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CARLENE YORK: FIRST SES COMMISSIONER, FIRST FEMALE APPOINTED AS AFAC PRESIDENT
AFAC has appointed NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Carlene York APM as AFAC President and Chair of the AFAC Board.
Commissioner York is the tenth president of AFAC, and both the first SES Commissioner and the first woman to hold the position. She replaces Paul Baxter QSO, Commissioner Fire and Rescue NSW, who has held the AFAC presidency for five years.
As the inaugural SES Commissioner to preside over AFAC, Commissioner York’s appointment reflects the contributions of SES organisations to the AFAC National Council.
Commissioner York’s appointment as the first female AFAC president supports the continuing effort to address gender balance and support women in leadership roles across a traditionally male-dominated sector. As the severity and frequency of hazard events increases with a changing climate, inviting a diversity of experience, thinking and capability will better equip the sector with the skills needed to adapt to this future.
Commissioner York said it was an honour to be voted in as AFAC President and Chair of the AFAC Board: “The commitment of our fire and emergency services across Australia and New Zealand is something to be proud of. Working together is one of our great strengths, and I’m delighted to take on this role to help guide our collective effort and strategic direction.”
Commissioner Baxter is stepping down from the AFAC Board after nine years, and five years as AFAC President. “Commissioner York’s appointment reflects the integration of SES into AFAC and our priority on diversity and inclusion. The past few years have shown us that we need to be ready for anything, and Commissioner York’s appointment represents the cultural shift required to meet the challenges of the future,” he said.
Former AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis said, “I am very grateful for the support and guidance from Commissioner Baxter during his time as AFAC President. Commissioner York’s appointment begins an exciting new chapter for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand and her leadership will be a significant asset to the AFAC National Council.”
Commissioner York was voted in
PHOTO: NSW SES
as AFAC President at the AFAC National Council meeting on 27 October 2021. The AFAC National Council comprises 34 members representing fire, emergency and land management agencies across Australia and New Zealand.
Commissioner Carlene York APM, AFAC President and Chair of the AFAC Board.
NEW PRESIDENT AND BOARD FOR FPA AUSTRALIA
At the FPA Australia annual general meeting (AGM) in November 2021, President Bill Lea and Director Elissa Fazio retired from the FPA Australia Board after 12 and three years’ service, respectively.
The new Board met straight after the AGM and elected Bob Grieve as President and Patrick Conway as Vice-President.
Remaining on the Board are Rob Broadhead, Patrick Conway, Bob Grieve and Russell Porteous, who are joined by newly elected directors Michael Donegan and Mark Potter; co-opted previous directors John Lynch and Stuart Yarnall; and new co-opted director Yvonne Pengilly.
Ms Pengilly is a former Assistant Commissioner Technical and Board member at the Queensland Building and Construction Commission and has extensive, and relevant, board experience.
The Board expressed its appreciation for Mr Lea and Ms Fazio, who have worked tirelessly in the interests of the fire protection sector and community safety.
Mr Lea, in particular, has been heavily involved in creating a sustainable future for the industry, especially through the reforms in NSW and the introduction of mandatory accreditation.
The new Board takes over at a time of significant regulatory reform and increasing competition for skilled workers.
It will continue the work of FPA Australia to improve member engagement, increase activity, deliver accreditation and training, and raise the profile of the Association.
FPA Australia thanks Mr Lea and Ms Fazio for their service and looks forward to delivering for our members with the new Board.
PHOTO: FPA AUSTRALIA Bob Grieve, FPA Australia President.
AFAC DIRECTOR STANDARDS AND STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT RUSSELL SHEPHARD AFSM TO RETIRE
On 9 December 2021 it was formally announced that Russell Shephard AFSM, AFAC Director Standards and Strategic Procurement, had made the decision to retire in June 2022. His retirement will conclude a highly distinguished and dedicated career spanning 45 years of service to Australia as a (former) firefighter, executive leader and respected standards influencer.
Mr Shephard was appointed Manager Standards for AFAC in 2007, following a distinguished 30-year career in the ACT Fire and Rescue Service, in both operational roles and managing logistics support. This saw him increase AFAC’s involvement and influence in the development of international and Australian standards, with AFAC today considered a lead contributor on behalf of the fire and emergency services sector.
In his 15-year tenure at AFAC, Mr Shephard has been involved in operational reviews; provided consultancy to AFAC Members on matters of procurement, personal protective equipment (PPE), fleet and operational equipment; and, most significantly, established a strong network of technical experts who represent AFAC at the Standards Australia level. He has overseen the industry’s significant growth in standards engagement.
“My role as AFAC Director Standards and Strategic Procurement requires me to incorporate extensive knowledge with respect to the fire and emergency services industry, in particular testing, with the compliance and certification of PPE,” he said. “I assist with the development of specifications and associated tender documents for a range of PPE used by fire and emergency service personnel.”
His legacy includes: establishing the Collaboration
Purchasing Initiative to facilitate procurement among AFAC Member agencies and reduce duplication in research, development and testing through the formation and implementation of targeted Technical
Committees lobbying for greater industry involvement in providing technical
expertise in the development and review of Standards being an active member on five
Australian and six international
PPE-related committees, including being appointed Chairman of three Australian and International
Organization for Standardization committees, and serving as a member of the National Fire
Protection Agency Correlating
Committee for PPE for Fire and
Emergency Services winning the prestigious WR
Hebblewhite Medal—2015
Standards Awards in recognition of his exceptional and dedicated contributions in standardisation nationally and internationally.
Former AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis AM thanked him for his work, saying, “Russell has made a huge contribution in a number of ways, including his Deputy Chair role on the public safety Industry Training Advisory Body committee and his career at ACT Fire and Rescue as a firefighter. He does a huge amount of work many of us aren’t even aware of.”
AFAC Director Standards and Strategic Procurement as Master of Ceremonies at the 2019 National Memorial Service.
FPA Australia is publishing its revised and amended Technical Specifications for residential sprinklers.
The updated Technical Specifications—the FPAA101D revision and FPAA101H amendment— have been through the preliminary steps for consideration for the National Construction Code (NCC).
However, confirmation of its successful inclusion will not come through until NCC 2022 is finalised, which includes approval of all referenced documents.
So, to avoid any further delay, FPA Australia has decided to publish them now.
This will give industry the opportunity to apply the updated residential sprinkler Technical Specifications through performance solutions instead.
The current editions of the Technical Specifications will continue to apply under the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the NCC until NCC 2022 is released.
To purchase a copy of the new Technical Specifications, visit http://www.fpaa.com.au/ technical/technical-specifications.aspx.
NSW GOVERNMENT SHIFTS FIRE PROVISIONS TO NEW EP&A REGULATION
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has moved to simplify the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 by taking provisions for building regulation and certification out of the current regulation and moving them into the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.
The new regulation, which commenced on 1 January 2022, contains most of the fire safety provisions in the regulations, including those relating to fire safety certificates and fire safety statements.
The remainder of the old Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 has been incorporated into the new Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021.
PHOTO: STORYBLOCKS FPA Australia has analysed the new regulation and explained what specific changes have been introduced. That analysis can be found at http://www.fpaa.com.au/media/ 332659/epanda_regulation.pdf.
Clause-by-clause changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 can be found at https://tinyurl.com/4vxba2v3.
Clause-by-clause changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, which starts on 1 March 2022, can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3zc3vkyy.
AUSTRALIAN WARNING SYSTEM: KNOW THE SIGNS
Australians will be better able to understand what to do when they receive a bushfire warning message this summer, thanks to a new national education campaign. Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie, said that thanks to hard work by the states and territories, a national warning system will alert the community of bushfires and other natural hazards.
“What we saw during the Black Summer bushfires was that there was a lack of understanding of what action to take depending on the warning,” Minister McKenzie said.
“The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recommended that there be a national education campaign to improve public understanding of the warning system.”
“The Australian Government is investing $2 M in the ‘Know the Signs’ campaign to educate the community about the Australian Warning System, including what to do to stay safe during a bushfire.”
The three national warning categories are: Advice (yellow): An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes. Watch and Act (orange): There is a heightened level of threat.
Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. Emergency Warning (red): The highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.
“The campaign will ensure that we all have a clear understanding of what we need to do when we receive a warning message, regardless of where we’re living, working or holidaying. This will potentially save lives,” Senator McKenzie said.
The Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, Amanda Leck, said social research found that most people don’t understand or have not taken appropriate action under the hazard warning system in their state or territory.
“Fire and emergency service agencies across the country have come together to establish the Australian Warning System, which aims to provide simple, high-level warnings to help Australians make the most appropriate decisions for their safety during a range of emergencies and disasters.
“The ‘Know the Signs’ campaign complements the work being done by hazard management agencies in each state and territory to embed the Australian Warning System into their operations, including training, technology platforms and communications.”
The Australian Warning System is in the process of being implemented across floods, storms, cyclones, extreme heat and severe weather events, providing consistent symbols and calls to action to help the community with their decisionmaking across a range of hazardous conditions.
For more information, visit www.knowledge.aidr.org.au/ resources/australian-warning-system.
– Bridget McKenzie
STAY UP TO DATE WITH AFAC DOCTRINE
AFAC develops doctrine to support the practice of emergency management. The information in doctrine publications is evidence-based and drawn from academic research and the collective expert knowledge of AFAC Members. Doctrine is regularly reviewed and represents the official view of the AFAC National Council and sector leaders.
New doctrine endorsed by the AFAC National Council are now available:
National community safety announcements for flood risk communication
This procedural guideline presents nationally agreed and evidence-based key messages that are designed to provide communities with information and advice about protective actions they can take when impacted by flood water. The messages can be adapted for community service announcements for Australian broadcasters to play during emergencies and disasters.
Guide to recognition of prior learning for fire and emergency services organisations
AFAC Members are enterprise registered training organisations (RTO) that operate under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015. As such, they are responsible for the delivery and assessment of vocational education and training to the fire and emergency services workforce. This fundamental guideline highlights some approaches being taken by fire and emergency services enterprise RTOs in applying recognition of prior learning processes.
Use of personal fire shelters in wildfires
The new version of this fundamental position affirms that the use of personal fire shelters as a means of self-protection of firefighters in Australasia is not recommended in favour of other more proactive safety systems.
Use of lookouts, awareness, communications, escape routes, safety zones system for safety on the fireground
The scope of this fundamental position is to support a simplified memory aid for fire survival.
All AFAC Doctrine is available to view and download online, at www.afac.com.au/insight/doctrine.
BLACK DOG INSTITUTE’S BUSH FIRE SUPPORT SERVICE
To support the mental health of Australia’s emergency service workers and their families, the Black Dog Institute has developed the Bush Fire Support Service. The service has been designed to complement existing health services, ensuring that trauma-informed mental health support is available Australia-wide.
It provides emergency service workers and their families access to a range of support services. There is an online mental health check-up, which is a quick and confidential way to assess how they are feeling, designed with evidence-based insights to confidently measure symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The service also provides oneon-one psychological mental health care sessions free of charge via Telehealth, which can be accessed by visiting the website or by completing the assessment. Regardless of geographical location, emergency service workers and their families will have access to some of Australia’s leading PTSD and stress clinics.
To ensure a local safety net in communities across Australia, GPs in bushfire-affected areas are receiving accredited professional development in the latest mental health evidence. This will provide the opportunity for emergency service workers to connect, talk about and seek help for mental health distress with their local healthcare professional and access streamlined referral to specialist mental health care.
To learn more or get support, visit www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/bushfire-support-service.
EPA RELEASES FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT PFAS
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has published further guidance to help individuals and businesses prepare for and comply with the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Amendment (PFAS Firefighting Foam) Regulation 2021.
A ban on the use of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) firefighting foam for training or demonstration purposes came into effect on 1 April 2021.
The next phase begins on 26 September 2022, when the Regulation will restrict: the use of PFAS firefighting foam from a portable fire extinguisher the use of long-chain PFAS firefighting foam, unless by a relevant authority or exempt person, to prevent, extinguish or attempt to extinguish a fire that is catastrophic or is potentially catastrophic, or by a person to respond to a fire on a watercraft in relevant waters the sale of portable fire extinguishers containing PFAS to those who are a relevant authority, the owner or master of a watercraft, or who have an exemption to use a portable fire extinguisher containing PFAS firefighting foam.
The new guidance provides information on a range of topics in preparation for the upcoming restrictions. View it on the EPA’s website, https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/yourenvironment/contaminated-land/ regulation-of-pfas-firefighting-foams/ guidance.
VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM 2022
The Volunteer Leadership Program (VLP) equips volunteers from community organisations, not-for-profits, disaster relief organisations and local governments within the emergency management sector with the skills and confidence to grow as leaders.
The VLP experience is immersive and collaborative, bringing together volunteers from different organisations and agencies to build knowledge and share experiences with each other. The program explores practical leadership frameworks through interactive learning, and participants gain both self-awareness and an enhanced ability to understand and contribute to their organisations.
The VLP is delivered by experienced Australian Red Cross facilitators, on behalf of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.
Dates and locations for the 2022 VLP are now available. For more information, and to apply or nominate members from your organisation to participate in the VLP, please visit www.aidr.org.au/programs/ volunteer-leadership-program.
Location
Mt Gambier, SA
Perth, WA
Darwin, NT
Cairns, Qld
Goulburn, NSW
Armidale, NSW
Shepparton, Vic Launceston, Tas Program dates
18–20 March 2022
13–15 May 2022 3–5 June 2022
22–24 July 2022 5–7 August 2022 9–11 September 2022 14–16 October 2022
28–30 October 2022 Application due date
18 February 2022 8 April 2022 29 April 2022 17 June 2022
1 July 2022 12 August 2022 16 September 2022 23 September 2022 The Volunteer Leadership Program is a free professional development opportunity to support volunteers with the skills and confidence to grow as leaders.
FIRE PROTECTION COURSE UPDATES IN LINE WITH PROPERTY SERVICES TRAINING PACKAGE
FPA Australia has revised its courses in line with the updated Property Services Training Package, and superseded qualifications for both the Certificate II and Certificate III in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing.
It is now actively accepting enrolments for both the Certificate II and Certificate III in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing.
The Certificate II qualification is for fire protection technicians responsible for non-trade installation and the regular servicing of fire protection equipment and systems.
The Certificate III qualification applies to fire protection technicians responsible for non-trade installation, commissioning and complex servicing of fire protection systems or for the supervision of fire protection services work.
Presently FPA Australia has set units for the qualification and, as the year progresses, will be adding more units for students and members.
We have engaged a number of subject matter experts (SMEs) from within the industry to develop resources and assessment material for the new qualifications, providing their up-to-date expertise for the more technical Units of Competency.
We have also done away with paper-based resources and assessments, moving to a more student-friendly online mode of delivery through the Catapult learning management system.
Learning and assessment is still conducted in the workplace, with students requiring access to facilities and an appropriate workplace supervisor.
If you are interested in the Certificate II or III, or in undertaking individual Units of Competency, please contact the FPA Australia Training team at training@fpaa.com.au or, for more information and enrolments, visit our website, www.fpaa.com.au/training/ routine-service-training.aspx.
NSW FIRE SAFETY REPORT PROPOSES MORE REFORM WORK
The NSW Government has released Construct NSW’s Industry report on reforms to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings.
The report was the result of work by the steering committee advising the NSW Government on reform of fire safety regulation and practice in buildings, chaired by former Treasury Secretary Michael Lambert.
This committee undertook a detailed review of the regulatory framework, industry practice and the role of regulatory authorities to see where improvements were needed, and proposed further changes to improve the design, installation, certification and maintenance of critical fire safety systems.
An Implementation Taskforce has now been established to develop the committee’s recommendations further, focusing on possible proposals to: require a building manual accredit fire systems certifiers improve documentation introduce AS 1851 as a mandatory standard for maintenance.
FPA Australia Acting CEO Leigh Gesthuizen welcomed the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to fire safety.
“This work is a significant step forward towards lifting industry
Construct NSW
Improving fire safety
Industry report on reforms to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings
Industry report on reforms to improve fire safety in completed buildings | October 2021
October 2021
0
standards and delivering a safer community,” Mr Gesthuizen said.
A recent webinar discussing the recommendations, involving Matt Press from the Office of the Building Commissioner, former President Bill Lea, Board Director Rob Broadhead and State Manager— NSW Mark Whybro can be found at https://fpaaust.eventsair.com/ fpaplus/#reforms.
– Leigh Gesthuizen, Acting CEO FPAA
REVIEW OF THE NSW HOME BUILDING ACT 1989
Since being appointed two years ago, NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler OAM has been investigating residential buildings, and the results of the inspections have been alarming, with evidence of significant breaches being found regularly.
To tighten up construction in the residential sector, therefore, the NSW Department of Customer Service is reviewing the Home Building Act 1989.
Its intent is to replace the legislation with two new Bills: a Building Bill to replace the Home Building
Act a Building Compliance and Enforcement
Powers Bill, which will consolidate all enforcement powers found under existing building legislation.
The NSW Government anticipates completing drafting by mid to late March 2022, after which time it will release the draft Bills and the regulatory impact statement for public consultation.
Highlights from the proposed new reforms include: new duties on all persons who design, manufacture, supply, import building products; who incorporate products in designs; or who use or install them in construction, to ensure building products are safe for their intended purpose new obligations on licence holders not to do business with parties who have engaged in misconduct consistent continuing professional development processes across all licence holders, to allow industry associations with a professional standards scheme to assess the competency of certifiers better processes for the use of the security bond to rectify defects in strata developments, including the establishment of a framework for the approval of authorised professional associations improved processes for payment claims and retention money trusts to ensure greater protections, and establishing a limited mechanism for adjudication appeals.
FPA Australia is being consulted over the new legislation and is providing the perspective of the fire protection industry to the Department to ensure that community safety is maintained.
When the public consultation is announced, we will be making a submission, and we encourage members to email their feedback to engagement@fpaa.com.au.
