Annual Report 2016 17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

CONTENTS Message from the President and CEO

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AFAC governance

4

AFAC National Council, Members and Affiliate Members

6

Our partners and key arrangements

7

Key initiatives for the sector

9

Events and professional development

19

AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ

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Recognition of achievement: sector awards

24

AFAC Collaboration

25

Financial highlights and Auditors opinion

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Statement of financial performance/position

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AFAC 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.

AFAC VALUES 1. Respect 2. Collaboration 3. Mutual obligation 4. Mutual benefit 5. Evidence-based decision making

2 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

CEO’S MESSAGE

In October 2016 I was elected as President by the AFAC National Council. It has been a great pleasure to lead the direction of AFAC throughout the past financial year in my role as President and prior to that, Deputy President.

The 2016–17 financial year offered an opportunity for AFAC to reflect on and reinforce its position and purpose. Although AFAC is well established, it cannot ignore the changing needs of its Members and in reviewing its strategic outlook, is able to better serve Members and the community.

During the 2016–17 year AFAC has reaffirmed its purpose in being recognised and having impact as the National Council for fire and emergency services. AFAC continues to cement its position as the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice.

The AFAC Board met bi-monthly throughout the last 12 months to progress the strategic priorities for AFAC and the broader emergency management sector. We undertook a strategic planning session in March 2017 in Adelaide to prioritise and affirm the projects we are focused on delivering.

A key highlight of the year for me was the Fire and Emergency Male Champions of Change. In late 2016 AFAC National Council committed to this important initiative to progress gender diversity and inclusion across our sector. The Group’s inaugural meeting was held in April 2017.

The revised Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021 were published in early 2017 following endorsement from the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee and the Law Crime and Community Safety Council. The Strategic Directions play an important role in shaping the strategy for our Members and the fire and emergency services industry.

The AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ conference and exhibition was a great success with more than 2,500 attendees from across the emergency management community gathering in Brisbane. The conference and exhibition marked the first in a new partnership with Hannover Fairs Australia, who brought their extensive knowledge of global emergency service trade fairs to Australia.

AFAC continues to offer support and work collaboratively with its Members across the sector. I would like to express my gratitude to all those from the membership, the AFAC CEO and staff for their efforts throughout what has been another busy year.

Paul Baxter, QSO Commissioner, Fire & Rescue NSW AFAC President

The AFAC Board acknowledged that through a collaborative approach AFAC exerts influence as the National Council for fire and emergency services. AFAC has established itself as the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice and exists for the benefits of its Members and through them, the community.

During the 2016–17 year AFAC conducted a total of 126 Collaboration Group meetings, bringing together 807 individuals across 37 groups representing 31 Member agencies. This is a significant achievement and reflects the ever growing need of fire, emergency services and land management agencies to work together for the benefit of communities across Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to our Collaboration Model, AFAC conducted a range of events offering Members and the broader emergency management community access to essential professional development and learning opportunities. The AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ conference and exhibition in Brisbane was a major highlight, attracting 2,500 attendees across the sector.

AFAC has conducted a pilot for national registration under the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme which has now awarded 38 practitioners with the Certified Incident Controller credential.

The National Resource Sharing Centre was a key focus during the year as we worked to enhance our capability to share resources between jurisdictions and internationally. During the 2016–17 year two international fire management agreements were signed between Australia and the US and Australia and Canada. The agreements provide an important capability for Australia.

Reflecting on what was a productive 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

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AFAC GOVERNANCE AS AT 30 JUNE 2017 Elected by the AFAC National Council, the AFAC Board provides governance oversight to the effective management of the organisation. The Board meets bi-monthly and Board Directors hold office for two years after which time they are eligible for re-election.

President

Deputy President

Deputy President

Paul Baxter was appointed Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW on 16 January 2017.

Commissioner Baxter was previously National Commander 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, serving as a volunteer firefighter, then as a career firefighter with the New Zealand Air Force. After joining the New Zealand Fire Service he worked through the ranks until being appointed as National Commander 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 has come 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.

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 in 2001.

Paul Baxter, QSO Commissioner Fire & Rescue NSW

Katarina Carroll, APM Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Shane Fitzsimmons, AFSM Commissioner NSW Rural Fire Service

October 2016–present.

October 2015–Present.

December 2012–present.

AFAC BOARD MEETING ATTENDANCE DIRECTORS

NUMBER ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND Mr P Baxter 5 Ms K Carroll 5 Mr N Cooper 5 Mr G Crossman 3 Mr S Fitzsimmons 3 Mr W Gregson 5 Mr S Griffin 5 Mr G Mullins 1 Mr G Nettleton 2

4 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

NUMBER ATTENDED 5 5 5 3 3 4 3 1 2

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Neil Cooper, PSM Manager Fire, Forests and Roads ACT Parks and Conservation Service

Stephen Griffin Chief Executive Officer Victoria State Emergency Service

Greg Crossman, AFSM, MBA Chief Officer and Chief Executive Officer South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service

Neil Cooper is the Manager of the Fire Management Unit within 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.

Stephen 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 gained 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, he has been recognised for his transformational leadership and robust management of service delivery programs and corporate functions.

Greg Crossman was appointed as Chief Officer and Chief Executive of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SA MFS) in September 2015. He joined the SA MFS in October 1978 as a firefighter and progressed through the ranks to Assistant Chief Fire Officer in May 2012 before being appointed as Chief Officer. He was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal and the Australian National Medal and Clasp – for his services in advancing the firefighting profession and service to the community of South Australia – and the MFS Exemplary Service Medal. Greg is a Board Director of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) Board.

April 2015–present.

October 2013–present.

October 2016–present.

Treasurer

President (retired)

Greg Nettleton Chief Officer South Australian Country Fire Service

Wayne Gregson graduated from the WA Police Academy in 1980. He served as Portfolio Head of the Metropolitan Region, Frontline Services, the Specialist Crime and the Judicial Services Portfolios. He took up the position of CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority in September 2011. He was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services which commenced operations on 1 November 2012. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and holds a BA in Politics and Philosophy and a MA in Business Administration. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Executive Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

He was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2006.

Greg Mullins joined the New South Wales Fire Brigade in 1978 after serving six years as a volunteer with the NSW Bushfire Service (now NSW Rural Fire Service). He was appointed as Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW on 4 July 2003. He has represented Australian fire services internationally on issues concerning emergency management, managing consequences of terrorist attacks and urban rescue. Greg is Deputy Chair of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee, and is the Australian Director of the International Association of Asian Fire Chiefs. In October 2016 Greg retired from Fire & Rescue NSW and his position as President of the AFAC Board.

Greg Nettleton commenced duty as the Chief Officer for the South Australian Country Fire Service on 24 January 2011. Prior to joining the Country Fire Service he was the Director and Chief Fire Officer for the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service. Greg is a graduate of the AFAC Executive Development Program held at the Australian Institute of Police Management. Greg holds a Degree in Engineering (Civil), Masters Degrees in Engineering Science and Business, and is a member of the Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Engineers Australia. In August 2015 Greg was elected as Chair of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre Board. Greg retired from his position on the AFAC Board in October 2016.

Wayne Gregson, APM Commissioner Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA

Greg Mullins, AFSM, FIFireE, FAIM Commissioner Fire & Rescue NSW

September 2007 – October 2016.

August 2011 – October 2016.

February 2014–present. | 5

AFAC NATIONAL COUNCIL, MEMBERS AND AFFILIATE MEMBERS AFAC Members support Australian and New Zealand communities through mitigation and response phases of emergency management and the transition to recovery.

We build knowledge by bringing together collaborators from across jurisdictions, capabilities and hazards to find opportunities and solve problems. 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 Council representative names have been listed as correct as at 30 June 2017. Changes have been made to some of our Members and Affiliates after this date.

MEMBERS

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA-WIDE

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, SA Council representative: Grant Pelton

Airservices Australia Council representative: Glenn Wood Attorney-General’s Department, Emergency Management Australia Council representative: Mark Crosweller Parks Australia Council representative: Sally Barnes

ForestrySA Council representative: Jim O’Hehir South Australian Country Fire Service Council representative: Greg Nettleton

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South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service Council representative: Greg Crossman

MEMBERS

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY ACT Emergency Services Agency Council representative: Dominic Lane

South Australian State Emergency Service Council representative: Chris Beattie

ACT Parks and Conservation Service Council representative: Neil Cooper

TASMANIA

20

NEW SOUTH WALES

Forestry Tasmania Council representative: Dean Sheehan

Fire & Rescue NSW Council representative: Paul Baxter

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania Council representative: Paul Black

Forestry Corporation of NSW Council representative: Ross Dickson NSW Rural Fire Service Council representative: Shane Fitzsimmons NSW State Emergency Service Council representative: Mark Smethurst Office of Environment and Heritage NSW Council representative: Naomi Stephens NEW ZEALAND New Zealand Fire Service Council representative: Rhys Jones NORTHERN TERRITORY Bushfires NT Council representative: Collene Bremner Northern Territory Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service Council representative: Jennifer Reilly QUEENSLAND Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing - Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Council representative: Guy Thomas Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Council representative: Katarina Carroll

AFFILIATE MEMBERS

AFFILIATE MEMBERS

Tasmania Fire Service Council representative: Christopher Arnol

Australasian Road Rescue Organisation

Tasmania State Emergency Service Council representative: Matthew Brocklehurst

Australian Red Cross

VICTORIA Country Fire Authority, Victoria Council representative: Frances Diver Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, VIC Council representative: Stephanie Rotarangi

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Brisbane City Council Bureau of Meteorology Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations Department of Conservation New Zealand Emergency Management Victoria

Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, Melbourne Council representative: Jim Higgins

Geoscience Australia

Parks Victoria Council representative: David Nugent

HQPlantations Pty Ltd

Victoria State Emergency Service Council representative: Stephen Griffin

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

National SES Volunteers Association

Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA Council representative: Wayne Gregson

Office of Bushfire Risk Management, WA

Department of Parks and Wildlife, WA Council representative: Paul Brennan

Hong Kong Fire Services Department

Melbourne Water

Office of Emergency Management, NSW Pacific Islands Fire Emergency Services Association South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission Office of Emergency Management, WA Surf Life Saving Australia

6 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

OUR PARTNERS AND KEY ARRANGEMENTS AFAC partners work together to deliver outcomes for Members that they cannot deliver alone. Key partnerships exist with:

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR DISASTER RESILIENCE

NATIONAL AERIAL FIREFIGHTING CENTRE

In its second year the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) has broadened its contributions to disaster resilience knowledge sharing across Australia. Working with a range of people from government, emergency management agencies, academia, community organisations, not-for profits, education partners and the private sector, AIDR has established programs across professional development and knowledge sharing.

During 2016–17 AFAC continued to collaborate closely with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC). NAFC expanded the nationally contracted aircraft fleet to 127 aircraft supplying 131 separate services. For the second year running the NSW Government provided funding for a trial of a Large Air Tanker (LAT) and a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) and for the third year in a row Victoria also engaged two LATs.

