AFAC Annual Report 2018-19

2018–19

A N N UA L R EP O R T

AFAC acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as traditional custodians of Australia and MÄ ori, as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa-New Zealand.

We recognise their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and their rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and future.

CONTENTS 06

President’s message

07

CEO’s message

08

AFAC governance

12

Business units and partners

20

Key projects

34

Events and professional development

Copyright © 2019, Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council All rights reserved. Copyright in this publication is subject to the operation of the Copyright Act 1968 and its subsequent amendments. Any material contained in this document can be reproduced, providing the source is acknowledged and is not used for any commercialisation purpose whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner.

46

Recognition of achievement — sector awards

50

AFAC collaboration

60

Financial highlights

OUR VISION Integrated fire and emergency management supporting resilient communities.

OUR PURPOSE AFAC is the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice, for the benefit of our members and through them, the community.

We will be recognised and have impact as the National Council for fire and emergency services, through collaboration and influence.

OUR VALUES RESPECT COLLABORATION MUTUAL OBLIGATION MUTUAL BENEFIT EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE AFAC has continued to have impact as the National Council for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand. Alongside the delivery of nationally-agreed doctrine, professional development and national projects, this year provided opportunities for reflection, review and planning for the future.

The 10th anniversary of the Victorian Black Saturday fires, apart from being a solemn memorial to the 173 who died on the day, gave us an opportunity to reflect on how we have progressed as an industry. Since then, agencies have worked together nationally to learn from each other and improve capability in a number of ways. Key projects such as national warnings, fire danger ratings systems, national resource sharing, professionalisation and sharing knowledge across jurisdictions can be attributed to the sector learning and improving together over the past decade.

The AFAC Board met bi-monthly over the last 12 months to progress the strategic priorities for AFAC and the broader emergency management sector. This year we published the AFAC Strategy 2019– 2023. This strategy outlines the approaches, services delivery, partners, stakeholders and national capabilities that respond to the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services 2017–2021.

AFAC is committed to ensuring that research supports our fire and emergency service organisations into the future. The AFAC Board met with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC (BNHCRC) Board met to discuss the importance of research continuing beyond the funding of the BNHCRC, which concludes in June 2021. AFAC has formed the AFAC Research Committee, which has been tasked with reviewing and progressing this issue.

As a member of the Male Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group, I am pleased that we have continued our mission to improve diversity and inclusion across the sector. A key development was the publication of a progress report which included case studies and data on gender representation. It marks the first time this data has been collected and reported at a national level.

A key capability for AFAC is the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) and its ability to mobilise resources to support our members and colleagues overseas when they need it most. The NRSC supported international deployments to Canada and the United States as well as supporting interstate deployments over the 2019 summer period.

On behalf of the AFAC Board, I would like to express my gratitude to those across the membership, the AFAC CEO and staff for their efforts throughout what has been another successful year.

PAUL BAXTER, QSO Commissioner, Fire and Rescue NSW AFAC President

06

Overview

Welcome

CEO’S MESSAGE AFAC was created by, and exists to support, our members. ‘We are here for you’ is the key message I have promoted over the year. This philosophy drives the work of AFAC as the facilitator and custodian of contemporary fire and emergency service knowledge and practice. Through AFAC’s collaborative approach, we continue to solve problems with collective effort and have influence and impact as the National Council.

The AFAC Secretariat maintains three companies, four business units and manages the project office for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System and National Warnings projects. Each of these initiatives respond to the needs of our members to work towards building safer and more resilient communities. In decades to come, these national projects will reshape our interface with communities regarding fire danger and communicating the consequences of natural hazards.

Significant achievements have been made in the built environment and community safety area.

AFAC worked to influence changes to the National Construction Code, requiring Class 2 and 3 residential buildings up to 25 metres to be fitted with sprinklers. In partnership with FPA Australia, AFAC has been active in supporting the launch of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.

During the 2018–19 year, AFAC conducted a total of 100 Collaboration Group meetings, bringing together 875 individuals across 34 groups representing our 31 member agencies. This is a significant achievement that reflects the ever-growing need for fire, emergency services and land management agencies to work together for the benefit of communities across Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to the Collaboration Framework, AFAC conducted 42 events, offering members and the broader emergency management community access to essential professional development and learning opportunities. The AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ conference and exhibition in Perth, Western Australia, explored how change is affecting our industry through the theme ‘changing lives in a changing world’.

Given the impacts of a changing climate on fire and emergency services, the AFAC Climate Change Group produced a position on climate change and talking points to assist our members with consistent messaging ahead of the summer operational season.

Following fire campaign events in Australia and New Zealand, AFAC has assisted its members to complete three independent operational reviews. These reviews offer AFAC members the opportunity to have an independent third-party inquiry into an incident to offer informed and constructive learnings.

Reflecting on what was a busy year for AFAC, I want to offer my thanks and gratitude to all AFAC members, the AFAC Board and National Council and AFAC staff for their efforts throughout the year.

STUART ELLIS, AM Chief Executive Officer, AFAC

07

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

AFAC GOVERNANCE Elected by the AFAC National Council, the AFAC Board provides governance oversight to the effective management of the organisation.

The Board meets bi-monthly. Board members hold office for two years and are eligible for re-election.

PRESIDENT

DEPUT Y PRESIDENT

DEPUT Y PRESIDENT

PAUL BA X TER, QSO

K ATARINA CARROLL, APM

SHANE FIT ZSIMMONS, AFSM

Commissioner

Commissioner

Commissioner

Fire and Rescue NSW

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

NSW Rural Fire Service

Paul Baxter was appointed Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW on 16 January 2017. Commissioner Baxter was previously National Commander and CEO of the New Zealand Fire Service and the National Rural Fire Authority, which comprises 10,000 volunteers and 2,200 career staff serving at 650 fire stations nationally. He has more than 30 years of fire service experience, originally serving as a volunteer firefighter, then as a firefighter with the New Zealand Air Force. He became a full time firefighter with the New Zealand Fire Service and worked through the ranks until being appointed as National Commander and CEO a year after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. He holds a degree in business, is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers, a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Management, and has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the United States Fire Academy.

Katarina Carroll commenced as Acting Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner in January 2015, and was appointed Commissioner on 1 August 2015. She is responsible for efficiently leading all divisions of QFES and implementing a renewal process arising out of recommendations made in a number of recent reviews into the organisation. She came to QFES from the Queensland Police Service, where she was Assistant Commissioner and Program Executive for the Brisbane G20 Summit in 2014. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the emergency services, and has been awarded the Australian Police Medal, National Police Service Medal, National Emergency Medal and the National Medal. She is a graduate of the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Foundation. Katarina was appointed Queensland Police Service Commissioner later in 2019.

Shane Fitzsimmons has over 30 years’ experience with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), serving as both a volunteer and salaried officer. In 2004 he was appointed as the inaugural AFAC Visiting Fellow to the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM), and in September 2007 he was appointed Commissioner of the NSW RFS. He was appointed a Director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in March 2008 and was Chair of the NAFC Board from 2009 to 2013. He is a member of the NSW State Emergency Management Committee and the NSW State Rescue Board, and was Chairman from 2008 to November 2015. He was awarded the National Medal in 1999 and the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in 2001.

December 2012 – present.

08

October 2015 – June 2019.

October 2016 – present.

Overview

Governance

TREASURER

DARREN KLEMM, AFSM

CHRIS ARNOL, AFSM

STEPHEN GRIFFIN

Commissioner

Chief Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA

Tasmania Fire Service

Darren Klemm has more than 27 years of experience in fire and emergency services, having served three years with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service before joining the WA Fire Brigades Board in 1993.

Chris Arnol joined the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) as a recruit firefighter in 1985.

Victoria State Emergency Service Stephen (Steve) Griffin was appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Victoria State Emergency Service in May 2014.

He came to Victoria State Emergency Service from the Geelong City Council where he was CEO for five years. Prior to this, he has collected over 28 years of local government experience including City of Melbourne, City of Werribee and the Wyndham City Council, where he was the recovery manager. Throughout his career, Steve has been recognised for his transformational leadership and robust management of service delivery programs and corporate functions.

April 2015 – present.

Over the last six years he has successfully delivered and implemented a number of high level strategic reforms, and has been responsible for significant structural and cultural reform in the training and professional development of personnel and volunteers in the Department of Fire and Emergency Service, including management of the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy and the introduction of the Professional Pathways competency-based framework.

He has been involved in strategic operations at State and Incident Controller level during significant emergencies such as the Waroona, O’Sullivan and Toodyay bushfires and Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.

Commissioner Klemm is a member of a number of national committees concerned with emergency management in Australia, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Management from the Australian Institute of Management.

In 2009 he moved to Western Australia where, as Assistant Commissioner for Country Operations, he was responsible for fire, SES and marine rescue services. In the wake of major bushfire inquiries, Chris helped to drive corporate reforms that delivered a ‘new’ Department of Fire and Emergency Services in WA. Chris has been deployed operationally, interstate and overseas on many occasions and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2007 for his studies into rural/urban interface fires. He also represents Tasmania on the Australia and New Zealand Emergency Management Committee.

Chris was appointed Chief Officer/Chief Executive of the Tasmania Fire Service in 2016. Since then his focus has been on a fresh agenda of emergency service integration, legislative reform and business improvement.

October 2018 – present.

October 2018 – present.

09

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

NEIL COOPER, PSM

RHYS JONES

STUART ELLIS, AM

Senior Director, Fire, Forest and Roads

Chief Executive

CEO (non-Board member)

ACT Parks and Conservation Service

Fire and Emergency New Zealand

AFAC

Neil Cooper is currently the Manger of the Fire Management Unit with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. He completed his BSC (Forestry) degree at the Australian National University in 1982. His early career saw him involved in plantation forestry establishment, silviculture and harvesting up until 1999 when he took on the role of Manager of Fire with the then ACT Forests Department. Since then he has been on several overseas deployments to the United States, involved in a number of large campaign fires in Australia and presented papers at international forums including the United Nations in Rome in 2010 and 2012.

Rhys Jones is the first Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, which was established on 1 July 2017. He is responsible for leading the integration of urban and rural fire in the new organisation and towards full unification from 2020.

Stuart Ellis was an army officer for over 22 years serving with the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. In 1996 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer/Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service.

In 2002, he established a consultancy company and has been involved in over 20 operational reviews including the Canberra Bushfires, the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission and the operational response to the Christchurch Earthquake.

Stuart was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AFAC in 2012.

October 2013 – present.

Rhys is a strong advocate of equity and diversity and understanding how different groups work together has been a consistent theme throughout his military career.

Rhys comes from a Defence background, where he rose to Chief of Defence Force (CDF) over a 35-year career. He has led a large, complex organisation through a period of change and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the largest civil assistance organisation ever conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force.

October 2018 – present.

AFAC BOARD MEETING AT TENDANCE DIRECTOR

C Arnol

P Baxter

K Carroll

N Cooper

G Crossman

S Fitzsimmons

S Griffin

R Jones

D Klemm

J Reilly

NUMBER ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND

3

5

5

5

1

5

5

3

2

1

NUMBER ATTENDED

3

5

3

4

0

5

3

3

2

0

10

Overview

Governance

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

We build knowledge by bringing together collaborators from across jurisdictions, capabilities and hazards to find opportunities and solve problems with collective effort. Senior representatives of fire and emergency service agencies from Australia and New Zealand form the AFAC National Council.

Please note all AFAC member, affiliate member and National Council representative names have been listed as correct as at 30 June 2019.

31 MEMBERS

21 AFFILIATE MEMBERS

AUSTRALIA WIDE

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Airservices Australia Department of Home Affairs, Emergency Management Australia (DHA-EMA) Parks Australia (PARKSAUS)

Department for Environment and Water, SA (DEW-SA) ForestrySA (ForestrySA) South Australian Country Fire Service (SA-CFS) South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SA-MFS) South Australian State Emergency Service (SA-SES)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACT-ESA) ACT Parks and Conservation Service (ACT-PCS) NEW SOUTH WALES Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (ForestryNSW) NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) NSW State Emergency Service (NSW-SES) Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW (OEH-NSW) NEW ZEAL AND Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) NORTHERN TERRITORY Bushfires NT (BushfiresNT) Northern Territory Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service (NTFRES)

TASMANIA Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania (PWS-TAS) Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STTAS) Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) Tasmania State Emergency Service (TAS-SES) VIC TORIA Country Fire Authority, Victoria (CFA-VIC) Forest Fire Management Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (FFMV-DELWP) Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, Melbourne (MFB-VIC) Parks Victoria (PARKSVIC) Victoria State Emergency Service (VIC-SES)

QUEENSL AND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Parks and Wildlife Service (DBCA-WA, PWS) Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA (DFES-WA)

Australasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Australian Red Cross Brisbane City Council Bureau of Meteorology Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA) Department of Conservation New Zealand Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria (DHHS-VIC) Emergency Management Victoria Geoscience Australia Hong Kong Fire Services Department HQPlantations Pty Ltd Melbourne Water Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management National SES Volunteers Association NSW Environment Protection Authority Office of Emergency Management, NSW Pacific Islands Fire Emergency Services Association (PIFESA) South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) State Emergency Management Committee, WA Surf Life Saving Australia

11

Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

01

12

BUSINESS UNITS A N D PA R T N E R S

01

Business units and partners

13

AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

AIDR In its fourth year AIDR, an initative funded by Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, continues to deliver a program of work aligned to its core purpose of enabling disaster resilience. An independent evaluation of AIDR this year found it ‘delivered considerable value for money and that the team delivered on their contract obligations and in a number of areas overachieved’. Several recommendations were made, which are in the process of being implemented. Through themed knowledge products, services and events, AIDR facilitates professional and community development to support shared responsibility for a more disaster resilient Australia.

AIDR’s role in knowledge management is reflected in the growing wealth of resources on the Knowledge Hub, including the Australian Journal for Emergency Management, the Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection, the National Disaster Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Database and the Australian Disaster Resilience Glossary.

AIDR’s Professional Development Program is key to sharing knowledge among emergency management agencies, volunteers, educators, researchers and community groups who have been affected by disaster. Working closely with QFES, AIDR also developed the High Consequences Decision Making and Leadership in Disaster Crisis and Adversity professional development modules, which were very well received.

In 2019, AIDR delivered new events, such as the Meteorology for Disaster Managers Masterclass, and attracted a record number of abstracts, applicants and registrants for existing events, including the Resilient Australia Awards, the Lessons Management Forum and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference.

14

The Emergency Management Scholarship Program has completed its fifth and final round, with scholarships awarded to volunteers from all jurisdictions across a wide range of volunteer agencies.

The Volunteer Leadership Program also continued across regional locations in all jurisdictions.

Recognising young people as active participants in community resilience, the Disaster Resilient Australia-New Zealand School Education Network (DRANZSEN) has engaged with an increasingly diverse network, including local government and youth-focused organisations like Scouts and Save the Children, to bring new perspectives to light.

The Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning continues to promote a holistic approach to prescribed burning for ecological, cultural and community safety outcomes. In 2019, it delivered informative resources and field trips and established the inaugural Excellence in Prescribed Burning Award.

AIDR draws strength from the support and expertise of its partners: AFAC, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, Australian Red Cross and the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. AIDR’s partners utilise their capability and networks to ensure AIDR products and services are responsive to the demands of the broader emergency management and disaster resilience community.

01

Business units and partners

NAFC The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) co-funded by the Australian Goverment and states and territories, provides a cooperative national arrangement for provision of aerial resources to states and territories for firefighting and emergency response.

Over the season, the capability was deployed to 13 incidents, with firebombing undertaken on 20 nights. This included a world first of hover-filling at night from open water sources for increased productivity.

2018–19 BUSHFIRE SEASON

PROCUREMENT

For 2018–19, NAFC contracted 150 specialised aircraft services on behalf of states and territories. The first service commenced availability in the Northern Territory on 2 July 2018 and some services continued well into May 2019, underlining the extended nature of the bushfire season. Six large fixed-wing airtankers (LATs) were contracted, including the brand-new Boeing 737 Fireliner based in NSW. This Fireliner was used for the first time anywhere in the world in November 2018 in NSW and soon after was dispatched to bushfires in Queensland.

NAFC completed several major procurement processes over the period, including a major Invitation to Tender that saw new contracts delivered for over 90 specialised aircraft services. A further tender process to provide aerial firefighting resources from 2019–20 onwards was also initiated. Work was also commenced on establishing a national framework and process for collaborative procurement of ‘call when needed’ (casual hire) aircraft services.

Recognising the potential of the 2018–19 bushfire season, the Australian Government provided $11m of additional funding for aerial firefighting resources, bringing the total contribution to nearly $26m for the year. This very welcome additional funding enabled the retention of strategic aircraft resources, including LATs, for the extended season. At least one LAT was available from 27 August 2018 to 3 May 2019, a total of 250 days. Heavy helicopters were available for 162 days.

2018–19 saw high levels of activity and extended seasons in many jurisdictions and considerable movement of aviation resources between states and territories under the NAFC resource sharing arrangements. This included risk-based pre-positioning of aircraft as a readiness measure. The LATs were used extensively in their home states of NSW and Victoria and were also shared for operations in Queensland and Tasmania.

The season was exceptionally busy for the four specialist fire mapping aircraft contracted by NAFC for NSW and Victoria, which provide real-time infra red images and maps of fires to response agencies. The supplementary federal funding supported the placement of one of these aircraft in Western Australia for the first time.

One significant incident was recorded during the season, when a contracted heavy helicopter collided with water on approach to hover-fill in Victoria during January 2019. The three-person crew escaped with minor injuries.

NIGHT FIRE SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS

ARENA ARENA, the national information system for aviation, has been collaboratively developed over recent years by NAFC and state and territory agencies and now provides a unique, world-leading approach to the provision of integrated information to support aviation management. During 2018–19, ARENA transitioned from the development phase with the roll-out of the final major block of functionality, Electronic Flight Operations Returns (eFORs).

SIMULATION TO SUPPORT AVIATION RELATED TRAINING NAFC sponsored a project to examine the potential for use of simulation in aviation training, with a view to increasing capability for aviation management and support across the country. As part of the project, NAFC hosted a Simulation Summit in June 2019.

FIRE AVIATION TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK In collaboration with the AFAC Learning and Development Directorate, a major project to review the national Fire and Emergency Services Aviation Training and Assessment Framework was commenced, with a review of the various aviation management and support roles. This project is expected to be finalised during 2019–20.

THANKS In June 2019, Greg Nettleton AFSM finished as Chair of the NAFC Strategic Committee and NAFC Board after nearly four years in the role when he retired as Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service. We thank Greg for his service and expertise during his time as Chair.

NAFC continued to support Victoria’s development of night aerial firefighting capability. The program progressed well over 2018–19, with an Australian first occurring on 4 January 2019 — the first night firebombing by a helicopter at a bushfire incident.

15

AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

NATIONAL RESOURCE SHARING CENTRE The Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee (CCOSC) tasks the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) to support interstate and international deployments of fire and emergency service personnel between Australian states and territories, New Zealand and Canada and the United States of America (USA).

In 2018–19 the AFAC NRSC was busy both domestically and internationally with deployments. During August and September 2018, approximately 140 Australian and New Zealand personnel were successfully and safely deployed to the USA and over 90 personnel to Canada in 2018. The AFAC NRSC provided central coordination for these deployments and worked with operational hubs of NSW Rural Fire Service and Emergency Management Victoria.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has been established as a third operational hub for the AFAC NRSC, and AFAC signed an MoU with FENZ that supports and outlines the arrangements for the AFAC NRSC to support coordination of joint Australian and New Zealand international deployments to the USA and Canada.

The safety and fatigue management plans for the USA and Canada were reviewed extensively in 2019 and included review by a safety visit team who travelled to the USA and Canada in June 2019.

Domestically, the AFAC NRSC also supported significant interstate assistance during a very busy summer season of 2018–19 with over 1,100 interstate and New Zealand personnel deployed to the campaign in Tasmania, over 1,200 personnel into Queensland, and over 700 personnel into Victoria.

The AFAC NRSC National Deployment Registry has been trialled and utilised to support interstate requests and build domestic teams.

Further enhancements were made to the registry to improve reporting, adding data fields and a portal to store key deployment information. Later in 2019, to further enhance synergies between the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) and the AFAC NRSC interstate and international deployments, the EMPS data base will be integrated into the registry system.

Internationally, the AFAC NRSC continued to support the Pacific Island Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) project in 2018–19 through AFAC’s Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network (PILON). This included supporting regional training workshops across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia in early 2019 for incident management and working in emergency operations centres.

The material used was adapted from AIIMS and contextualised for the Pacific.

The AFAC NRSC Strategy 2019–2023 was developed alongside a work plan of deliverables to meet its objectives over the next several years.

16

FENZ firefighters deployed to Tasmania during summer of 2019 (top). Train-the-trainers incident management workshop participants in Pohnpei, March 2019 (bottom). Photos: AFAC NRSC

01

Business units and partners

EMPS In 2015, AFAC launched the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) with the aim of creating an industry designed and endorsed program to benchmark the professional expertise of staff and volunteers against nationallyagreed standards.

The scheme is overseen by the EMPS panel, which is made up of senior, experienced practitioners from across Australia and New Zealand and chaired by the AFAC CEO. During the year we welcomed a number of new panel members as original members completed their terms of office.

In October 2018, AFAC National Council decided that credentialing under EMPS would be funded collectively across AFAC members, rather than through individual applications.

In 2018–19, we developed a number of new professional standards (certified and registered) to support practitioner credentialing. At the end of the financial year there were 22 distinct credentials available for application.

Our other focus in 2019 was to expand the current number of registered practitioners by working with AFAC member agencies to register their staff and volunteers who meet the requirements.

Our strategic vision is to provide recognition of emergency management as a profession, encompassing the full range of activities currently undertaken before, during and after emergencies.

17

AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

BUSHFIRE AND NATURAL HAZARDS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE As an important partner in the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC participates in long term national research to directly support fire and emergency services personnel across the country. This research helps to mitigate the impact of natural hazards and better prepare communities for when they occur.

The CRC’s research program is driven by end user needs that focus on natural hazard mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery across Australia and New Zealand. In this multi-hazard environment, emergency service agencies, government departments and non-government organisations, including AFAC, benefit greatly from the development, utilisation and delivery of the research program. This culture of research to drive continuous improvement is now part of the sector, and AFAC has played an important role in this.

AFAC has a formal role in the CRC through its CEO sitting on the Board, as well as the AFAC staff directors’ membership of CRC project end user groups. This is reciprocated by regular CRC participation in AFAC Collaboration Group meetings, with the CRC’s Research Advisory Forums aligned where possible to Collaboration Group meetings to maximise participation.

This relationship extends to the annual conference of AFAC and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC each year, where CRC research developments are made visible to an audience of thousands. The partnership extended this year to the 12th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference, with AFAC a key contributor through specialist panel sessions at this CRC-hosted event. The partnership includes collaboration at many other events, conferences, and research utilisation workshops across the country, alongside products such as the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for northern and southern Australia, and Fire Australia magazine. AFAC and the CRC also work together with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, primarily on the Australian Journal of Emergency Management.

The CRC and AFAC joined forces to share exhibition space throughout the year at relevant conferences, including the Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services conference in Perth, the International Women’s Day event in Melbourne and the Emergency Management Conference in Melbourne.

The collaboration between both AFAC and the CRC ensures there is two-way communication and a joint approach to making Australia and the wider region more resilient and prepared for natural hazards.

18

01

Business units and partners topic

Dr Richard Thornton launches the Seasonal Outlook. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management July edition (Photo: AIDR). Animesh Kumar presents at the 12th Australiasian Natural Hazards Management Conference. Attendees at a Research Advisory Forum. Deb Sparkes, AIDR, speaks at a Research Advisory Forum. Photos: BNHCRC

19

Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

02

20

KEY PROJEC TS

02

Key projects

21

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

RESEARCH COMMIT TEE

HOME FIRE SPRINKLER COALITION

A new AFAC Board committee was formed this year in recognition of the need for a more cohesive effort to gain substantial funding post the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC in 2021.

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is a partnership between AFAC and Fire Protection Association (FPA) Australia to provide the leading national resource for independent, non-commercial information about home fire sprinklers. The HFSC was formed as a result of the work between Fire and Rescue NSW, AFAC and FPA Australia to introduce new sprinkler requirements into the National Construction Code (NCC). This change came into effect on 1 May 2019. The most significant part of this work is the ability to fit sprinklers to a domestic water supply for class 2 and 3 (residential) buildings under 25 metres. This also opens the opportunity to fit cost-effective sprinklers to Class 1a buildings (1 and 2 storey single dwelling homes).

The Research Committee is chaired by Rhys Jones, Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The role of the Research Committee is to advise council on research priorities, delivery options, outputs and utilisation and the development of research capability within AFAC. It also oversees the success and utilisation of existing research projects undertaken to support AFAC and its agencies, recommends initiatives and investigates opportunities for research and research utilisation.

At its inaugural meeting in April 2018, the Research Committee: ˃˃

Confirmed they would work to support the strategic agenda as outlined in the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services 2017–2021.

˃˃

Instigated a stocktake of current and planned agency research, with work underway to publish a research register.

˃˃

Agreed to provide strategic oversight on Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC tactical research fund applications.

˃˃

The research register is made up of contributions from AFAC members agencies and the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC and will be available to members to assist with collaboration on areas of similar interest.

22

This year the HFSC has focused on building the capacity of the industry to design and install the new sprinkler specifications.

HFSC has also expanded its marketing and communication collateral through filming a side-by-side burn of a sprinklered and unsprinklered room, development of professional video segment utilising AFAC TV and development of a website: www.homefiresprinklers.org.au In order to penetrate the Class 1a market, HFSC has engaged with developers in a number of states regarding the installation of residential fire sprinklers in new estates.

All fire services in Australia endorsed the proposal for change to the NCC to require residential sprinklers. Fire agencies are partners in the HFSC and have a role to play in promoting this work.

02

Key projects

Test burn comparison (top). Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition launch at Fire and Rescue NSW(bottom). Photos: HFSC

23

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

AUSTRALIAN FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM (AFDRS)

MALE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE FIRE AND EMERGENCY GROUP

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) program is designing, developing and implementing a national fire danger rating system to better describe the overall fire danger and risk to communities, emergency service agencies and others.

April 2019 marked two years since the Male Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group was formed. Leaders of the fire and emergency services sector are committed to advancing gender equality and creating more diverse, safe and inclusive working environments for all staff and volunteers.

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

The key deliverables through 2018–19 include the completion of the research prototype that better categorises fire behaviour, and the completion of the Australia’s third largest community research effort carried out to better understand the effectiveness of the current system and confirm the new system is designed to deliver correct messaging.

These outcomes were used to develop the program management plan for the next three years from 2019–22 and commence the following work towards the next stage: ˃˃

The operationalisation of the new fire behaviour index.

˃˃

The development of a prototype for other indices that consider ignition likelihood, suppression capability and the fire impact.

˃˃

Development of the decision making framework, where extensive consultation with key stakeholder groups will inform the design of the new fire danger rating system and scope the dimensions of change required prior to the proposed rollout in 2022.

The PMO has undertaken extensive and targeted communication through conferences and workshops to promote dialogue around the program and enable agency participation in the AFDRS development.

24

A major achievement was the release of a progress report in November 2018 which provided data highlighting the significant under-representation of women across the sector.

Women’s representation across the workforce sits at 22 percent overall. Of concern, women make up only 7 percent of management roles in frontline service delivery – these operational roles include firefighting, which is on the critical pathway to many senior leadership and executive level positions in the sector.

10 percent of current operational executives (key management personnel) in fire and emergency services are women.

This is inconsistent with modern workforces, as well as community needs and expectations. Our sector leaders want to challenge a prevailing stereotype that the best people available for preventing, preparing for and managing fire and emergencies are predominantly men.

In taking the ‘panel pledge’, these leaders and others in our sector have committed to not participating in panels where there is no significant contribution by women. This commitment has extended to the AFAC national conference and is a strong demonstration of modelling the change desired for our sector.

The group have also committed to increase women’s representation to at least 30 percent on major industry leadership and policy forums by the end of 2019, working towards 40 percent by the end of 2020.

02

Key projects

NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING DATA

PUA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING PACKAGE (PSTP) AND AFAC GUIDES

In 2019, AFAC accessed training data collected for 2013–17 from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). NCVER collects, manages and communicates research and statistics on vocational education and training (VET) using the Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS).

The transitioned PUA Public Safety Training Package was endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee on 5 June 2019.

This project involved the review and transition of 31 qualifications (30 transitioned, one new), 41 skill sets (24 transitioned, 17 new) and 240 units of competency (162 transitioned, 62 reviewed, 16 new). The fire and emergency services participated in the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) established to represent their qualifications.

Accredited training underpins the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) and the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC). An independent profile of the accredited fire and emergency services training activity in Australia will inform future decision making and planning for both EMPS and AFAC NRSC. When AVETMISS data reporting became mandatory, AFAC successfully negotiated with the Department of Education and Training for exemption arrangements for AFAC members unable to comply. The exemption period has now expired and every RTO registered as at 31 December 2018 now reports all VET student enrollment activity and VET award issuance activity conducted in 2018.

While data collated by AFAC is conservative, it confirms strong accredited activity with 5,422 fire qualifications being awarded for the period and over 250,000 units of competency being awarded from within the fire and emergency services’ qualifications.

AFAC, working with all stakeholders, held 87 meetings involving over 150 subject matter experts to review more than 160 existing units and to develop six new units. Representatives from the Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA), United Firefighters Union of Australia and many other subject matter experts from within the AFAC membership and from other public safety organisations worked together to undertake this work.

The AFAC Collaboration Framework was essential to the success of this process.

Subsequent to the endorsement of the Training Package, AFAC produced and published four guides. The FAQs Guide provides advice, guidance and direction to the questions frequently asked by RTO auditors and students and ensures consistency in interpretation and application of the Training Package. The remaining guides focus on models of training delivery, approaches to learning and assessment, and a list of web sites and references to support developers when updating their resources. Industry case studies illustrating how AFAC members are delivering, designing and assessing their training to meet workforce needs are included.

The guides provide industry, auditors, RTO managers and trainers and assessors with an overview of the strategies being used by fire and emergency service organisations to build their workforce capability. The success of this work supports the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme and the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre.

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

CLIMATE CHANGE

FIRE PREDICTION SERVICES

The AFAC Climate Change Group (CCG) was established in April 2018 and has since developed a revised national position on climate change, and a nationally consistent talking points resource to support AFAC members when discussing issues post-incident that relate to climate change.

The Fire Prediction Services (FPS) Board that governs Fire Predictions Limited, met on three occasions in 2018–19. The FPS Board has approved a significant project to investigate future directions for bushfire simulators. Business requirements for a national bushfire simulator are being developed collaboratively with all AFAC members. These will be finalised in late 2019 and will inform the evaluation of Phoenix, SPARK and other options for future development. A cost benefit analysis was commissioned to explore the benefits of investment in a national bushfire simulator.

This will be finalised in late 2019.

The AFAC CCG collectively developed its Strategic Work Plan for 2019–2021, which was endorsed by AFAC National Council on 30 April 2019. The focus areas are adapted from the Council endorsed priorities for action outlined in the 2018 Climate Change and the Emergency Management Discussion Paper. Drafted portfolio areas include: ˃˃

Research and development – Support climate change science and adaptation approaches. These need to be constantly resourced, reviewed and applied in sector decision making and planning.

˃˃

Supporting and providing leadership towards climate adaptation and integration of climate change into sector governance planning and policy – This includes establishing a knowledge base of case studies, good practice, templates and decision support tools.

˃˃

Effective communication, stakeholder engagement and influence – This involves establishing a communications and stakeholder engagement plan to provide direction for AFAC and AFAC members on climate change communications and developing key information and communication products.

˃˃

Workforce – Links to impacts on health and wellbeing, volunteering models and staffing. Portfolio managers to further explore this area.

˃˃

Resourcing – To develop guidance on resource implication of climate change for emergency services. Look at incentivising the transition to renewables and ethical procurement decision making processes.

˃˃

Integration into the AFAC Collaboration Framework – To assist AFAC groups to identify how climate change may impact their work, embed into core business and offer solutions/support.

The priority area for the remainder of 2019 is to develop the AFAC CCG communications plan. The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Tactical Research Fund proposal is expected to commence during 2020, with the aim of providing AFAC members with the latest knowledge and information related to climate change impacts and risks, and how these relate to their organisational governance, policy, operational planning and practice.

26

In addition, FPS has been working cooperatively with CSIRO to investigate the potential suitability of the CSIRO SPARK simulator to meet future user requirements. CSIRO have provided the SPARK code to FPS for evaluation of software architecture and ability to meet the identified business requirements. Discussions on potential cooperative development arrangements between CSIRO and FPS have commenced.

FPS has also provided ongoing operational support to current fire agency licencees of Phoenix, with a user manual and technical reference guide being developed, and software upgrades implemented to address identified high priority issues. Phoenix was also identified as ‘a valuable intelligence resource’ that was ‘worthy of building on’ in the 2019 review of the Queensland bushfires.

02

Key projects

AFAC INDEPENDENT OPERATIONAL REVIEWS AFAC offers its members the opportunity to request independent operational reviews of the way specific incidents or operational periods have been managed. Through AFAC’s extensive professional networks, teams of expert reviewers, with hazard-specific knowledge and understanding of the fire and emergency services organisational and operational environment, can be assembled to produce independent reports to support learning lessons and continuous improvement.

In 2018–19 AFAC conducted two independent operational reviews. ˃˃

A review into the 2018–19 bushfire season in Tasmania, led

by Deputy Commissioner Mal Cronstedt from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA and supported by Guy Thomas, Director Operational Support, Park Services at Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

The review was conducted at the request of the Tasmanian Government between March and June. It produced a report into aspects of the season, including the specific management of individual fires, state command control and coordination arrangements and fuel management. A report was delivered to the Tasmanian Government in July 2019.

˃˃

Fire and Emergency New Zealand requested a review into the management of the Tasman fires of February–March, which was led by Neil Cooper of ACT Parks and Conservation Service.

Field work was carried out for the review in June 2019 and a report delivered to Fire and Emergency New Zealand in September 2019.

A third project, using a lessons management approach to review aspects of the management of the East Victorian bushfires of January to March 2019, was commissioned in the 2018–19 financial year. The bulk of the work on that project was carried out in the following financial year and will be reported in next year’s annual report.

AFAC Director Capability and Assurance, Paul Considine assisted these independent reviews.

Members of the review team inspect threatened vegetation communities near Lake Rhona, Tasmania. Photo: Paul Considine

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

DOCTRINE

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES

AFAC Doctrine is our most significant intellectual property asset, articulating a collective emergency management knowledge.

Aligned to the Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021, AFAC Doctrine is created to benefit our members, and through them, the community.

AFAC, on behalf of its members, actively contributes to parliamentary inquiries within the context of achieving a service that meets the needs of fire and emergency services agencies in the future. Whilst individual agencies and jurisdictions do lodge submissions which are often of a technical nature, the advice of AFAC remains broad and strategic. In the last 12 months, AFAC lodged the following public submissions:

Doctrine is produced through AFAC’s Collaboration Groups and is presented to AFAC National Council for endorsement. Each year, the Council receives new doctrine proposals, withdrawals and revisions, which must achieve an 80 percent approval vote before ratification.

˃˃

Inquiry into the role of Commonwealth, state and territory governments in addressing the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers This submission highlighted the work being done nationally to collaborate and share findings on the mental health of fire and emergency service personnel through AFAC and the AFAC Mental Health and Wellbeing Network. AFAC were also represented at a public hearing for this inquiry.

˃˃

Inquiry into the impact on the agricultural sector of vegetation and land management policies, regulations and restrictions This submission demonstrated the work being done in the industry around land management, including the Centre of Excellence for Prescribed Burning’s National Burning Project, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System program and through the AFAC Collaboration Framework.

˃˃

Inquiry into the provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency services at Australian airports AFAC’s submission stated that the provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency services at Australian airports is currently supported by appropriate planning, operational readiness and multi-agency training exercises at all airports, as stated in each Aerodrome/Airport Emergency Plan. AFAC and AFAC member agencies support the current structure of Airservices Australia Aviation Rescue Firefighting Services.

New AFAC Doctrine added this year includes: ˃˃

Community Messaging for the Use of the NBN in Emergency Events

˃˃

Data Quality Assessment

˃˃

Emergency Services Support Role to Deliberate High Threat Incidents

˃˃

Fire and Emergency Services and Climate Change

˃˃

Fire Safety in the Built Environment

˃˃

Intervention Programs for Juveniles with Fire Risk Behaviours

˃˃

Managing Bushfire Smoke Exposure

˃˃

Managing Tree Hazards

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02

Key projects

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS ACHIEVEMENT REPORT 2018 The Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021 provide guidance to fire and emergency services to ensure activities are focused on supporting resilient communities, trusted response, credible and timely information, effective governance and research. They ensure emergency management organisations are positioned to better meet challenges of changing community needs and expectations, an ageing, growing and diverse population, natural disasters, national security and organisational change. The work undertaken

by AFAC and its members goes to the heart of the overarching principles articulated in the Strategic Directions: primacy of life, trust and confidence, interoperability, and accountability.

AFAC presents an annual Strategic Directions Achievement Report referenced against the Strategic Directions. The 2018 report is provided to ministers who have responsibility for policing and emergency services. Through 25 selected initiatives, the report demonstrates the work that has been completed over 12 months by all jurisdictions in conjunction with AFAC members and our partner agencies.

The 2018 report offers a sample of initiatives undertaken rather than an exhaustive list of all work relating to the Strategic Directions. