents agreeing that the forum increased their knowledge and understanding and 80 percent of respondents rating the combined session with the Executive Forum delegates as very good or excellent. A significant outcome of the event was the decision to rename the SOC as the Senior Leadership Cohort to better reflect broader participation beyond operational officers.
42
A number of AFAC agency member representatives also took on the role of Visiting Fellow for the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Balance Program across the financial year. The Visiting Fellow program not only provided professional development opportunities for the incumbents, but also the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience and provide mentoring and leadership advice to course participants.
03
Events and professional development
Attendees at an AFAC Leadership Program course at AIPM, Sydney. Photos: AIPM
43
AFAC
AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ, Perth. Photos: AFAC
44
Annual Report 2018 – 19
03
AFAC18
The premier annual conference for the emergency management sector, AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ, returned to Perth for the first time in six years. Over 2,800 attendees came together, including a record number of 1,433 delegates, to explore the latest in emergency management research and practice. The event ran from 5–8 September 2018 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was held concurrently with the inaugural AIDR Australian Disaster Resilience Conference (ADRC), bringing the critical topics of emergency services and disaster resilience together for the first time. ‘The conference theme, changing lives in a changing world, encouraged attendees to think about the future of fire and emergency services and the direction of our industry,’ AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis said. ‘The impressive schedule of speakers on stage and an extensive display of technology, equipment at the expo helped us to imagine what is possible for the sector, and the partnership with ADRC allows us to take a more holistic approach to protecting our communities.’ The event opened with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum, featuring keynote speakers Senior Principal Research Scientist of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA Dr Neil Burrows and Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science Anna-Maria Arabia. Keynote speakers on the AFAC18 included President Obama’s former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Singapore’s Civil Defence Force Commissioner Eric Yap, First Assistant Secretary of the National Resilience Taskforce Mark Crosweller AFSM, former NASA Astronaut Mike Mullane and Dr Dana Born from the Centre for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Presentations continued across the six-stream program, with over 140 speakers sharing their knowledge with delegates. The exhibition was very popular with attendees and offered a chance to engage with the industry tools of the future. The AFAC conference is considered by exhibitors as a key event to engage with the public safety community and develop new ideas to better serve the sector. Also featured was a comprehensive Expo Stage program, live demonstrations and the AIDR Knowledge Centre, which displayed over 130 posters that shared insights into research and practice across the sector. Complementing the conference program and exhibition was an engaging Professional Development Program, offering three on-site workshops and two field trips, to give participants a deeper understanding of subject matter areas. The success of the AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ reflected on support of the host agencies: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, and the work of the conference committees.
45
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
04
46
RECOGNITION OF ACHIE VEMENT — S E C T O R AWA R D S
04
Recognition of achievement — sector awards
47
AFAC
Annual Report 2018 – 19
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION AWARDS
STEWART AND HEATON LEADING PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARD
The Motorola Solutions Knowledge Innovation Awards recognise innovative contributions to the knowledge of the emergency management sector over the past year.
The inaugural Stewart and Heaton Leading Practice in Mental Health Award was presented to South Australian Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Service (SAMFS) at AFAC18 in Perth.
In 2018 the individual award was presented to Zoe Mounsey, Senior Research Programme Advisor, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) in recognition of her implementation of new ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of research utilisation. As part of this initiative, the research lifecycle was incorporated into a new research framework, Zoe established a new research governance steering committee and also developed FENZ’s research strategy.
The award acknowledged the establishment of a dedicated Wellness and Safety Department following the review of the University of Adelaide Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies health and wellbeing study of SAMFS firefighters in 2014. This study produced leading-edge research in this area in Australia.
Bushfires NT received the agency award for the development of the Bushfire Emergency Management System (BEMS), which digitises staff and volunteer operations data to a central webbased solution. This innovative solution has improved the ability of volunteers and staff to share information relating to permits to burn, planned burns, incident management and public information.
48
The SAMFS Wellness and Safety Department’s three current initiatives include mental health first aid training and the associated launch of the first mental health first aid training film What if I can’t Cope, exposure to trauma monitoring and a transition to retirement program.
04
Recognition of achievement — sector awards
LAURIE LAVELLE ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD The Achiever of the Year Award recognises Laurie Lavelle’s lifelong commitment to the emergency services in Australia as a longstanding Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board and inaugural Chief Executive Officer of AFAC from 1993–2001. The objective of this award is to recognise the efforts of an individual who has undertaken a role within an AFAC member agency that has contributed significantly to enhancing the knowledge, skills, operations, performance or public profile in the emergency services sector in Australasia. Dr Simon Heemstra, Manager Planning and Predictive Services, NSW Rural Fire Service, was the 2018 award winner. Simon was recognised for his leadership in the development of the Fire Behaviour Analyst Unit at the NSW Rural Fire Service, his leadership of predictive services at a national level and his pivotal role in establishing the AFAC Climate Change Group.
49
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
05
50
A FA C C O L L A B O R AT I O N
05
AFAC collaboration
51
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
34
100
Groups and networks in the Collaboration Framework
875
Group meetings and teleconferences
Group members
AFAC COLLABORATION Through collaboration, AFAC assists the emergency management sector to identify and achieve strategic and operational priorities. Collaboration occurs through sharing knowledge and exchanging insights, exploring opportunities and creating solutions.
This approach enables members to consider common challenges, generate solutions, develop positions and inspire new directions in practice.
The AFAC Collaboration Framework is aligned to the Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021.
52
DIRECTION 1
DIRECTION 2
DIRECTION 3
DIRECTION 4
DIRECTION 5
Supporting resilient communities
Providing trusted response
The source of credible and timely information
Effective governance and resource management
Informed by knowledge and research
05
AFAC collaboration
DIRECTION 1 | Supporting resilient communities
COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP Darren Klemm, DFES-WA Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Amanda Leck, AFAC Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC Colin Lindsay, SA-MFS Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA Glenn Benham, SA-MFS Jamie Hansen, CFA-VIC Jennifer O’Beirne, FFMV-DELWP Jennifer Wolcott, EMV Lucy Saaroni, CFA-VIC Mark Edwards, GA Mark Kahler, QFES Mark Whybro, FRNSW Martin Braid, MFB-VIC Rick Curtis, DFES-WA Rob Saunders, FENZ Sandra Whight, TFS Simon Burt, NTFRES Steve Cameron, EMV Trent Curtin, MFB-VIC
Chris Beattie, SA-SES Kate White, VIC-SES Amanda Leck, AFAC Ailsa Schofield, NSWSES April Ryan, SLSA Chris Irvine, TAS-SES Colleen Ridge, TAS-SES Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA
Daniel Greig, TFS David Boverman, NSWRFS
Peter Wilding, FENZ Ivan West, AFAC
Mark Whybro, FRNSW
David Kearsley, CFA-VIC
Anthony Miles, NTFRES
Ivan West, AFAC
David Kubler, SA-MFS
Ben Millington, NSWRFS
Allan Oates, NTFRES
Gavin Maund, DFES-WA
Cheryl Cook, NSWRFS
Allan Riley, DFES-WA
Jamie Vistnes, FRNSW
Dale Rayner, TFS
Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC
Joe Gomez, Airservices
David Groer, Airservices
Andrew Sharrad, SA-MFS
Steven McKee, QFES
Gary Baxter, DFES-WA
Anthony McKinnon, NTFRES Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA Colin Paton, SA-CFS Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Daniel Greig, TFS David Lewis, FRNSW Gary Baxter, DFES-WA Gavin Maund, DFES-WA Gavin Rooney, MFB-VIC Ian Shepherd, QFES Marcus Morgan, NSWSES Mark Carter, MFB-VIC Simon Davis, FENZ
BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING TECHNICAL GROUP — BUSHFIRE PLANNING WORK GROUP Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Ivan West, AFAC Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS David Boverman, NSWRFS Greg Potts, ACT-ESA Jackson Parker, DFES-WA James Haig, QFES Leah Bertholini, SA-CFS Len Leslie, CFA-VIC
Geoff Townsley, QFES
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS Amanda Leck, AFAC Amanda Moore, OEM-NSW Anthony Bradstreet, NSWRFS Brigid Little, AIDR Colleen Ridge, TAS-SES David Webber, NSWSES Fiona Amundson, ACT-ESA Greg Howard, SA-MFS Heidi Farnden, NTFRES Jen Dick, DEW-SA
George Xydias, VIC Police Graham Kingsland, FRNSW Leslie Vearing, FFMV-DELWP Mark Klop, TFS Nicole Harvey, CFA-VIC Peter Jones, DFES-WA Phillip Crossley, SA-MFS Richard Maloney, ACT-ESA Shaun Ruxton, SA-MFS Tim Mitchell, FENZ Timothy Landells, MFB-VIC
PACIFIC ISLANDS LIAISON OFFICERS NETWORK
Julie Harris, MFB-VIC
Barry Gray, MFB-VIC
Karen Enbom, CFA-VIC
Luke Purcell, AFAC
Keiran Stone, SLSA
Adam Dewberry, FRNSW
Ken Baulch, Bushfires NT
Ben Millington, NSWRFS
Kristina Riley, Bushfires NT
Brad Commens, QFES
Liz Connell, SA-SES
Glenn Benham, SA-MFS
Michael Morris, FRNSW
Glenn Brewer, ACT-ESA
Muriel Leclercq, DFES-WA
Greg Newton, NSWSES
Nicole Hogan, NSWSES
Ian Pickard, FENZ
Paul Harris, CFA-VIC
Jeremy Smith, TFS
Rob Saunders, FENZ
Matt Davis, SA-CFS
Sandra Barber, TFS
Patrick Haines, SPC
Shane Daw, SLSA
Rodney Evans, Airservices
Mark Chladil, TFS
Nicholas Cowham, NTFRES
FIRE ENGINEERING NETWORK
Steve Cameron, EMV
Terry Trewin, NTFRES
Steve Dorman, MFB-VIC
Tony O’Day, CFA-VIC
Simon Davis, FENZ
Susan Davie, VIC-SES
Ivan West, AFAC
Suzanne Blyth, DFES-WA
Rick Curtis, DFES-WA
Amy Seppelt, SA-MFS
Troy Davies, QFES
Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA
Vinny Schar, SA-MFS
AFAC Manager
Liz Connell, SA-SES
Outgoing Current
Deputy Chair
Eamonn Lennon, QFES
Cihan Soylemez, MFB-VIC
FIRE INVESTIGATION NETWORK
Chair
Brian Cox, QFES
Chris White, ACT-ESA
Council Sponsor
SES COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP
BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING TECHNICAL GROUP — BUILT ENVIRONMENT WORK GROUP
53
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
DIRECTION 2 | Providing trusted response
AIIMS STEERING GROUP
Greg Butters, TFS
Chris Gibson, ForestrySA
Kaylene Jones, NSWSES
James Harington, Airservices
Darrin McKenzie, FFMV-DELWP
Kyle Stewart, NSWSES
Andrew Stark, SA-CFS
Jeannie Cotterell, ACT-ESA
Dasarath Jayasuriya, BOM
Leon Smith, TAS-SES
Cain Trist, EMV
Jemma Krasowski, SA-MFS
Dave Gossage, CAVFA
Lloyd Bailey, DFES-WA
Chris Quinn, Airservices
Jodie Stevenson, TFS
Dean Sheehan, STTAS
Murray Copas, SLSA
Craig Patterson, SA Police
Joshua Humphrey, VIC-SES
Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC
Paul Carr, DFES-WA
Craig Waters, DFES-WA
Kevin Archer, OEM-NSW
Evan Morgan, BOM
Paul Turner, FENZ
Dave Hunt, DCNZ
Lawrence Arps, FENZ
Fiona Gill, DEW-SA
Robert Landon, NSWSES
David Coetzee, MCDEM-NZ
Leigh Ridge, SA-SES
Glenn Benham, SA-MFS
Shane Daw, SLSA
David Nugent, PARKSVIC
Liz Walker, NTFRES
Graham Swift, DFES-WA
Tim Wiebusch, VIC-SES
Gavin Freeman, CFA-VIC
Marc Bellette, DHHS-VIC
James Haig, QFES
Greg Newton, NSWSES
Mark Beech, ACT PCS
Jason Heffernan, NSWRFS
Greg Rankin, FRNSW
Mark Harriott, ACT-ESA
Jeffrey Harper, TFS
Iain Mackenzie, IGEM-QLD
Michael Dwyer, QFES
Jeremy Smith, TFS
John Cawcutt, QFES
Michael Fleming, AMSA
Joe Murphy, ACT-ESA
Malcolm Cronstedt, DFES-WA
Nicholas de Rozario, DEW-SA
John Bates, BNHCRC
Mark Brown, ACT-ESA
Pamela Simon, SLSA
Kevin O’Connor, FENZ
Murray Carter, DFES-WA
Paul Wallworth, VIC-SES
Leigh Kleinschmidt, HQP-QLD
Paul McGuiggan, FRNSW
Penny Dunstan, CFA-VIC
Luigi Cucchiaro, NTFRES
Paul Ryan, DFES-WA
Rachel Rowett, SA-SES
Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW
Paul Seager, OEH-NSW
Richard Boykett, DBCA-WA, PWS
Paul Bailey, FRNSW
Scott Cashmere, AMSA
Peter Leeson, QPWS
Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC
Paul Turner, FENZ Robert Charlton, SA-SES Scott Hanckel, NSWSES
Serena Eales, SA-CFS
Simon Rickard, Australian Red Cross
Sherri Adcock, QFES
Steve Davies, Airservices
Stephen Glassock, NSWRFS
Stuart Ellis, AFAC
Stevie-Lee Knott, FRNSW
Stuart Midgley, NSWRFS
Susan Gronow, FRNSW
Susan Fayers, EMV
Tony Duckmanton, CFA-VIC
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW
Sonya Oyston, NSWSES
Wendy Blair, OEH-NSW
RURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT GROUP
Cassandra Curtis, SA-CFS
Neil Cooper, ACT PCS
Sandra Lunardi, AFAC
Murray Carter, DFES-WA
Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA
Greg Esnouf, AFAC
Craig Waters, DFES-WA
Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC
Daniel Catrice, FFMV-DELWP
Andrew Dunn, HQP-QLD
Deborah Parsons, SA-MFS
Andrew Graystone, PARKSVIC
Douglas King, QFES
Bryan Jensen, DCNZ
Eric Claussen, OEH-NSW
Chandra Wood, Brisbane City Council
Fadia Mitri, MFB-VIC
54
Paul Black, PWS-TAS Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS Rob Sandford, SA-CFS Robert McNeil, FRNSW Shoni Maguire, BOM Stefan de Haan, DBCA-WA, PWS Tim McGuffog, ForestryNSW Tim Mitchell, FENZ Tim Sanders, Melbourne Water
SES OPERATIONS GROUP
URBAN OPERATIONS GROUP Greg Crossman, SA-MFS Dan Stephens, MFB-VIC Gavin Freeman, CFA-VIC Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Brad Stringer, DFES-WA Bruce Byatt, TFS Daniel Austin, SA-CFS David Bruce, MFB-VIC Gary Gifford, DFES-WA Jim Hamilton, FRNSW Joe Gomez, Airservices John Watson, QFES Lloyd Bailey, DFES-WA Mark Brown, ACT-ESA Mark Spain, NTFRES Michael Morgan, SA-MFS Paul Fletcher, SA-MFS Paul Jones, NSWRFS Paul Salter, TFS Paul Turner, FENZ
Mark Smethurst, NSWSES
Trevor Arnold, SA-SES
Peter Jeffrey, QFES
FIRE AND EMERGENCY AVIATION TECHNICAL GROUP
Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Brian Cox, QFES
Andrew Stark, SA-CFS
Dermot Barry, SA-SES
Andrew Griffiths, AMSA
Gary Gifford, DFES-WA
Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT
Greg Newton, NSWSES
Anthony Ferguson, NSWRFS
Jason Collins, NTFRES
Brad Bourke, DBCA-WA, PWS
Jeffrey Butler, ACT-ESA
Brad Commins, DBCA-WA, PWS
05
AFAC collaboration
Corey Dunn, SA-CFS
Jim Dittmar, Airservices
David Pearce, SA-CFS
Krystle Mitchell, SA-MFS
Derek Parks, DFES-WA
Matthew Allen, CFA-VIC
Glenn Crombie, NSW NPWS
Michael Logan, QFES
COMPUTER SIMULATION NETWORK Aaron Stockton, CFA-VIC Sandra Lunardi, AFAC
Graeme Dudley, FFMV-DELWP John Kingsbury, FENZ Leah Parlour, DFES-WA Maria Lambrinos, FFMV-DELWP
Ian Millman, FENZ
Michael Shepherd, SA-MFS
Adam Shearer, SA-CFS
Luke Patterson, CFA-VIC
Pat Jones, ACT-ESA
Antony Sadler, DFES-WA
Matthew Watson, DFES-WA
Martin Gibson, QFES
Paul Beylerian, FRNSW
Chris Mower, SA-MFS
Michael Cosgrove, DPFEM
Martin Piesse, STTAS
Paul Johnstone, FRNSW
James Hall, MFB-VIC
Neil Mott, Airservices
Matt Plucinski, CSIRO
Peter Cleary, FRNSW
Lee Hume, FRNSW
Nicole Middleton, FFMV-DELWP
Michelle Jenkins, NSWSES
Stuart Males, TFS
Logan Leahy, FENZ
Peter Manley, ACT-ESA
Neil Brooksbank, TFS
Terry Trewin, NTFRES
Lyneece Naylon, SA-CFS
Peter Pera, FRNSW
Nik Stanley, SA-CFS
Trudy Geoghegan, FENZ
Mitchell Fitzgerald, SA-CFS
Phil Collins, DBCA-WA, PWS
Raymond Jasper, VIC-SES
Victor Lenting, FENZ
Nathan Smith, Airservices
Richard Gorey, QFES
Richard Alder, NAFC
Wayne Atkins, SA-CFS
Paul Cockerill, CFA-VIC
Robin Marlin, SA-CFS
Richard McNamara, FENZ
Will Klinge, MFB-VIC
Paul Durston, QFES
Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA
Paul Hattink, QFES
Sandra Taylor, QFES
Peter Carter, NSWRFS
Sylvia Hudson, CFA-VIC
Robert Lightfoot, FRNSW
Terese Howlett, VIC-SES
Roy Veal, FENZ
Troy Morrisby, DPFEM
Terry Jarvis, DFES-WA
Xave Watson, FFMV-DELWP
Robert Landon, NSWSES Rohan Scott, ACT-ESA Viki Campbell, NSWRFS Wayne Rigg, CFA-VIC
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR TECHNICAL GROUP
Jim Hamilton, FRNSW Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Andrew Beattyman, Airservices Barry Byrne, MFB-VIC Darren Simon, CFA-VIC David Gill, DFES-WA David Imhoff, AMSA Gary Osborne, NTFRES Greg Howard, SA-MFS Jeff Harper, QFES Jeffrey Davis, DFES-WA
Luke Purcell, AFAC Alan Crossman, DFES-WA Colin Lindsay, SA-MFS Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC Garth Lawrence, DFES-WA Gary Osborne, NTFRES George Arnold, MFB-VIC Graeme Hall, QFES Ian Duncan, FENZ Mark Dobson, TFS Paul Bailey, FRNSW Peter Mason, SA-MFS Rebecca Hosking, DHA-EMA Rick Owen, CFA-VIC Robert Landon, NSWSES Trevor Arnold, SA-SES
WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICAL GROUP Outgoing Current
Karen Roberts, DFES-WA David Kemp, SAFECOM Jeff Green, CFA-VIC Sandra Lunardi, AFAC Alison Donohoe, FRNSW Andrew Pitt, DPFEM Andrew Taylor, TFS Anthony Dodd, VIC-SES Brendan Mott, FRNSW Col Strawbridge, MFB-VIC Darren Crawford, DEW-SA
Deputy Chair
Dean Harrison, Airservices
Pat Jones, ACT-ESA
Chair
Brett Cowcher, MFB-VIC
Formerly Urban Search and Rescue and Technical Rescue Technical Group
Council Sponsor
Formerly Hazardous Materials Technical Group
RESCUE TECHNICAL GROUP
Mathew Grant, FRNSW
David Heslop, NSWRFS David Savio, MFB-VIC Gary Zuiderwyk, NSWSES Glen Cook, SA-MFS
AFAC Manager
55
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
DIRECTION 3 | The source of credible and timely information
PREDICTIVE SERVICES GROUP
Lucy Saaroni, CFA-VIC
Damon Ezis, DEW-SA
Mark Cunnington, NTFRES
Dan Jones, PARKSVIC
Shane Fitzsimmons, NSWRFS
Mark Spain, NTFRES
Daniel Heinrichs, CFA-VIC
Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS
Matthew Aitchison, SAFECOM
Darcy Prior, FFMV-DELWP
Mike Wouters, DEW-SA
Mhairi Revie, TAS-SES
Dave Atkins, DBCA-WA, PWS
Greg Esnouf, AFAC
Nicholas Kuster, NSWSES
David Field, NSWRFS
Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC
Nicola Moore, IGEM-QLD
David McKenna, DEW-SA
Alice Gower, FFMV-DELWP
Nicole Ely, SA-MFS
David Philp, NSWRFS
Andrew Sturgess, QFES
Peta Miller-Rose, QFES
David Taylor, PWS-TAS
Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT
Peter Middleton, TFS
Dean Putting, CFA-VIC
Brian Levine, ACT PCS
Phil Nickerson, IGEM-QLD
Duncan Watt, ForestryNSW
Christopher Collins, TFS
Philip Lindsay, FRNSW
Eddie Staier, PWS-TAS
David Taylor, PWS-TAS
Reegan Key, EMV
Erin Heinrich, NSWRFS
Evan Morgan, BOM
Sascha Rundle, ABC
Francis Hine, QFES
Grant Pearce, FENZ
Shoni Maguire, BOM
Frazer Wilson, FFMV-DELWP
Hamish Webb, FFMV-DELWP
Sita Bacher, SAFECOM
Gareth George, CFA-VIC
Jackson Parker, DFES-WA
Tamsin Achilles, VIC-SES
Gavin Maund, DFES-WA
John Bates, BNHCRC Lachlan McCaw, DBCA-WA, PWS Natalie Tostovrsnik, FFMVDELWP Nick Lhuede, ACT-ESA
PREDICTIVE SERVICES PRACTITIONERS (BUSHFIRE) NETWORK
Geoff Selwood, NSWRFS Glen Daniel, DFES-WA Graeme Martin, QFES
Mike Wouters, DEW-SA
Graham Hardy, DFES-WA
Greg Esnouf, AFAC
Greg Mattingley, PARKSVIC
Meaghan Jenkins, Uni Wollongong Mika Peace, BOM Murray Mitchell, DBCA-WA, PWS Musa Kilinc, CFA-VIC Nathan Faggian, BOM Neil Burrows, DBCA-WA, PWS Nicholas Bauer, FFMV-DELWP Nicole Syme, DBCA-WA, PWS Nils Waite, NSWRFS Paul Cook, NSWRFS Paul Rampant, DBCA-WA, PWS Pedro Palheiro, DBCA-WA, PWS Rick McRae, ACT-ESA Rob Woodward, QFES Robert Haigh, Fraser Coast Regional Council Rochelle Richards, TFS Russell Stephens-Peacock, QFES Samuel Ferguson, TFS Sean Walsh, Uni Melb Sharon Merritt, CFA-VIC
Adam Whitchurch, PARKSVIC
Helen Bull, Obliqua Pty Ltd
Agnes Kristina, DFES-WA
Ian Tanner, DEW-SA
Tim Mitchell, FENZ
Ailish Germain, NSWRFS
Jackson Parker, DFES-WA
Alex Aitken, DFES-WA
Jamie Molloy, FFMV-DELWP
WARNINGS GROUP
Alex Otterbach, DEW-SA
Jason Sharples, Uni NSW
Katarina Carroll, QFES
Andrew Jones, NSWRFS
Jessica Ngo, CFA-VIC
Anthony Clark, NSWRFS
Andrew Sturgess, QFES
Jill Read, PARKSVIC
Amanda Leck, AFAC
Anne McLean, DEW-SA
Joanna Wand, FFMV-DELWP John Runcie, NSWRFS
Amy Miller, EMV
Anthony Cheesman, FFMVDELWP
Angela Gardner, CFA-VIC
Barry Heilbronn, QFES
Joshua Wong, FFMV-DELWP
Barry Gray, MFB-VIC
Ben Twomey, QFES
Justin Dally, CFA-VIC
Carla Mooney, BOM
Bradley Stewart, NSWRFS
Kathryn Schneider, PARKSVIC
Christina Hanger, CFA-VIC
Brett Beecham, DBCA-WA, PWS
Kelsey Tarabini, BNHCRC
Faruk Yay, DHA-EMA
Brett Loughlin, SA-CFS
Kent Barron, QFES
Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS
Brian Levine, ACT PCS
Valerie Densmore, DBCA-WA, PWS
Kerryn McTaggart, PARKSVIC
Casey Scholten, QFES
Wieslaw Lichacz, ACT-ESA
Graeme Wynwood, SA-SES
Lachlan McCaw, DBCA-WA, PWS
Hannah Tagore, DFES-WA
Cassidy Newland, DFES-WA
Laurence McCoy, NSWRFS
Hayley Gillespie, QFES
Chris Medlin, FFMV-DELWP
Mark Beech, ACT PCS
Jacob Riley, VIC-SES
Chris Quinn, NSWRFS
Mark Chladil, TFS
Jill Downard, DFES-WA
Christopher Collins, TFS
Matt Plucinski, CSIRO
Kaylee Rutland, ACT-ESA
Damien Dubrowin, OEH-NSW
Matthew Geiger, QFES
Noreen Krusel, AFAC Richard Thornton, BNHCRC
Ailsa Schofield, NSWSES
56
John Stoner, PARKSVIC
Simeon Telfer, DEW-SA Simon Dawson, QFES Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS Stephen Lewin, QFES Steve Nicholson, DBCA-WA, PWS Steve Summers Stu King, TFS Tim Hunt, CFA-VIC Tim McKern, CFA-VIC Timothy Groves, DEW-SA Timothy Wells, CFA-VIC Tom Denman, OEH-NSW Tony Smith, DBCA-WA, PWS
05
AFAC collaboration
DIRECTION 4 | Effective governance and resource management
COLLABORATIVE PROCUREMENT BUSINESS STRATEGY GROUP
Colin Thomas, MFB-VIC
Chris Pines, FRNSW
Chris Bowyer, ACT-ESA
Corinne Manning, MFB-VIC
Dan Jones, CFA-VIC
Chris Wells, FENZ
Daniel McLaughlin, PARKSVIC
Darren McQuade, MFB-VIC
Erin Baker, DPFEM
Derren Halleday, SA-SES
David Goreham, SA-MFS
Jason Elmer, DPFEM
Diana MacMullin, SA-SES
David Lloyd, QFES
Karen Roberts, DFES-WA
Greg Nettleton, SA-CFS
Francis Hines, FFMV-DELWP
Kathleen Iacurto, NSWSES
Guy Thomas, QPWS
Ian Tanner, DEW-SA
Frank Howe, DPFEM
Katrina Bahen, VIC-SES
Darren Stafford, FENZ
James Dullard, CFA-VIC
Gary Osborne, NTFRES
Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW
Kristy Phelps, SAFECOM
Jeremy Smith, TFS
Grant Wilson, NSWSES
Nancy Appleby, DFES-WA
Russell Shephard, AFAC
Karen Roberts, DFES-WA
Gregory Mason, ACT-ESA
Peter Button, SA-MFS
Angela Gruler, NTFRES
Katrina Bahen, VIC-SES
Ian Peisley, FRNSW
Shiona Somerville, SA-MFS
Anita Anderson, QFES
Lisa Greig, SAFECOM
Jason Jones, ACT-ESA
Trina Schmidt, NSWRFS
Anne Ward, Airservices
Lisa Jones, EMV
Jason Kleemann, SA-CFS
Arthur Tindall, AFAC
Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW
Jean Cresswell, FENZ
Chris Myers, VIC-SES
Mark Spain, NTFRES
Jeff Davis, QFES
Dan Jones, CFA-VIC
Matthew Brocklehurst, TAS-SES
John Gabbedy, Airservices
Arthur Tindall, AFAC
Darryl Purdy, FENZ
Michael Morgan, SA-MFS
Lorna Toynton, VICSES
Russell Shephard, AFAC
Dean Fornito, MFB-VIC
Neil Cooper, ACT PCS
Lynette Connor, VIC-SES
Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS
Gillian Meakin, EMV
Paul Seager, OEH-NSW
Mark Luchetti, NSWSES
Andrew Webb, CFA-VIC
Lynette Connor, VIC-SES
Peter Button, SA-MFS
Mark Saunders, QFES
Anthony Mallia, ACT-ESA
Mai Ly, SAFECOM
Rosie Amatt, QPWS
Mark Wootton, DFES-WA
Carl Hollis, OEH-NSW
Nick Alfieris, FRNSW
Ross Dickson, ForestryNSW
Mick Appleton, FFMV-DELWP
Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC
Patrick Cummins, DPFEM
Stacey Naughtin, DFES-WA
Mike Moran, FENZ
Evonne Harding, QFES
Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS
Stefan de Haan, DBCA-WA, PWS
Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW
Ian Bounds, TFS
Richard Burnell, DFES-WA
Stephen Miles, Airservices
Nathan Symonds, Airservices
Jeff Whittaker, NTFRES
Robyn White, ACT-ESA
Steve Smith, QFES
Peter Hill, NTFRES
Jeremy Bowen, FFMV-DELWP
Rodney Lambert, NSWRFS
Stuart Ellis, AFAC
Peter Mason, SA-MFS
Julian Smith, FFMV-DELWP
Sam Mitchell, NTFRES
Wayne Mackey, FENZ
Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS
Lee Watson, SA-CFS
Po Chung, MFB-VIC
Mark Aylward, FFMV-DELWP
Robert Welling, VIC-SES
Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW
Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA
Nathan Ferguson, NTFRES
Satinder Sahota, ACT PCS
Owen Parker, FFMV-DELWP
Alex Lee, DPFEM
Peter Mason, SA-MFS
Jennifer Reilly, NTFRES
Stephen Herbert, DBCA-WA, PWS
Allan Jones, DBCA-WA, PWS
Julie Bissinella, MCC
Tony Slade, NSWRFS
Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS
Noreen Krusel, AFAC
Trevor Hazenberg, QFES
Andrew Harding, NSWSES
Amalgamation of former Business Management Network and Collaborative Procurement Group
Stephen O’Malley, NSWRFS Todd Crawford, DPFEM
Tim Smith, CFA-VIC Lee Watson, SA-CFS Russell Shephard, AFAC
Andrew Short, QFES
Andrew Webb, CFA-VIC
Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT
Ashley Sullivan, NSWSES
Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA
Barbara Zandona-Gehan, QFES
Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS
Brad Commins, DBCA-WA, PWS
Callum MacSween, QFES
Bryan Ries, OEH-NSW
Chris Eagle, FFMV-DELWP
Chris Fogarty, OEH-NSW
WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP
Rob Walker, QFES Robert Landon, NSWSES Ross Trimboli, MFB-VIC Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA
Mark Roche, QFES
Scott Chamberlin, Airservices
Sandra Lunardi, AFAC
Stephanie Mundy, ACT-ESA
Anna Geromichalos, SAFECOM
Stephen Boucher, SA-CFS
Brendan Nally, FENZ
Terrence Farley, FRNSW
Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA
Timothy Moore, DFES-WA
AFAC Manager
Andrew Plush, SA-CFS
Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS Deputy Chair
Andrew McCullough, NSWSES
Chair
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GROUP
FLEET TECHNICAL GROUP
Outgoing Current Council Sponsor
Scott Bridgement, NSWSES
OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL GROUP
Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS
57
Annual Report 2018–19
AFAC
DIRECTION 5 | Informed by knowledge and research
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS NETWORK
Hatti Zhao, FFMV-DELWP
Karen Roberts, DFES-WA
Ian Scott, FENZ
Ken Middleton, CAVFA
Peter Button, SA-MFS
Lee Watson, SA-CFS
Kerry Laurie, CFA-VIC
Shiona Somerville, SA-MFS
Lynette Connor, VIC-SES
Kristine Wendtman, NSWRFS
Lorna O’Dwyer, AFAC
Mark Aylward, FFMV-DELWP
Kylie Kapeller, TFS
Andrew Short, QFES
Mark Luchetti, NSWSES
Lisa Greig, SAFECOM
Bernard King, FRNSW
Mark O’Donnell, TFS
Michael Smitheram, SAFECOM
Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA
Mark Tarbett, CFA-VIC
Simone O’Dea, SAFECOM
Chris Bowyer, ACT-ESA
Matthew Price, NSWSES
Sonia St Alban, CAVFA
Chris Wells, FENZ
Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW
Suzanne Pigdon, VIC-SES
Courtney Collins, DPFEM
Nathan Ferguson, NTFRES
Troy Davies, QFES
Fiona Bridges, QFES
Pat Jones, ACT-ESA
Gabrielle Bird, DFES-WA
Peter Mason, SA-MFS
Helen Redmond, DFES-WA
Phil Collins, DBCA-WA, PWS
Janette Pearce, MFB-VIC
Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS
Laura Taylor, Airservices
Phil Taylor, MFB-VIC
Leanne Banting, MFB-VIC
Rob Walker, QFES
Lisa Chih, NSWRFS
Rodney Evans, Airservices
Mark Roche, QFES
Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA
Noel Quinn, NSWSES
Shane Batt, TFS
Peter Mason, SA-MFS
Sheridan Dyne, QFES
Sharyn Haas, DPFEM
Sreten Landolac, CFA-VIC
Stephen Jenkins-Flint, Airservices
Stephanie Plattner, NSWSES
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Arthur Tindall, AFAC Russell Shephard, AFAC Brenton Clarke, SA-SES Chris Myers, VIC-SES David Mack, SA-MFS Emma-Lee Thornton, DBCAWA, PWS Esitone Pauga, FENZ Evonne Harding, QFES Gerry Thomas, Melbourne Water
58
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Kathleen Iacurto, NSWSES Trina Schmidt, NSWRFS Zoe Kenyon, AFAC Catriona Freeman, AFAC Ali Martin, CFA-VIC Andrew McCullough, NSWSES Cameron Beresford, AMSA Faye Bendrups, NSESVA Janine Taylor, QFES Jennifer Pidgeon, DFES-WA Jon Kneebone, FENZ
Adair Forbes Shepherd, EMV Barry Howard, FENZ Cheryl Steer, FRNSW David Foot, ACT-ESA Diana MacMullin, SA-SES Eric Claussen, OEH-NSW Geoff Kaandorp, MFB-VIC
Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW
Georgie Cornish, SA-CFS
Lorna O’Dwyer, AFAC
Greg Christopher, BNHCRC
Andrew Pitt, DPFEM
Heather Stuart, NSWSES
Anneliese Smith, DFES-WA
Holly Foster, EMV
Annette Balshaw, FFMV-DELWP
Jim Dittmar, Airservices
Ann-Marie Burgoyne, ACT-ESA
Jim Henry, OEM-NSW
Bernie Scully, QFES
John Gilbert, CFA-VIC
Brendan Mott, FRNSW
Julie Wyner, FRNSW
Brendan Parsey, Airservices
Leanne Adams, SA-SES
Brian Moon, SA-MFS
Lisa Jackson, EMV
Fairlie Morgan, MFB-VIC
Mark Cuthbert, DHA-EMA
Irina Tchernitskaia, CFA-VIC
Meg Lowe, QFES
Jane Abdilla, SAFECOM
Melissa Matthews, AIDR
John Kingsbury, FENZ
Michael Bourne, CFA-VIC
Julian Robinson, NTFRES
Sarah Rooke, QFES
Karen Roberts, DFES-WA
Stuart French, CFA-VIC
Kelly Strange, VIC-SES
Tracy Smith, DFES-WA
Nicole O’Reilly, MFB-VIC
Zoe Mounsey, FENZ
Outgoing Current
Paul Scott, NSWRFS Rachel Treeby, VIC-SES Stacey Naughtin, DFES-WA Susan Jenkins, NSWSES Tom Alexander, NSWSES Tony O’Day, CFA-VIC Troy Morrisby, DPFEM AFAC Manager
Geoff Laidlaw, VIC-SES
Tyron Clark, TFS
Noreen Krusel, AFAC
Deputy Chair
David Falla, MFB-VIC
Timothy Moore, DFES-WA
Mark Thomason, SA-CFS
Chair
Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS
Terrence Farley, FRNSW
Stephen Glassock, NSWRFS
Council Sponsor
Tracey Snoad, SA-MFS
Stephen Boucher, SA-CFS
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING NETWORK
KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION AND RESEARCH UTILISATION NETWORK
05
AFAC collaboration
59
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
06
60
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
06
Financial highlights
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ˃˃
AFAC has reported a total surplus for the financial year ended 30 June 2019 of $499,862 compared to a surplus last year of $31,487.
˃˃
The annual audit has been carried out and auditor has provided an unqualified audit report.
˃˃
Through the National Resource Sharing Centre, AFAC has successfully coordinated two international deployments: 1.
Canadian deployment through the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources
2.
US Deployment through the US Forestry Service
˃˃
The income and expenditure related to the deployment were recognised in the 2018–19 financial year accounts.
˃˃
The members of National Aerial Firefighting Centre Ltd resolved to transfer its assets and liabilities to AFAC effective June 2018 as part of planned merger with AFAC. From 1 July 2018, all NAFC activities and operations have been transitioned from NAFC to AFAC and carried out by AFAC.
˃˃
The AFAC18 conference was conducted at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. AFAC18 was the third conference delivered under the AFAC Conference Pty Ltd partnership and attracted over 2,831 attendees which included the largest number of delegates to ever to attend an AFAC conference.
˃˃
AUDITOR’S OPINION In our opinion the financial report of Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Ltd is in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission Act 2012, including: a.
giving a true and fair view of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Ltd financial position as at 30 June 2019 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and
b.
complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission Regulation 2013.
JOHN S CREFFIELD 21 August, 2019
The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) successfully carried out its contract deliverables during the 2018–19 financial year.
61
Annual Report 2018 – 19
AFAC
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Statement of Financial Performance for the year ended 30 June 2019
2019 ($)
2018 ($)
Revenue
40,789,355
16,141,586
NAFC aircraft disbursements
-24,382,675
-
International deployment expenses
-6,928,828
-8,065,336
Salaries and related expenses
-4,773,421
-4,688,144
Occupancy expenses
-579,929
-561,120
Consultancy and management fees
-460,495
-232,249
Travel and meeting expenses
-429,720
-334,483
IT and communication expenses
-386,991
-326,192
Research utilisation expenses
-323,772
-315,941
Centre of excellence expenses
-128,316
-128,496
Predictive services expenses
-85,341
-76,819
Media and promotional expenses
-59,715
-76,832
Legal expenses
-17,418
-23,613
Other expenses
-1,732,872
-1,264,880
499,862
47,481
-
-15,994
499,862
31,487
Surplus for the year
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Net fair value loss on investments Total comprehensive income for the year
62
06
Financial highlights
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Statement of Financial Position for the year ended 30 June 2019
CURRENT ASSETS
2019 ($)
2018 ($)
44,078,311
29,244,161
1,404,360
1,047,479
45,482,671
30,291,640
IT, office equipment and leasehold improvement
1,129,268
1,242,400
Total non-current assets
1,129,268
1,242,400
46,611,939
31,534,040
26,747,898
12,828,243
Revenue in advance
4,558,873
4,506,305
Special project funding
6,597,130
6,109,663
Total current liabilities
37,903,901
23,444,211
Others
742,162
623,815
Total non-current liabilities
742,162
623,815
38,646,063
24,068,026
7,965,876
7,466,014
Cash and debtors Others Total current assets
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Total assets
CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade creditors
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Total liabilities Net equity
63
AFAC is the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services ‘We are here for you’
afac.com.au