AIDR’s professional development program promotes open conversations that acknowledge the complexities and interconnectedness at all levels across society. Through national conversations and local workshops, AIDR is broadening conversations and investing in people. AIDR’s investment in people also occurs through emergency management scholarships, the Resilience Ambassadors program, the Volunteer Leadership Program and through supporting disaster resilience education for young people. Additionally, the delivery of the national Resilient Australia Awards brings disparate groups together to celebrate work being done to reduce risk and build resilience.

On behalf of its members NAFC undertook a number of procurement activities including finalising Stage 2 of an invitation to tender for Airborne Strategic Intelligence and Reconnaissance Services. This process provided an additional four highly specialised, infra-red remote sensing services shared between New South Wales and Victoria, based at Nowra, NSW.

AIDR’s investment in professional development is complemented by its role in knowledge sharing through the Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub. The site hosts a central collection of information, news and resources relating to disaster resilience and emergency management, and is growing through the contribution of resources from individuals and organisations. The Knowledge Hub also hosts the Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection and the Australian Journal of Emergency Management; making it a central place for sharing information and new ideas.

BUSHFIRE AND NATURAL HAZARDS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE As a partner in the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC participates in long-term national research that directly supports the fire and emergency services as they work to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards.

The research program is end-user driven and spans the priorities of those working in a multi-hazard environment.

This means that the fire and emergency service agencies, government departments and non-government organisations, including AFAC, have a significant role in the ongoing development and delivery of the research program. This has been particularly important over the last year as the CRC research program underwent a significant review and options for an ongoing research centre were starting to develop.

Through ongoing collaboration with its members NAFC continued development of the ARENA national integrated information system.

This included further enhancement to decision support functionality for Air Desk users, implementation of the pre-planned dispatch component of the Request and Dispatch module, development of electronic flight operations returns (eFOR) and development of support for aircraft fleet preparedness and readiness.

The NAFC office took the opportunity during 2016–17 to review and update a number of organisational policies. As part of this process NAFC conducted a review of its Research and Development (R&D) Framework, the operation of the NAFC R&D Committee and the operation of the NAFC R&D Fund. KPMG was engaged to undertake an economic evaluation of NAFC’s national arrangements for the provision of aerial resources.

NAFC continued to host the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) as part of a 12 month trial during 2016–17. The NRSC was established to fulfill the coordination function around preparing and maintaining records and agreements for deploying fire and emergency services capability across Australian jurisdictions and overseas. On completion of the 12 month trial the NAFC Board recommended that the NRSC be positioned in AFAC supporting the CCOSC. AFAC continued to provide administrative and support services to NAFC under a service agreement, whilst NAFC also provided executive support to AFAC’s Fire and Emergency Aviation Technical Group.

AFAC has direct participation through its CEO on the Board and AFAC managers’ membership of project end-user groups.

The joint annual conference of AFAC and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is the most visible part of the relationship but it is supported by a series of joint activities and promotion at other partner events and conferences, professional development events, research utilisation, and products including Fire Australia magazine, and the Bushfire Seasonal Outlooks for northern and southern Australia.

AFAC and the CRC also collaborate on various aspects of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, most notably through the Australian Journal of Emergency Management.

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COMMISSIONERS AND CHIEF OFFICERS STRATEGIC COMMITTEE (CCOSC) The CCOSC provides jurisdictional consideration and representation on behalf of AFAC to the Australian Government. Members of the CCOSC are state-based jurisdictional operational representatives and Emergency Management Australia.

Key functions of the CCOSC are to: • c onsider issues to be presented to the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC) and the Law Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC) • p rovide higher-level consideration on operational issues related to the Australian Government and Departments, including Attorney-General’s and Defence • progress national initiatives through jurisdictional support.

In 2016–17 CCOSC was Co-Chaired by the Director-General Emergency Management Australia and Commissioner Emergency Management Victoria. CCOSC formally met three times during the 2016–17 year, and additionally met out-of-session to manage and support interstate deployments.

The CCOSC scope of works over the past year has included: • international arrangements with Canada and the United States • the Arrangement for Interstate Assistance • National Resource Sharing Centre • Public Safety Mobile Broadband • National Coordinating Committee for Government Radio • interstate deployments in response to Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

8 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

NATIONAL RESOURCE SHARING CENTRE The National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) was established in 2016, as a business area of NAFC. On completion of its trial it has been agreed between the CCOSC and NAFC that the NRSC should operate as part of AFAC. The NRSC facilitates the sharing of fire and emergency service resources within Australia and New Zealand, and with international partners. The NRSC maintains the Arrangement for Interstate Assistance and arrangements with North American fire administrations, as well as supporting documents such as the National Capability Statement.

The NRSC also provides administrative and logistical support to interstate and overseas deployments of resources. In the course of the 2016–17 financial year the NRSC was activated to support deployments to Queensland following Cyclone Debbie, and an NRSC representative was based at the Queensland State Disaster Coordination Centre to help with the coordination of interstate assistance.

A major initiative actioned by the NRSC during the 2016–17 year was progressing two international fire management arrangements. The Australia-Canada Arrangement – a bilateral framework, the first of its kind – was endorsed by both governments at a national level, to support international deployments when required.

A similar arrangement between Australia and the United States was also signed in early 2017. These agreements provide an authorising environment for resource sharing between Australia and North America endorsed at Federal Government level, and provide an important capability for Australia.

The NRSC has since assisted with the largest ever international deployment of firefighting personnel in Canada. In July and August 2017 more than 200 Australians were deployed to British Columbia to assist with a large number of wildfires.

KEY INITIATIVES FOR THE SECTOR

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2017–2021

AFAC plays a role in shaping the strategy for our Members and the broader emergency management sector through the Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services.

In late 2016 following a revision to a five year outlook, AFAC Council, the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee and the Law Crime and Community Safety Council endorsed the revised Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021.

The Strategic Directions identifies priorities at the national level for fire and emergency services. It creates a shared vision and a joint commitment to enhanced community resilience. It informs, clarifies the intent and identifies the actions required across AFAC agencies, engaging High-Level Officials and Ministers. The expectation within the AFAC National Council is that what is addressed in the Strategic Directions would be considered in the development of each agency’s strategic plan.

The Strategic Directions are available on the AFAC website, www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/strategy.

NATIONAL REGISTRATION FOR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT In April 2015 AFAC formally commenced a program of national registration for incident management. This is available to those who perform incident management roles in accordance with the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS®) providing the opportunity to have their skills, experience and capabilities independently validated and nationally recognised. It is intended to also be expanded to other specialist skills for personnel who deploy interstate or overseas. This has been designed for members of fire, land management and emergency services and those who practice incident management commercially or in other government entities.

To date 38 practitioners have been awarded the Certified Incident Controller (CIC) credential. This is a national certification and these practitioners are recognised throughout the industry and beyond as experts in incident control with substantial experience in managing high impact, high consequence and complex emergencies.

We now see the progression toward the Registered Incident Controller (RIC) credential amongst AFAC Members in Tasmania. As we progress implementation in Tasmania and assist to embed the RIC credential, we look forward to the opportunity to further build capability amongst the AFAC membership.

The AFAC Board and Council have considered the project to date as a pilot and will now be reviewing national registration for broader implementation across the sector.

For more information: www.afac.com.au/emps or contact emps@afac.com.au.

10 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17

FIRE AND EMERGENCY MALE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE In October 2016, the AFAC Council agreed to establish a Male Champions of Change (MCC) group for fire and emergency services to commit to and work towards gender equality and genuinely diverse and inclusive workplaces. The goal is for men to step up beside women to increase the representation of women in leadership, with a focus on taking action and achieving results.

The MCC Fire and Emergency group comprises all members of AFAC Council, with women acting as special advisors. The MCCs are supported by Implementation Leaders from within their organisations who form the AFAC Diversity and Inclusion Group. The MCC Fire and Emergency group is supported by the Male Champions of Change Program team and convened by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner.

Achievements of the group to date include: • the inaugural meeting of the Male Champions of Change Fire and Emergency group in April 2017 • developing and endorsing a charter • completing the Leadership Shadow exercise which asks individual MCCs to examine their own leadership style • undertaking Listen and Learn focus group sessions with staff to understand perspectives on gender balance in the work place, work place culture, barriers and opportunities for leadership.

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

AIIMS 2017

MAXIMISING OUR COLLABORATIVE IMPACT

The Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS®) is an integral part of emergency management doctrine for the fire and emergency services industry in Australia. Given the potential scale, complexity and impact of events we are faced with, and the all hazards – all agencies approach, it is more critical than ever for agencies to work collaboratively in incident management.

Through collaboration, AFAC assists the emergency management sector to identify and achieve strategic and operational priorities.

Knowledge sharing, exchanging insights, exploring opportunities, and creating solutions are all ways that AFAC members collaborate. The Collaboration Groups are the main vehicle to achieve this.

AFAC, through the AIIMS Steering Committee, undertook an extensive review to update the AIIMS incident management doctrine to reflect the experience and learnings gained since AIIMS was first introduced. The updated version of the AIIMS Manual was published in June 2017.

The production of AIIMS 2017 is the latest step in the evolution of incident management in Australia. The aim was to captures the learnings, insights and formal research findings and guidance provided by a number of reviews and inquiries into the management of incidents in recent years.

AIIMS 2017 was guided by 33 proposals for change, which led to three additional chapters on Regional and State Arrangements, Relief and Recovery and The Management of Traditional and Non-Traditional Volunteers. Other changes to the manual include: the introduction of mission command and commander’s intent; identifying social media as source of intelligence; the use of advanced technology, including UAVs and drones and the role of Intelligence in managing these resources; and lastly creating a concise incident action plan and common operating picture.

AIIMS is available from the AFAC Shop, www.afac.com.au/shop.

The AFAC Collaboration Model encompasses a total of 37 Groups, Technical Groups, and Networks, with 62 organisations represented by more than 800 individual members. Agencies and organisations across the AFAC Member and Affiliate membership are joined by representatives from other areas of government, police, education and research institutions resulting in a complex map of stakeholders.

Many individual members sit on multiple groups, increasing the level of collaboration and engagement across the emergency management sector.

In March 2017, AFAC held a one-day workshop in an effort to explore how the AFAC Collaboration Model Network can best add value to members, the sector, and ultimately enhance community safety. The workshop brought together AFAC staff and Chairs of Collaboration Groups from across the AFAC membership, to better understand the question: If the AFAC Collaboration Groups were at their most effective, what would we achieve?

Participants shared insights and ideas for the desired outcomes of the Collaboration Network and discussed what activities or initiatives are required to achieve these outcomes. The workshop was facilitated by Synergistiq, a project consultancy company with expertise in stakeholder engagement mapping, strategy and policy development. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants had a sense of clarity and shared understanding on the expected outputs and outcomes of these activities.

A Program Logic Framework has been developed together with an evaluation framework, a key element of which is a member survey to be shared with AFAC Collaboration members following meetings.

The purpose of the survey is to assist AFAC to better understand the impact of the Network. Collated results will be provided to the AFAC Board annually, and AFAC will use data to inform conduct of future meetings.

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WARNINGS AND INFORMATION

PREDICTIVE SERVICES CAPABILITY

The National Working Group for Public Information and Warnings (Warnings Group) was formed in 2015 in response to Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC) endorsement of Recommendation 1 of the 2014 National Review of Warnings and Information.

Since being established in early 2016, The AFAC Predictive Services Group (PSG) has proved to be an effective forum for the development of predictive services capability. During the 2016–17 year the PSG:

Over the past year the Warnings Group has continued to work towards the implementation of the recommendations from the National Review of Warnings and Information. A progress report highlighting key initiatives jurisdictions have implemented, as well as what has been achieved on a national basis, was provided to the Bureau of Meteorology Hazard Services Forum, the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee and AFAC Council.

In support of Recommendation 2 that called for an improvement in knowledge management on warnings and information with a focus on; reviewing the status and availability of key national documents; consolidating documentation where appropriate; and setting standards for document review, the Warnings Group is partnering with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience to review national doctrine.

A project has commenced to develop a Warnings Handbook as part of the national handbook collection, together with a number of guidelines that jurisdictions can utilise to improve warnings practice.

Recommendation 3 called for opportunities to pursue greater national consistency of warning frameworks across jurisdictions by leading a coordinated review of current frameworks, assessing the evidence base for change, and identifying opportunities for harmonisation.

In support of this recommendation, the Warnings Group established a Flood Warnings sub-group and members have been working towards the development of a national flood warnings framework.

The Warnings Group were also involved in the review of the AIDR Evacuation Planning Handbook, specifically providing input to the warnings chapter to ensure the resource has the most up-to-date and relevant information.

The Warnings Group continues to be closely involved with national research into the effectiveness of warnings, including message construction and comprehension.

12 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

• functioned as an effective end user group for the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Hazard Services Forum, leading to the resolution of significant outstanding action items aimed at improving forecasting products to obtain national consistency • provided end user guidance to Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC research projects, offering strong direction and advice to researchers • provided strategic advice to the AFAC and NSW Rural Fire Service Fire Simulator Evaluation project undertaken by BoM, and developed sector response to the project recommendations • supported the National Fire Danger Rating Systems project • facilitated the production of the 2016 Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook • supported a National Grassland Fuel State Workshop to determine a national position for measuring grassland curing and grassland fuel load, establishing a national portal for reporting data, and the allocation of fuel type for the calculation of FDI • established the Predictive Services (Bushfire) Practitioners Network to support professional development of Fire Behaviour Analysts. Feedback from the inaugural webinar held in June 2017 was extremely positive.

AFAC together with the three founding members, University of Melbourne, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning VIC and NSW Rural Fire Service, have finalised the establishment of Phoenix Fire Predictions Ltd. The company was founded to oversee the development of the Phoenix fire spread simulator and is expected to commence operations in late 2017.

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

NATIONAL BURNING PROJECT

NATIONAL FIRE DANGER RATINGS SYSTEM

The 2016–17 financial year was the last funded year of the National Burning Project. The project brought together inter-related aspects of prescribed burning across Australia to design guiding frameworks and principles for a more holistic and consistent approach to prescribed burning practices.

The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) program is a nationally significant project. It is a multi-year, scalable program of work involving multiple government departments and emergency management agencies from all jurisdictions, supported by research organisations and universities.

Led by jurisdictional representatives on the Steering Committee and with input from agency staff on Technical Reference Groups, the project delivered its final milestones including reviews into training delivery, capability development and performance measures for prescribed burning.

A number of key publications were released including: • A National Position on Prescribed Burning • National Guidelines for Strategic and Program Planning • Training Resource Kits aligned to the national competencies for prescribed burning The project also recognised the need for easily accessible material that synthesised the key principles and frameworks contained in the various publications and have produced synopses documents that cover:

In October 2016 a National Program Board was established to oversee the development for the new Fire Danger Rating System including a working Research Prototype and social research.

The first stage of development of a new fire danger rating system is a joint project by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and AFAC member agencies to build a working research prototype system to better predict fire behaviour and align ratings to these predictions. The Research Prototype is part of a larger system solution to enable the staged development of the program with greater confidence of financial requirements and program scheduling.

AFAC is contracted as the Program Management Office (PMO) and acts as secretariat to the Board as well as being responsible for liaising with project managers to draw together the individual project elements.

The PMO have also developed a risk management strategy and framework, and a communication strategy and implementation plan.

• Risk Management Frameworks

BUILT ENVIRONMENT ADVOCACY

• Best Practice Principles

Following the 2014 Lacrosse building fire in Docklands, Victoria, the Australian Senate referred an inquiry into non-conforming building products to the Senate Economics References Committee.

• Objectives, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework • Process Map for Prescribed Burning Planning • Program Logic for Prescribed Burning With the project officially finalised AFAC, in conjunction with AIDR have established a Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning to communicate the outcomes of the project across Australia for national uptake and alignment of practices.

This was extended to also report on the illegal importation of products containing asbestos.

In light of the tragic fire at the Grenfell tower in London in June 2017, the Senate committee agreed to prepare an additional interim report on the implications of the use of non-compliant external cladding materials in Australia as a priority.

AFAC has made two written submissions and also presented to the Senate committee.

The AFAC office and state and territory members continue to work with relevant authorities including the Australian Building Codes Board and Standards Australia to develop risk reduction solutions for buildings identified with external combustible cladding.

AFAC continues to provide significant input into the review and amendment of the National Construction Code covering buildings and plumbing. This has included significant work on Australian Standards including bushfire provisions, fire hydrants and fire sprinkler systems.

AFAC in conjunction with Fire Protection Association Australia led

by Fire & Rescue NSW have conducted research into fire sprinkler protection for residential buildings under 25 metres, which has been as a result of coronial recommendations from the 2014 fire in Bankstown, NSW. This research has resulted in the submission of a proposal to change the building code from 2019 onwards.

| 13

STANDARDS INVOLVEMENT

-0 18 -0 1 0 SF -0 06 SF004 SF-0 03

SF

BD-06 6 CS062 CS -113 EL -0 05 EL FP -06 1 -0 01

EL-042

NFPA 14 4/SC 3 1 TC9 SC ISO 94/ TC ISO 94 TC ISO 50 -0 49 -0

Built Environment Technical Group

SF

SF

AFAC REPRESENTATIVES ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION:

SF

An ongoing example of the consultation process is highlighted by Standards Australia’s technical committee FP-020 which has recently developed a draft Standard for AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas. In addition they have developed an early-stage analysis of the impacts associated with draft changes to AS 3959, this is in the form of a draft preliminary impact analysis (PIA). To ensure the collective view of AFAC is submitted in response to the draft Standard and the PIA, the AFAC Bushfire Standards Technical Group will convene meetings to review the draft Standard and PIA to submit comments on behalf of AFAC to Standards Australia.

BD-058

AFAC is a leading advocate of the development and revision of fire related standards among Australasian fire agencies. AFAC is represented on a number of Australian/New Zealand, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Committees. Representatives are required to consult with all AFAC Members when providing comment in relation to the development or revision of Australian, Australian/New Zealand or International Standards and in doing so put forward the collective view of all agencies.

2 00 01 20 -0 -02 FP 02 0 FP -03 002 FP03 FP-0 FP

ME-030

FP-004

ME-070

FP-004-03 FP-008 FP-0 09 FP009 -01 FP -01 1 FP FP 017 -0 18

ME-057 17 ME-0 5 -01 ME 02 -0 08 9ME 5 0 -0 -0 9 H 0 C -0 H C

Tiltup construction

CS-062

Solid Fuel Burning Appliances

CS-113

Wheat Bags

EL-005

Secondary batteries

EL-061

Electrical Energy Storage

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 & Fire Hydrant Systems

FP-008

Fire Pumps & 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)

CH-009-05 Oxidising substances

Operational Equipment Technical Group Pumps ME-030 PPE Technical Group Occupational Protective Footwear SF-003 Occupational Protective Clothing SF-004 Eye and Face Protection SF-006 Occupational Respiratory Protection SF-010 Occupational Protective Helmets SF-018 Firefighters PPE SF-049 High Visibility Clothing SF-050

FP-022

Fire Protection of Mobile and Transportable Equipment

CH-009-08 Corrosive Substances ME-002

ISO TC94

Gas Cylinders

LG-007

Emergency Lighting Buildings

ME-015

Storage and Handling - LPG

ME-004

Lift Installations

ME-017

Flammable and Combustible Liquids

ME-062

Ventilation and Airconditioning

ME-057

Road Tankers for Hazardous Liquids and Gases

ME-070

Liquefied Natural Gas Storage and Handling

ME-062-01 Ventilation and Airconditioning ME-062-09 Ventilation and Airconditioning ME-089

Mechanical Parking Devices

CE-030

Maritime structures

14 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

0 ME-089

CE-03

CH

-0

C

CH

H

-0

09 09 -04 -0 09 01 CT -00 1 FP-0 20

Thermal Insulation

BD-066

Bushfire Standards Technical Group FP-020

Construction in Bushfire Prone Areas

Fire Engineering Network CT-001

Communications Cabling

Hazmat Technical Group CH-009

Safe Handling of Chemicals

CH-009-01 Emergency Response Guide Working Group CH-009-04 Flammable solids, spontaneously combustion

19 -0 FP 022 FP 07 -0 LG 4 -00 ME 062 ME2-01 ME-06 ME-062-09

BD-058

Personal Safety - Protective clothing and equipment (Chair)*

ISO TC94/ Personal Protective clothing* SC13 ISO TC94/ Firefighters personal equipment* SC14 NFPA

NFPA Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services PPE*

Urban Operations Group EL-042

Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

RESEARCH UTILISATION

AFAC DOCTRINE

USING RESEARCH: LESSONS FROM CASE STUDIES

AFAC doctrine articulates collective emergency management subject matter knowledge aligned with AFAC’s strategic goals, and it is structured and disseminated in a way that enables its use by practitioners.

Throughout the 2016–17 year AFAC Members have continued to use research to drive change and innovation in practice.

Their efforts were captured in three case studies that show how research was used to improve land and water management for postfire erosion, enhance bushfire education for children and embed useful human factors science into incident management through AIIMS and its related learner resources.

Available for download on the AFAC website, these cases are: • Li’l Larrikins – bushfire education stories (July 2016) • Human factors research evidence enhances AIIMS incident management capability (August 2016) • Science-backed tools enhance water catchment management (March 2017) Part of an ongoing series, these research utilisation cases show how end users made sense of the science for their purposes and put it to use effectively within and across their agencies. Both researchers and end users reflect on what worked and what didn’t and emphasise the factors critical to their success.

LESSONS MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AFAC member agencies have access to a community of practice (COP) dedicated to lessons management.

The group which operates on the LinkedIn social media platform started as an idea at the National Lessons Management Forum hosted by AFAC’s Knowledge Innovation and Research Utilisation Network (KIRUN) in 2017. By June 2016 it had attracted more than 80 members, drawn from AFAC member agencies, the broader emergency management sector and beyond.

Lessons Management: a place for lessons management practitioners to learn from each other is administered by Emergency Management Victoria’s Lisa-Marie Jackson and current chair of KIRUN, with the support of a range of lessons practitioners and leaders from across the sector nationally.

AFAC’s Doctrine Management Policy sets out how doctrine is managed from creation, editorial development, production and future revision to its dissemination throughout the sector and to other stakeholders in a clear, professional and useful format for practitioners.

In 2016, AFAC CEO instigated a refresh program that identifies doctrine aged five years or older to be reviewed, revised and updated to ensure that all doctrine reflects evidence-based thinking. This refresh program continues, and is managed in concert with new doctrine production.

AFAC’s collection of doctrine is aligned to the Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017-2021 and is classified as: capstone, fundamental, technical and procedural.

During the 2016–17 financial year AFAC published:

1

1

NEW FRAMEWORK

REVISED FRAMEWORK

10

12

NEW FUNDAMENTAL PIECES OF DOCTRINE

REVISED FUNDAMENTAL PIECES OF DOCTRINE

15

8

NEW PROCEDURAL PIECES OF DOCTRINE

REVISED PROCEDURAL PIECES OF DOCTRINE

101

The group was established to support lessons management practitioners so they:

PIECES OF AFAC DOCTRINE IN TOTAL

• do not have to reinvent the wheel • can search for materials • are able to contact and collaborate with fellow practitioners to access information and resources.

According to Lisa, the main idea is to learn from “the shared experiences and insights of our peers”.

AFAC INDEPENDENT OPERATIONAL REVIEWS July 2016 ASSISTANCE FOR THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO THE JUNE 2016 TASMANIA FOODS AFAC has been able to build on its history of working together with Tasmanian fire and emergency service agencies – as we did following the 2013 and 2016 bushfires – to support the Tasmanian Government in its Independent Review into the June 2016 Tasmania Floods. It is further evidence of the proactive way in which government and the emergency management sector in Tasmania have sought to identify and learn the lessons from the management of major incidents over time.

April 2017 During the 2016–17 year AFAC provided assistance for the Independent Review into the Port Hills, Christchurch fires in New Zealand. The review is due to be released later in 2017. | 15

COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK

AFAC CO

AS AT 30 JUNE 2017 AFAC BOARD

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SE

1

2

Supporting resilient communities

Community Safety Group

AL

SES Community Safety Group

3

Providing trusted response

Source of credible and timely information

AIIMS Steering Group

ELA

Predictive Services Group

GE

AL

Learning and Development Group

SL

Warnings Group

AL

Built Environment Technical Group

RL

Rural and Land Management Group

ELA

Predictive Services Practitioners (Bushfire) Network

GE

Bushfire Standards Technical Group

RL

SES Operations Group

ELA

RL

Community Engagement AL Technical Group Fire Engineering Network

RL

Fire Investigation Network

RL

Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network

Urban Operations Group ELA Fire and Emergency RA Aviation Technical Group Hazardous Materials Technical Group

ELA

Urban Search and Rescue & Technical Rescue ELA Technical Group

LP

AFAC GROUP MANAGERS

Work Health & Safety Technical Group

SL

Computer Simulation Network

SL

Unwanted False Alarm Network

ELA SE STUART ELLIS

AL AMANDA LECK

GE GREG ESNOUF

NK NOREEN KRUSEL

RS RUSSELL SHEPHARD

CB CLAIRE BRENTNALL

LO LORNA O’DWYER

RA RICHARD ALDER

SL SANDRA LUNARDI

ELA ERIN LISTON-ABEL

LP LUKE PURCELL

RL ROB LLEWELLYN

ZK ZOE KENYON

16 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

OUNCIL CCOSC

ERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2017 - 2021

4

Effective governance and resource management

Business Intelligence Group

ELA

Collaborative Procurement Group

RS

Diversity and Inclusion Group

NK

Workforce Management Group

SL

Fleet Technical Group

RS

Operational Equipment Technical Group

RS

Personal Protective Equipment Technical Group

RS

Volunteer Management Technical Group

ZK

Chief Information Officers Network

SE

Business Management Network

RS

Employee Relations Network

LO

Mental Health and Wellbeing Network

LO

5

Informed by knowledge and research

Knowledge, Innovation and Research Utilisation Network

NK

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience Networking & national capability Doctrine development Disaster resilience education for schools Volunteer leadership support Knowledge management NERAG online Australian EM library

Standards RS Representatives Network Emergency Management Professionalisation CB Scheme Panel

Scholarships for volunteers

GROUP TECHNICAL GROUP NETWORK PANEL | 17

AFAC SUBMISSIONS

December 2016

May 2016

INQUIRY INTO REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS THAT IMPACT ON THE SAFE USE OF REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (RPAS), UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION – AFAC’S RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY MOBILE BROADBAND (PSMB) FINAL REPORT Following the release of the Australian Government Productivity Commission Final Report, AFAC’s response supported the development of a nationwide hybrid PSMB solution: with commercial but also dedicated PSMB allocation to be assured that during any emergency, when both commercial and emergency management demands are at their greatest, fire and emergency services have dedicated PSMB infrastructure.

As the interests of AFAC and NAFC are closely aligned in this matter, a joint submission was provided.

AFAC and NAFC see considerable potential benefit, including enhanced community safety, from the appropriate application of RPAS in fire and emergency management. There is a need for agencies using RPAS to have in place appropriate risk management procedures and standards for operating RPAS.

Australia’s public safety agencies must have dedicated spectrum allocation and exclusive arrangements to operate and maintain a national mobile broadband capability, able to upgrade and change, in line with international spectrum and at a pace that meets their needs in the interests of the whole Australian community, with the priority of community safety.

NAFC and AFAC will work with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and AirServices Australia to examine the implementation of regulatory measures and also support a collaborative approach to public education regarding inappropriate and illegal use of RPAS.

August 2016

AFAC Members are committed to supporting fire and emergency services in Pacific Islands countries and territories as a partnership of equals and in a spirit of mutual cooperation.

PUBLIC SUBMISSION – AUSTRALIAN DANGEROUS GOODS CODE MAINTENANCE AFAC provided a submission on the proposed changes to instruments governing the transport of dangerous goods: Draft ADG 7.5.

AFAC’s submission was based on consultation among the AFAC membership, and with a range of industry parties, and dangerous goods regulators, as well as our broader understanding of the issue.

AFAC supported the concessional limited quantity and retail distribution package proposals in part, with some suggestions, additions, modifications and clarifications. AFAC acknowledged the open participatory dialogue used through the consultative process with the National Transport Commission, regulators and industry representatives.

November 2016 AFAC’S RESPONSE TO THE AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION’S (ACCC) REVIEW OF THE MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARD FOR DISPOSABLE CIGARETTE LIGHTERS AFAC supported and endorsed the adoption of Option 3: Accept the voluntary Australian standard or multiple trusted international standards. This would address some of the deficiencies and fire risks identified with the current mandatory standard. While it does not address all fire safety issues related to cigarette lighters, it should reduce the incidents of cigarette lighter related fires.

18 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

PACIFIC ISLAND ENGAGEMENT

Bilateral arrangements exist between AFAC Members and the Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) member nations: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Timor, Tuvalu and Nauru.

AFAC’s Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network (PILON) offers a forum for sharing information and good practice in relation to Member agencies’ twinning arrangements with Pacific Island nations and supporting the reporting of outcomes.

In 2016 PIEMA launched its Strategic Agenda 2020, outlining its aspirations for strengthening resilience and emergency management capability within the Pacific. AFAC Member activities in the Pacific contribute directly towards the Pacific Strategic Agenda 2020 Key Result Areas: common doctrine, relationships and leadership, advocacy and profile and professionalisation.

PIEMA and the Pacific Community Secretariat have worked together with the Australian and New Zealand governments to develop PIEMA’s future emergency preparedness and response program 2017-2021. The partnerships between AFAC Members and Pacific Island fire and emergency services have resulted in institutional reform and strengthening of capability in the Pacific region. Broader outcomes include fire services becoming involved in all hazard response and demonstrating closer liaison with ambulance, military and police.

EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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 strategy, we have developed a variety of activities and programs specifically targeted to exchange knowledge and professional interaction. Here are some of our highlights from the year.

SIMULATION TRAINING CLINIC

FIRST AID – BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT WEBINAR

AFAC held a two-day Simulation Training Clinic in August 2016 in Melbourne. The clinic was attended by a range of emergency management professionals from local government, the rail industry, NGOs, water authorities, the private sector and AFAC member agencies. The clinic utilised a suite of resources developed from research to support building capability in simulation exercises.

In March 2017 AFAC held a free one-hour webinar, First Aid – but not as you know it, which gave an overview of the principles of psychological first aid (PFA), paired with reflections on personal experiences from presenters and a Q&A session.

Attendees participated in professional development exercises aimed at honing their skills in planning for, delivering and assessing simulation-based exercises for Incident Management Teams (IMTs).

The clinic was facilitated by Dr Peter Hayes who was one of several researchers in the previous Bushfire CRC that contributed to the science of effective IMT performance.

Participants indicated that the clinic was a valuable experience with 86% rating it as excellent, good or very good. Participants were actively engaged in learning as well as sharing knowledge and insights, tricks, tips and challenges with the group. The communication among participants added to the capability and confidence levels of those who attended.

LESSONS MANAGEMENT FORUM Lessons management practitioners and researchers from across Australia converged in Melbourne for the two-day national Lessons Management Forum in November 2016.

More than 100 participants, including leaders, researchers and practitioners, in fields as diverse as lessons management, organisational learning and performance improvement, explored the barriers and opportunities for effective lessons learning in emergency management. The potential for using lessons management as a whole-of-emergency management learning approach, encompassing the preparedness, prevention, response and recovery spectrum, was also discussed.

Presenters from across jurisdictions shared case studies on how they learned lessons from recent major hazards and provided insights on some of the people and process capabilities developed by their organisations to help address gaps or maximise opportunities identified in the lessons.

20 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Presenters included: Jim Higgins ASM, former CEO, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB); Amanda Lamont, Director Engagement and Planning, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience; and Clinical & Consulting Psychologist, Heather Bancroft.

The webinar offered a professional development opportunity to the emergency management community, particularly those involved in the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS).

Participants were awarded one hour of continuing professional development (CPD) in line with EMPS. The webinar attracted 312 registrations from across the AFAC membership and the broader emergency management community.

Feedback gained through a survey following the webinar has indicated that it increased most participants understanding of PFA.

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE EVENT SERIES: PRACTICAL LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE EVOLVING FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SECTOR IN THE UK Throughout May the 2017 Motorola Solutions Knowledge Event Series ran nationally with participating jurisdictions across Australia and New Zealand, offering participants candid reflections on leadership from an international industry leader.

The series was presented by John Beard, the Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) UK. Around 350 people from across the emergency management spectrum attended the event series.

John’s presentation focused on leading his organisation through change, what it means to be a public sector service and the leadership behaviours that drives an ethos of true public service at all levels within an organisation. The series ran in Darwin, Adelaide, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and Wellington from 17-29 May 2017.

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

AFAC EXECUTIVE FORUM Senior leaders from across the emergency management sector came together for the two-day AFAC Executive Forum held in Melbourne during June 2017.

The event focused on exploring controversy, crisis management and change. With the growing pressure on government agencies to meet public expectations and deal with public scrutiny, these topics are of increasing importance within the public sector.

The Executive Forum has been designed to develop strategic level operational thinking across jurisdictions through reviewing, listening to colleagues, hearing alternative approaches and sharing views and lessons across agencies.

Presentations at the forum included: • NSW State Emergency Service Commissioner Mark Smethurst on the NSW 2016/17 storm event • Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Cyclone Debbie • SA State Emergency Service Chief Officer Chris Beattie on the South Australia energy blackout and its implications • Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Craig Lapsley on the Victorian thunderstorm asthma incident • NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on recent NSW fires and preparing for catastrophic events.

AFAC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AFAC in partnership with the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM) held a number of professional development courses during the year. Representatives from the emergency management sector across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the United States attended the various programs. AFAC member agencies had a combined total of 124 delegates in attendance during the 2016–17 financial year.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES On Friday 28 April 2017, AFAC held the third annual memorial service for fire and emergency services personnel.

More than 300 family, friends and supporters of fire and emergency services gathered at the service held in Canberra at the National Emergency Services Memorial on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin.

The National Memorial Service has become an important day of commemoration for the sector to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have died in the line of duty. This years’ service included 13 commemorations from ACT, NSW and Victoria. A number of the families of those who died were presented with an AFAC memorial medallion during the service.

Recognised during the service were: Steven Kadar, Katie Peters and Peter Cramer from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning VIC; Mark Cupit, Claire Deane, George Fitzsimmons, Erik Furlan, Bryce Laut, Aaron Harber, and John Garland from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; Raymond Watson from Fire & Rescue NSW; Simon Fensom from ACT Fire & Rescue; and Jittie Nieuwenhuis from NSW Rural Fire Service.

The service included a message from the Prime Minister of Australia, which paid tribute to the memory of all fire and emergency services personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis reflected on what the National Memorial Service meant to the fire and emergency services community.

“It’s a tremendously important occasion for our sector, and of course for the families and friends who have lost a loved one.

“The presentation of an AFAC memorial medallion engraved with the names of those who have died, hopefully in some small way, provides a level of comfort to those who have lost so much.”

The courses offered through AIPM include: • Graduate Certificate in Applied Management • Graduate Diploma of Executive Leadership • Strategic Command Program • Developing Future Leaders program • Enterprise: Continuity and Change program • Balance: Women Leaders in Public Safety program • Facilitate: Building Learning Organisations workshop • Frontline leadership program • Bridging the Gap: From Management to Executive • Evolve: Leadership in Complex Environments.

| 21

Breaking records for attendance and exhibition size, AFAC16 powered

by INTERSCHUTZ was a big success in Brisbane. More than 2,500 emergency management personnel attended the four day event, which ran from 30 August to 2 September 2016.

AFAC16 brought together global emergency management professionals from emergency and security services agencies, all levels of government, non-government organisations, research and education institutions to the sectors premier knowledge sharing event.

The conference was hosted by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, with both agencies imperative to the planning, implementation and success of the event.

Leading Australian and international experts explored the theme Mitigation, Response, Recovery – Getting the balance right, considering some of the new approaches being implemented to multi-agency disaster management services. The program featured more than 127 speakers across three days and spread over five streams.

Attendees heard from sector leaders and influencers exploring the challenges of integration, diversity and inclusion, transformational leadership, partnerships, building back better, disaster resilience, capacity for coordination and recovery and predictive services.

Over 400 emergency management professionals and researchers attended the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum, which opened the conference on 30 August. Attendees heard about how research is shaping new and innovative ways to keep communities safe from natural hazards.

A new partnership between AFAC and Hannover Fairs Australia, a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe and organisers of the internationally renowned INTERSCHUTZ exhibition held in Germany every five years, contributed to the success of the conference and exhibition.

AFAC16 featured the largest trade exhibition in the history of the AFAC conference. Complementing the immersive program of speakers, the exhibition featured 160 exhibitors from over 14 countries. Exhibitors showcased an extensive range of equipment and services to emergency management professionals and first responders.

Extending the learning opportunities for attendees, AFAC16 closed with seven Post Conference Development Sessions. The combination of field trips, workshops and forums gave attendees an opportunity to get hands‐on experiences and interact with peers sharing common interests.

SURVEY SNAPSHOT • 92% rated AFAC16 as a whole excellent or very good • 96% rated the overall organisation of AFAC16 as excellent or very good • 99% said AFAC16 met or exceeded their expectations • 98% said they would recommend the conference to others.

22 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

| 23

RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT: SECTOR AWARDS MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION AWARDS

LAURIE LAVELLE ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD

AFAC16 marked the seventh year Motorola Solutions has partnered with AFAC to recognise innovation in the emergency management sector. The 2016 Motorola Knowledge Innovation Award was presented to an individual and an agency recipient at AFAC16, held in Brisbane.

The 2016 Laurie Lavelle Achiever of the Year Award was presented during AFAC16 in Brisbane to acknowledge significant contributions to the sector. The award was granted to Alan Rhodes of Emergency Management Victoria and Allan Brown of New Zealand Fire Service.

The awards are given in recognition of innovation, creativity and contribution to the advancement of knowledge across the sector over the past 12 months. For the first time the scope of the awards was broadened to recognise those who have enhanced research utilisation throughout the sector.

New South Wales Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS) received the 2016 agency award in acknowledgment of the Fire Weather Portal (FWP), an innovative website that displays weather forecasts and observations. The website is a knowledge management tool which assists fire managers by sharing fire weather and fuel information in an integrated system. The FWP has improved situational awareness and enhanced capabilities on the ground.

The individual award was granted to Rose Kapaith, Senior Online Publishing Coordinator, Online Channel Management, Community Engagement and Partnership Branch, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). Rose was awarded for her creative approach to ensuring QFES staff familiarised themselves and engaged with the new QFES Gateway intranet.

Rose developed a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt encouraging staff to search for the location of key information and various gateway pages. The Easter Egg Hunt allowed QFES to capture data of site pages and identify where more efficient navigation was required.

Both awards were presented by Motorola Solutions representatives, during the AFAC16 Welcome and Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to the recipients.

24 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Alan Rhodes was recognised for his role in the review of the Bushfire Safety Policy Framework, leading the way in the social science of bushfire safety.

Allan Brown was acknowledged for his work in publishing twelve bilingual books written in Te Reo Maori and English, to raise awareness of fire and other dangers in vulnerable communities.

The Laurie Lavelle Achiever of the Year Award was first introduced in 1997 to recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to emergency services in any one year.

The award itself is now appropriately named after Laurie, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to emergency services in Australia.

Laurie was a long-standing Chief Fire Officer of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board and the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of AFAC from 1993 – 2001. Laurie presented both winners with their award at the AFAC16 Welcome and Awards Ceremony.

Congratulations to Alan Rhodes and Allan Brown on receiving this year’s award.

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 Model is aligned to the Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021.

5 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH RISK REDUCTION

PROVIDING TRUSTED RESPONSE AND FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO RELIEF AND RECOVERY

THE SOURCE OF CREDIBLE AND TIMELY INFORMATION

EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

INFORMED BY KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH.

37

GROUPS WITHIN THE COLLABORATION MODEL

126 GROUP MEETINGS IN 2016–17

807 INDIVIDUAL GROUP MEMBERS

As at 30 June 2017.

26 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

DIRECTION 1: SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH RISK REDUCTION Community Safety Group

Sponsor (resigned): Jim Higgins MFB-VIC Chair: Andrew Stark, SA-CFS AFAC Manager: Amanda Leck Alan Quinton, MFB-VIC Amanda Tarbotton, ForestryNSW Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Damien Killalea, TFS Gerald Seville, NTFRES Greg Howard, SA-MFS Gwynne Brennan, CFA-VIC Jennifer O'Beirne, DELWP Joe Murphy, ACT-ESA John Watson, QFES Lew Short, EMV Lindsay Hackett, QFES Mark Whybro, FRNSW Mark Edwards, GA Mark Morrow, NSW-SES Martin Braid, MFB-VIC Paul McBride, Airservices Paul Ryan, DFES-WA Rob Saunders, NZFS Rob Purcell, MFB-VIC Rob Llewellyn, AFAC Sandra Barber, TFS Simon Burt, NTFRES Stephen Johnston, DFES-WA Steve Cameron, EMV Steve Cameron, EMV Warwick Ellis, AGD-EMA

SES Community Safety Group Chair: Kate White, VICSES AFAC Manager: Amanda Leck Belinda Davies, NSW-SES Clare Barker, NTFRES Colleen Ridge, TAS-SES Eamonn Lennon, QFES Fiona Amundson, ACT-ESA Greg Mennie, SASES Ian Smith, NTFRES Mark Morrow, NSW-SES Nicole Hogan, NSW-SES Paul Ryan, DFES-WA Peter Jeffrey, QFES Sarah Anderson, SLSA Shane Daw, SLSA Stefanie Zakrzewski, SASES Stephen Johnston, DFES-WA Steven Hallam, QFES Tracey Allen, ACT-SES

Built Environment Technical Group Chair: Mark Whybro, FRNSW AFAC Manager: Rob Llewellyn Adam Dalrymple, MFB-VIC Allan Oates, NTFRES Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC Andrew Sharrad, SA-MFS

Anthony Livingston, TFS Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA Colin Paton, SA-CFS Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Elliott Simmons, NSW-SES Gary Baxter, DFES-WA Gavin Maund, DFES-WA Greg Wild, FRNSW Greg Buckley, FRNSW Ian Shepherd, QFES Jeff Knight, TFS Mark Carter, MFB-VIC Simon Davis, NZFS

Bushfire Standards Technical Group Chair: Andrew Stark, SA-CFS AFAC Manager: Rob Llewellyn Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS David Boverman, NSWRFS Fergus Adrian, QFES Greg Potts, ACT-ESA Greg Wild, FRNSW Jackson Parker, DFES-WA James Haig, QFES Len Leslie, CFA-VIC Lew Short, EMV Mark Chladil, TFS

Community Engagement Technical Group Chair: Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS AFAC Manager: Amanda Leck Alan Musk, QFES Amanda Moore, OEM-NSW Andrew Richards, NSW-SES Anthony Clark, NSWRFS Anthony Bradstreet, NSWRFS Chris Lewis, FRNSW Chris Barber, CFA-VIC Darryl McCormick, Airservices David Harris, MFB-VIC Deborah Lamb, SASES Eamonn Lennon, QFES Fiona Amundson, ACT-ESA Greg Howard, SA-MFS Greg Mennie, SASES Gwynne Brennan, CFA-VIC Heidi Farnden, NTFRES Jacqueline Quaine, VICSES Jen Dick, DEWNR-SA Julie Harris, MFB-VIC Kathryn Mroczek, DEWNR-SA Michael Ollerenshaw, FRNSW Rob Saunders, NZFS Sandra Barber, TFS Sarah Anderson, SLSA Shane Daw, SLSA Steve Cameron, EMV Steve Dorman, MFB-VIC Suellen Flint, DFES-WA

Susan Davie, VICSES Tamara Beckett, DELWP

Fire Engineering Network Chair: Greg Buckley, FRNSW AFAC Manager: Rob Llewellyn Angela Chen, NZFS Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA Cihan Soylemez, MFB-VIC Daniel Greig, TFS David Kearsley, CFA-VIC David Boverman, NSWRFS David Kubler, SA-MFS Gavin Maund, DFES-WA Greg Wild, FRNSW Jeff Knight, TFS Paul McBride, Airservices Simon Davis, QFES Steven McKee, NTFRES Than Sharma, NZFS

Fire Investigation Network

Chair: Peter Wilding, NZFS AFAC Manager: Rob Llewellyn Andrew Duckworth, DFES-WA Anthony Styring, MFB-VIC Bob Mathieson, NSWRFS David Groer, Airservices Gordon Hemphrey, QFES Graham Kingsland, FRNSW Ian Lockley, NTFRES Jeremy Fewtrell, FRNSW Leslie Vearing, DELWP Mark Klop, TFS Nicole Harvey, CFA-VIC Peter Van Boxtel, NTFRES Richard Woods, ACT-ESA Shaun Ruxton, SA-MFS Steve Edwards, ACT-ESA Tim Mitchell, NZFS Timothy Landells, MFB-VIC

Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network AFAC Manager: Paul Considine Barry Gray, MFB-VIC Darryl McCormick, Airservices Daryl Rush, QFES Glenn Brewer, ACT-ESA Glenn Benham, SA-MFS Greg Kent,ACT-ESA Greg Nettleton, SA-CFS Jeremy Smith, TFS Josh Turner, FRNSW Luke Purcell, AFAC Mark Reid, SPC Neil Reid, QFES Steve Warrington, CFA-VIC Terry Trewin, NTFRES Tony O'Day, CFA-VIC Wayne Mackey, NZFS

| 27

DIRECTION 2: PROVIDING TRUSTED RESPONSE AND FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO RELIEF AND RECOVER AIIMS Steering Group

Chair: Alan Goodwin, NAFC Executive Officer: Geoff Conway, Crossbow Consulting Services Coordinating Editor: Euan Ferguson, Euan Ferguston Pty Ltd AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Cameron Leary, OEH-NSW Chris Quinn, Airservices Chris Beattie, SASES Damien Killalea, TFS Darren Klemm, DFES-WA Darrin McKenzie, DELWP Dave Hunt, DCNZ David Coetzee, MCDEMN David Nugent,PARKSVIC Greg Newton, NSW-SES Greg Rankin, FRNSW Iain Mackenzie, IGEM-QLD Jamie Storrie, AMSA Jenny Nelson, NSWAMB Jim Hamilton, FRNSW John Cawcutt, QFES Malcolm Cronstedt, OEM-WA Mark Brown, ACT-ESA Matt Smith, ACT-ESA Murray Carter, OBRM-WA Paul Turner, NZFS Paul McGuiggan, FRNSW Sandra Lunardi AFAC Scott Duval, SA Pol Simon Rickard, Australian Red Cross Steve Warrington, CFA-VIC Stuart Midgley, NSWRFS Stuart Ellis, AFAC Tony O'Day, CFA-VIC

Learning and Development Group Chair: Cassandra Curtis, SA-CFS AFAC Manager: Sandra Lunardi Adam Barnett, CAVFA Adrian Webb, Airservices Alex Attewell, NZFS Andrew Buckley, DELWP Andrew Short, QFES Andy Wood, CAVFA Anne McLean, DEWNR-SA Bernie O'Rourke, NSWRFS Brad Delavale, DFES-WA Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA Cameron Wade, ForestryNSW Cameron Leary, OEH-NSW Chhavi Shaw, FRNSW Clinton Neumann, QFES Craig Waters, DPAW-WA David Rawet, DPAW-WA David Evenis, DFES-WA Deborah Parsons, SA-MFS

28 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Diana MacMullin, SASES Eddie Brizzio, MFB-VIC Fadia Mitri, MFB-VIC Greg Reynolds, QFRS Greg Butters, TFS Ian Harding, CAVFA James Harington, Airservices Jamie Molloy, DELWP Jarna Vilayrack, QFES Jeannie Cotterell, ACT-ESA Jocelyn Brace, NZFS Jodie Stevenson, TFS Julie Nolan, ACT-ESA Kaye Morris, OEH-NSW Kevin Archer, OEM-NSW Leigh Ridge, SASES Leigh-Anne Sorensen, QFES Liz Walker, NTFRES Loretta Orsini, VICSES Matt Crowley, Airservices Michael Fleming, AMSA Michael Dwyer, QFES Nick Connolly, TAS-SES Pamela Simon, SLSA Paul Salter, TFS Ross Mead, DPAW-WA Sally Graham, DELWP Serena Eales, SA-CFS Sherri Adcock, QFES Stephen Glassock,NSWRFS Susan Gronow, NSW-SES Tony Duckmanton, CFA-VIC Wayne Mackey, NZFS Wendy Blair, OEH-NSW

Rural and Land Management Group Sponsor: Neil Cooper, ACT-PCS Chair: Murray Carter, OBRM-WA Executive Officer: Greg Esnouf, AFAC AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Adam Lewis, GA Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC Andrew Graystone, PARKSVIC Bryan Jensen, DCNZ Chandra Wood, Brisbane City Council Christopher Smith, SA-MFS Craige Brown, Melbourne Water Darrin McKenzie, DELWP Dave Gossage, CAVFA Dean Sheehan, STTAS Evan Morgan, BOM Gerry Byrne, FRNSW Graham Swift, DFES-WA James Haig, QFES Jeremy Smith, TFS Joe Murphy, ACT-ESA Justin Cook, ForestrySA Kevin O'Connor, NZFS Leigh Kleinschmidt, HQP-QLD

Luigi Cucchiaro, NTFRES Martin Winters, ForestrySA Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW Nick Lhuede, ACT-ESA Paul Brennan, DPAW-WA Paul Black, PWS-TAS Peter Leeson, QPWS Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS Robert McNeil, FRNSW Robert Sandford, SA-CFS Robin Hicks, BOM Roger Deslandes, BOM Shane Wiseman, DEWNR-SA Stuart Midgley, NSWRFS Tim McGuffog, ForestryNSW Tim Sanders, Melbourne Water

SES Operations Group

Chair: Peter Jeffrey, QFES AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Brian Edmonds, TAS-SES Chris Beattie, SASES David Baker, VICSES Dermot Barry, SASES Graham Ible, ACT-ESA Jason Collins, NTFRES Lloyd Bailey, DFES-WA Nick Connolly, TAS-SES Nicole Hogan, NSW-SES Paul Turner, NZFS Robert Evans, NTFRES Robert Landon, NSW-SES Shane Daw, SLSA Tim Wiebusch, VICSES Tracey Allen, ACT-SES Trevor White, VICSES

Urban Operations Group

Chair: Gavin Freeman, TFS AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Brad Commens, QFES Daniel Austin, SA-CFS Darren Klemm, DFES-WA David Bruce, MFB-VIC David Youssef, MFB-VIC Jim Hamilton, FRNSW John Watson, QFES Kerry Schemioneck, Airservices Mark Brown, ACT-ESA Mark Spain, NTFRES Michael Morgan, SA-MFS Pat Jones, ACT-ESA Paul Turner, NZFS Paul Jones, NSWRFS Paul Swain, NTFRES Peter Thomas, MFB-VIC Steve Warrington, CFA-VIC Tony O'Day, CFA-VIC Trevor Arnold, SASES

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Fire and Emergency Aviation Technical Group Chair: Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Andrew Griffiths, AMSA Andrew Turner, BushfiresNT Andrew Matthews, NAFC Annette Johnson, NAFC Anthony Ferguson, NSWRFS Brad Commins, DPAW-WA Brad Bourke, DPAW-WA Brendan Zwanikken, DELWP Chris Morton, AFAC Corey Dunn, SA-CFS David Pearce, SA-CFS Derek Parks, DFES-WA Glen Crombie, OEH-NSW Ian Millman, NZFS Luke Patterson, CFA-VIC Martin Gibson, QFES Martin Piesse, STTAS Matt Plucinski, CSIRO Michelle Jenkins, NSW-SES Neil Brooksbank, TFS Paul Simakoff-Ellims, ACT-ESA Peter Hollier, QFES Raymond Jasper, VICSES Richard McNamara, NZFS Richard Alder, NAFC Robbie Landon, NSW-SES Rohan Scott, ACT-RFS Viki Campbell, NSWRFS Wayne Rigg, CFA-VIC

Hazardous Materials Technical Group Chair: Jim Hamilton, FRNSW AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Barry Byrne, MFB-VIC Brett Cowcher, MFB-VIC Chris Quinn, Airservices Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC Craig Tonks, CFA-VIC David Imhoff, AMSA David Gill, DFES-WA Dick Thornton-Grimes, NZFS Jason Jones, ACT-ESA Jeff Harper, QFES Jeffrey Davis, DFES-WA Justin Meldrum, SA-MFS Kerry Schemioneck, Airservices Matthew Allen, CFA-VIC Michael Logan, QFRS Pat Finlay, SA-MFS Paul Beylerian, FRNSW Paul Johnstone, FRNSW Steve Clyde-Smith, ACT-ESA Stuart Males, TFS Terry Trewin, NTFRES Wayne Atkins, SA-CFS

Urban Search and Rescue & Technical Rescue Technical Group Chair: John Denny, FRNSW AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Brenton Clarke, SASES Brett Cowcher, MFB-VIC Colin Lindsay, SA-MFS Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC Daryl Rush, QFES Garth Lawrence, DFES-WA George Arnold, MFB-VIC Graeme Hall, QFES Jeff Maunder, NZFS Jon Broomhall, DFES-WA Kate Fitzgerald, AGD-EMA Kerry Schemioneck, Airservices Mark Dobson, TFS Neil Maher, ACT-ESA Nicole Hogan, NSW-SES Pat Jones, ACT-ESA Rebecca Hosking, EMA Robert Landon, NSW-SES Terry Trewin, NTFRES Tim Fox, FRNSW Trevor Arnold, SASES

Work Health and Safety Technical Group Chair: Karen Roberts, DFES-WA Deputy Chair: Jeff Green, CFA-VIC AFAC Manager: Sandra Lunardi Alison Donohoe, FRNSW Andrew Taylor, TFS Anita Markovski, NSW-SES Anthony Dodd, VICSES Ben Darcy, DFES-WA Brendan Mott, FRNSW Chloe Sellars, DPAW-WA Col Strawbridge, MFB-VIC Cyrel Wright, QFES Damien Kook, CFA-VIC Darren Crawford, DEWNR-SA David Heslop, NSWRFS David Kemp, SAFECOM Debbie Gaskin, DFES-WA Emma-Lee Finch, DPAW-WA Gary Zuiderwyk, NSW-SES Graeme Dudley, DELWP John Kingsbury, NZFS Leah Parlour, DFES-WA Lorna O'Dwyer, AFAC Luke Rector, MFB-VIC Matt Potter, DELWP Michael Cosgrove, DPFEM Michael Coffey, MFB-VIC Neil Mott,Airservices Nicole Middleton, DELWP Peter Langridge, CFA-VIC Peter Pera, FRNSW Reece Colman, ACT-ESA Richard Gorey, QFES Sam Sanderson, DEWNR-SA Steve Pavlich, SAFECOM Terese Howlett, VICSES

Computer Simulation Network Chair: Aaron Stockton, CFA-VIC AFAC Manager: Sandra Lunardi Adrian Skene, QFRS Antony Sadler, DFES-WA Brendon Wood, NZFS Chris Mower, SA-MFS Darren Williams, MFB-VIC James Harington, Airservices James Hall, MFB-VIC Kevin White, QFES Mark Fieldew, MFB-VIC Matt Crowley, Airservices Paul Cockerill, CFA-VIC Paul Glanville, NZFS Phillip Crossley, SA-MFS Robert Lightfoot, FRNSW Robert Murray, FRNSW Roger Bird, QFES Stephen Walls, CFA-VIC Wayne Green, DFES-WA Wayne Miller, FRNSW Wendy Blair, OEH-NSW

Unwanted False Alarm Network AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA Carolyn Blake, CFA-VIC Christine Herridge, FRNSW Jody Boado, MFB-VIC John Harrison, QFES Jon Pearce, SA-MFS Kevin Churchward, SA-CFS Phillip Patterson, MFB-VIC Phillip McDonough, SA-CFS Rob Stephenson, MFB-VIC Rodney Reith, Airservices Simon Burt, NTFRES Stephen McClelland, DFES-WA Stephen Lowe, TFS Syd Bignell, DFES-WA Todd O'Donoghue, NZFS

| 29

DIRECTION 3: THE SOURCE OF TIMELY AND CREDIBLE INFORMATION Predictive Services Group

Chair: Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS AFAC Manager: Greg Esnouf Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC Andrew Turner, BushfiresNT Andrew Sturgess, QFES Ann Farrell, BOM Brian Levine, ACT-PCS Christopher Collins, TFS Darrin McKenzie, DELWP David Hudson, GA Grant Pearce, NZFS Jackson Parker, DFES-WA Joel Gordon, QFES John Bally, BOM Lachlan McCaw, DPAW-WA Liam Fogarty, DELWP Michael Rumsewicz, BNHCRC Michael Wouters, DEWNR-SA Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW Noreen Krusel, AFAC Richard Thornton, BNHCRC Roger Deslandes, BOM Tim Mitchell, NZFS Timothy Wells, CFA-VIC

Warnings Group

Chair: Anthony Clark, NSWRFS Outgoing Chair: Reegan Key, EMV AFAC Manager: Amanda Leck Andrew Richards, NSW-SES Andrew Emery, TFS Bren McGurk, DFES-WA Faruk Yay, AGD-EMA Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS Graeme Wynwood, SASES Greg Wild, FRNSW Hannah Tagore, DFES-WA Joe Murphy, ACT-ESA John, Holloway, TFS Jude Scarborough, SAFECOM Justin Justin, Airservices Linda Anderson-Berry, BOM Marc Unsworth, EMV Mark Spain, NTFRES Matthew Aitchison, SAFECOM Mhairi Bradley, TAS-SES Peta Miller-Rose, QFES Phil Nickerson, IGEM-QLD Philip Lindsay, FRNSW Reegan Key, EMV Stefan Delatovic, VICSES Tamsin Achilles, VICSES Wendy Kelly, AGD-EMA

30 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Chief Information Officers Network

AFAC Manager: Stuart Ellis Andrew Ferrarese, VICSES Ann De Piaz, SA-CFS Anthony Griffiths, DELWP Ashley Van Amstel, NSWRFS Brad Craigen,AIDR Cain Trist, EMV Jenson Spencer, QFES Jillian Edwards, AGD-EMA Kelly Browne, NSWRFS Kent Grayson, QFES Mary Powderly-Hughes, MFB-VIC Matthew Smith, NSWRFS Murray Mitchell, NZFS Richard Burnell, DFES-WA Robert Hilditch, FRNSW Scott Wilson-Haffenden, DPFEM Steve Davies, Airservices

Predictive Services Practitioners (Bushfire) Network

Chair: Michael Wouters, DEWNR-SA AFAC Manager: Greg Esnouf Adam Whitchurch, PARKSVIC Agnes Kristina, DFES-WA Ailish Germain, NSWRFS Alex Otterbach, DEWNR-SA Andrew Jones, NSWRFS Anne McLean, DEWNR-SA Bradley Stewart, NSWRFS Brett Beecham, DPAW-WA Brian Levine, ACT-PCS Cassidy Newland, DFES-WA Chris Quinn, NSWRFS Christopher Collins, TFS Damien Dubrowin, OEH-NSW Damon Ezis, DEWNR-SA Dan Jones, PARKSVIC Daniel Heinrichs, CFA-VIC Daniel Heinrichs, CFA-VIC Darcy Prior, DELWP Dave Atkins, DPAW-WA David McKenna, DEWNR-SA David Field, NSWRFS David Philp, NSWRFS David Turner, NSWRFS Dean Putting, CFA-VIC Deb Sparkes, AFAC Duncan Watt, ForestryNSW Eddie Staier, PWS-TAS Erin Heinrich, NSWRFS Geoff Selwood, NSWRFS Glen Daniel, DPAW-WA Ian Tanner, DEWNR-SA Jackson Parker, DFES-WA

Jamie Molloy, DELWP John Stoner, PARKSVIC Justin Dally, CFA-VIC Kathryn Schneider, PARKSVIC Lachlan McCaw, DPAW-WA Laurence McCoy, NSWRFS Mark Chladil, TFS Matt Plucinski, CSIRO Matthew Geiger, QFES Murray Mitchell, DPAW-WA Nathan Faggian, BOM Neil Burrows, DPAW-WA Nils Waite, NSWRFS Noreen Krusel, AFAC Paul Rampant, DPAW-WA Paul Cook, NSWRFS Pedro Palheiro, DPAW-WA Rick McRae, ACT-ESA Rochelle Richards, TFS Samuel Ferguson, TFS Simeon Telfer, DEWNR-SA Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS Simon Dawson, QFES Steve Nicholson, DPAW-WA Steve Summers, PWS-TAS Tim McKern, CFA-VIC Timothy Wells, CFA-VIC Timothy Groves, DEWNR-SA Tom Denman, OEH-NSW Tony Smith, DPAW-WA

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

DIRECTION 4: EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Business Intelligence Group

Chair: Nick Nicolopoulos, FRNSW AFAC Manager: Erin Liston-Abel Andrew McGuinness, TFS Annemarie Black, MFB-VIC Carole Dowd, DFES-WA David Carman, SASES Georgie Cornish, SA-CFS Heather Stuart, NSW-SES Janine McCombe, DFES-WA Kelly Browne, NSWRFS Kendra Dean, DELWP Kevin Kay, NZFS Mark Jones, ACT-ESA Meg Lowe, CFA-VIC Megan Elkington, CFA-VIC Michael Black, MFB-VIC Pat Smith, CFA-VIC Paul Fletcher, SA-MFS Sara Pulford, SASES Selena Stanley, QFES Simon Gethin, NSW-SES Sonya Oyston, NSW-SES Stuart Ellis, AFAC

Collaborative Procurement Group Chair: Frank Pasquale, DFES-WA AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Anne Ward, Airservices Anthony Dick, TAS-SES Arthur Tindall, AFAC Bianca Francis, SAFECOM Darren Stafford, NZFS Gen Wilcox, QFES Gerard Balmanno, QFES Guy Tesoriero, FRNSW Ian Barnes, MFB-VIC Jan Wojna, Airservices Jenny Holmesby, Airservices John Grech, CFA-VIC Justin Justin, Airservices Lee Watson, SA-CFS Mark Luchetti, NSW-SES Mark Spain, NTFRES Mary-Lou McCrohon, QFES Michael Somers, DELWP Nick Alfieris, FRNSW Rodney Lambert, NSWRFS Russell Neuendorf, QFES Ryan Clay, NTFRES Sarah Scott, SAFECOM Sharon Hadlow, QFES Sheree Bond, Airservices Steve Pellicano, DELWP Tim Norris, ACT-ESA Todd Crawford, DPFEM

Diversity and Inclusion Group Chair: Stuart Ellis, AFAC AFAC Manager: Noreen Krusel Andrew Turner, BushfiresNT Andrew Short, QFES Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS Chris Eagle, DELWP Christopher Arnol, TFS Corinne Manning, MFB-VIC Diana MacMullin, SASES Grant Pelton, DEWNR-SA Ian Tanner, DEWNR-SA Jeremy Smith, TFS Julie Bissinella, MCC Karen Roberts, DFES-WA Kathleen Iacurto, NSW-SES Katrina Bahen, VICSES Lisa Jones, EMV Lisa Greig, SAFECOM Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW Mark Spain, NTFRES Paul Seager, OEH-NSW Peter Button, SA-MFS Stephen Miles, Airservices Steve Smith, CFA-VIC Wayne Mackey, NZFS

Workforce Management Group Chair: Mark Roche, QFES AFAC Manager: Sandra Lunardi Anna Geromichalos, SAFECOM Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS Chris Wells, NZFS Daniel Moroney (ret), NSWRFS Elise McCarthy, DPFEM Elizabeth Holley, MFB-VIC Frank Pasquale, DFES-WA Jason Skiba, CFA-VIC Jonathan Higgins, DPFEM Karen Roberts, DFES-WA Kathleen Iacurto, NSW-SES Lyn Lambert, SAFECOM Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW Miranda McMahon, Airservices Peter Button, SA-MFS

Fleet Technical Group

Chair: Tim Smith, CFA-VIC Deputy Chair: John Welke, QFES Outgoing Chair: Leon Smith, TFS AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Adam Major, QFES Alex Lee, DPFEM Allan Jones, DPAW-WA Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS Andrew Harding, NSW-SES Andrew Plush, SA-CFS Bruce McDonald, NSWRFS Bryan Ries, OEH-NSW Chris Pines, FRNSW Chris Fogarty, OEH-NSW Danny Jones, CFA-VIC Darren McQuade, MFB-VIC David Lloyd, QFES Emmanuel Varipatis, FRNSW Geoff Williams, SA-MFS Hanut Dodd, DELWP Ian Peisley, FRNSW Jeff Davis, QFES John Jenkins, ACT-ESA Justin Opie, SA-MFS Lee Watson, SA-CFS Mark Wootton, DFES-WA Matthew Quinn, NSW-SES Mick Ivill, ACT-PCS Mike Moran, NZFS Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW Nathan Symonds, Airservices Nigel Robertson, DELWP Po Chung, MFB-VIC Rob Walker, QFES Ryan Clay, NTFRES Sam Sanderson, DEWNR-SA Satinder Sahota, ACT-PCS Simon Errington, ACT-ESA Steven Sparks, QFES Stuart Collis, MFB-VIC Tim Norris, ACT-ESA

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Operational Equipment Technical Group Chair: Arthur Tindall, AFAC AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Andrew Webb, CFA-VIC Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS Carl Hollis, OEH-NSW Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC Dave McCurdy, MFB-VIC Emmanuel Varipatis, FRNSW Harry Vertsonis, NSWRFS Ian Bounds, TFS Jeff Whittaker, NTFRES Jeremy Bowen, DELWP John Welke, QFES Julian Smith, DELWP Justin Opie, SA-MFS Kerry Schemioneck, Airservices Lee Watson, SA-CFS Mark Feast, DFES-WA Mark Spain,NTFRES Mick Ivill, ACT-PCS Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW Nelson Williams, NTFRES Nicole Hogan, NSW-SES Pat Jones, ACT-ESA Paul McBride, Airservices Paul Carr, DFES-WA Reece Colman, ACT-ESA Robert Landon, NSW-SES Rodney Evans, Airservices Ross Sullivan, CFA-VIC Ross Trimboli, MFB-VIC Sam Sanderson, DEWNR-SA Steven Sparks, QFES Stuart Wade, DFES-WA Terrence Farley, FRNSW

Personal Protective Equipment Technical Group

Chair: Arthur Tindall, AFAC AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Adelia Stevenson, DELWP Amanda Tarbotton, ForestryNSW Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS Chloe Sellars, DPAW-WA Daniel Sedunary, Melbourne Water David Falla, MFB-VIC Emma-Lee Finch, DPAW-WA Emmanuel Varipatis, FRNSW Geoff Laidlaw, VICSES Gerard Balmanno, QFES Gerry Thomas, Melbourne Water Harry Vertsonis, NSWRFS Jeff Whittaker, NTFRES John Welke, QFES Lee Watson, SA-CFS Mark Tarbett, CFA-VIC Mark Feast, DFES-WA Mark Luchetti, NSW-SES Mark Spain, NTFRES

32 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Mick Ivill, ACT-PCS Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW Nelson Williams, NTFRES Pat Jones, ACT-ESA Paul McBride, Airservices Paul Carr, DFES-WA Peter Mason, SA-MFS Phil Taylor, MFB-VIC Richard Li, VICSES Rodney Evans, Airservices Sam Sanderson, DEWNR-SA Shane Batt, TFS Sreten Landolac, CFA-VIC Stephen Boucher, SA-CFS Steve Mackle, NZFS Steven Sparks, QFES Stuart Wade, DFES-WA Terrence Farley, FRNSW

Volunteer Management Technical Group Chair: Kathleen Iacurto, NSW-SES AFAC Manager: Zoe Kenyon Ali Martin, CFA-VIC Andrew Edwards, NSESVA Andrew Ford, CAVFA Andrew McCullough, NSW-SES Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA Dawn Hartog, CFA-VIC Faye Bendrups, NSESVA Jennifer Pidgeon, DFES-WA Karen Roberts, DFES-WA Kristine Wendtman, NSWRFS Leon Smith, TFS Lisa Greig, SAFECOM Nelson Williams, NTFRES Troy Davies, QFES William Johnson, QFES

Business Management Network Chair: Frank Pasquale, DFES-WA AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Adam Summons, FRNSW Andrew Baker, ACT-ESA Brett Warwick, NZFS Deborrah Jepsen, EMV Harry Wiedemann, MFB-VIC Jan Southon, CFA-VIC Jillian Edwards, AGD-EMA Jim Henry, OEM-NSW Joel Schirmer, SA-CFS John Casey, VICSES Julie Hately, NSW-SES Julie Best, SASES Justin Justin, Airservices Lisa Lew, SA-MFS Megan Brennan, Airservices Nigel McCormick, CFA-VIC Russell Neuendorf, QFES Stephen O'Malley, NSWRFS Todd Crawford, DPFEM William Norfolk, QFES

Employee Relations Network

Chair: Peter Button, SA-MFS AFAC Manager: Lorna O'Dwyer Andrew Short, QFES Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA Chloe Sellars, DPAW-WA Chris Wells, NZFS Damien Spivey, DFES-WA Danielle Byrnes, MFB-VIC Elise McCarthy, DPFEM Gabrielle Bird, DFES-WA Glenn Carthew, QFES Hamish More, NZFS Janette Pearce, MFB-VIC Jonathan Higgins, DPFEM Karen Roberts, DFES-WA Laura Taylor, Airservices Lisa Chih, NSWRFS Liz Beattie, ACT-ESA Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW Marc Lahad, DFES-WA Mark Roche, QFES Michael Morgan, SA-MFS Miranda McMahon, Airservices Morgan Marsh, DPAW-WA Nick Edwards, Airservices Noel Quinn, NSW-SES Robyn Pearce, DPFEM Shiona Somerville, SA-MFS Stacey Naughtin, DFES-WA

Mental Health and Wellbeing Network

Outgoing Sponsor: Jim Higgins, MFB-VIC Chair: Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW Outgoing Chair: Danielle Byrnes, MFB-VIC AFAC Manager: Lorna O'Dwyer Alison Donohoe, FRNSW Andrew Pitt, TAS-SES Anneliese Smith, DFES-WA Annette Balshaw, DELWP Annette Molloy, CFA-VIC Ann-Marie Burgoyne, ACT-ESA Bernie Scully, QFES Brendan Mott, FRNSW Brian Moon, SA-MFS Bruce Van Haeften, NTFRES Chloe Sellars, DPAW-WA Colin Anderson, QFES Elizabeth Holley, MFB-VIC Emma-Lee Finch, DPAW-WA Fairlie Morgan, MFB-VIC Irina Tchernitskaia, CFA-VIC Jane Abdilla, SAFECOM Jennifer Finlay, NSW-SES Joanne Stolp, DPFEM John Kingsbury, NZFS Paul Scott,NSWRFS Peter Kueffer, VICSES Rachel Treeby, VICSES Stephen Bradfield, DPAW-WA Susan Jenkins, NSW-SES

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

Standards Representatives Network

Chair/AFAC Manager: Russell Shephard Adam Dalrymple, MFB-VIC Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC Andrew Duckworth, DFES-WA Arthur Tindall, AFAC Barry Byrne, MFB-VIC Barry Griffiths, NSW-SES Catherine Ryland, NSWRFS Cihan Soylemez, MFB-VIC Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS David Kearsley, CFA-VIC David Kubler, SA-MFS Ian Shepherd, QFES Jamie Vistnes, FRNSW Jeff Harper, QFES Jeff Knight , TFS Jeffrey Davis, DFES-WA Jeremy Fewtrell, FRNSW John Parrôt, CFA-VIC

Mark Tarbett, CFA-VIC Mark Castelli, FRNSW Mark Porter, FRNSW Mark Reilly, FRNSW Mark Chladil, TFS Matthew Allen, CFA-VIC Matthew Rowley, FRNSW Michael Ridgway, QFRS Michael Morgan, SA-MFS Paul Beylerian, FRNSW Paul Johnstone, FRNSW Raymond Bott, QFRS Rob Llewellyn, AFAC Rod East, MFB-VIC Shaohua Xia, FRNSW Sreten Landolac, CFA-VIC Steve Mackle, NZFS Steve Attard, MFB-VIC Steven McKee, QFES Tim Fox, FRNSW

Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme Panel Sponsor: Robert Kilpatrick, NTFRES Chair: Stuart Ellis, AFAC AFAC Manager: Claire Brentnall Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC Chris Quinn, Airservices Darren Klemm, DFES-WA David Letheby, NTFRES David Nugent, PARKSVIC Ian Tanner, DEWNR-SA Jeffrey Harper, TFS John Cawcutt, QFES Richard Griffiths, FRNSW Roy Thompson, SA-MFS Scott Turner, SA-CFS Steve Pearce, SLSNSW Steve Yorke, NSWRFS Stu Rooney, NZFS

DIRECTION 5: INFORMED BY KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH Knowledge Innovation and Research Utilisation Network Chair: Lisa Jackson, EMV AFAC Manager: Noreen Krusel Allison Rowlands, OEM-NSW Amanda Leck, AFAC Amanda Lamont, AIDR Bernard Marshall, CFA-VIC Cameron Wade, ForestryNSW David Foot, ACT-ESA Eric Claussen, OEH-NSW Geoff Kaandorp, MFB-VIC Georgie Cornish, SA-CFS

Grant Hamon, NTFRES Heather Stuart, NSW-SES Holly Foster, EMV John Gilbert, CFA-VIC John Schauble, EMV Julie Wyner, FRNSW Kerrie Freeme, NSW-SES Leanne Adams, SASES Leigh-Anne Sorensen, QFES Loriana Bethune, BNHCRC Mark Cuthbert, AGD-EMA Mark Thomason, SA-CFS Melanie Aiken, NZFS

Michael Bourne, CFA-VIC Michael Wouters, DEWNR-SA Michael Morris, FRNSW Mick Ayre, SA-CFS Nicholas Wilson, TFS Regan Hopkins, NZFS Sarah Rooke,QFES Stephanie Underwood, DFES-WA Stephen Glassock, NSWRFS Tracy Smith, OEM-WA Zoe Mounsey, NZFS

| 33

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS • AFAC has reported a total surplus for the financial year ended 30 June 2017 of $125,363 compared to a surplus last year of $1,926,582.

• The annual audit has been successfully carried out and the auditor has provided an unqualified report.

• The AFAC16 conference in Brisbane was the first conference held under the new partnership arrangements with Hannover Fairs Australia. It was a highly successful event attracting over 2,500 attendees and included the largest exhibition ever staged alongside the AFAC conference.

• 2016–17 saw the completion of the National Burning Project. The National Burning Project was a major national collaboration bringing together inter-related aspects of prescribed burning across Australasia to design guiding frameworks and principles for a more holistic and consistent approach to prescribed burning. The project was funded through the Federal Government National Bushfire Mitigation Program and managed by AFAC. • The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) successfully completed its first full year of operations. In 2016, the Federal Minister for Justice announced AIDR will administer a Volunteer Scholarship Scheme on behalf of the Federal Government. The scheme is designed to boost education development opportunities for emergency management volunteers. The outcome of the scholarship application process was highly successful. The scheme has attracted an overwhelming number of applications from a diverse range of backgrounds.

• During the year, AFAC established the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC), which recently managed the largest international deployment in history.

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 2017 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.

17 August, 2017

IMAGE CREDITS Cover: 1. Dana Fairhead, 2. NSW Rural Fire Service, 3. South Australia State Emergency Service, 4. NSW State Emergency Service Page 8: Country Fire Authority Victoria Page 9: 1. Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA, 2. NSW Rural Fire Service, 3. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Page 10 and 11: Male Champions of Change Page 12 and 13: Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources SA

34 | AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE/POSITION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017

2017 $

2016 $

1,907,080

1,816,957

801,325

1,309,848

Other revenue

4,061,072

5,336,341

Total Revenue

6,769,477

8,463,146

REVENUE Members subscriptions Gross margin from trading activities

EXPENSES Salaries & related expenses

4,180,729

3,922,456

Travel & meeting expenses

262,588

281,107

Research utilisation expenses

340,861

603,127

Predictive services expenses

88,912

172,031

Occupancy expenses

534,001

475,527

Consultancy & management fees

292,952

439,789

Media & promotional expenses

79,729

117,297

IT & communications expenses

234,945

226,825

Legal expenses

8,293

60,510

Other expenses

629,375

265,883

Total Expenses

6,652,385

6,564,552

117,092

1,898,594

Other comprehensive income

8,271

27,988

Total Comprehensive Income

125,363

1,926,582

2017 $

2016 $

16,481,668

16,280,971

527,155

582,062

17,008,823

16,863,033

326,738

430,026

17,335,561

17,293,059

Surplus/(Deficit)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017

CURRENT ASSETS Cash & debtors Others Total Current Assets NON CURRENT ASSETS IT, office equipment & leasehold improvements TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade creditors

2,026,168

2,117,085

Revenue in advance

3,870,431

3,635,104

Special project funding

6,886,991

7,202,697

12,783,590

12,954,886

Others

515,758

427,323

TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

515,758

427,323

4,036,213

3,910,850

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

NET EQUITY

| 35

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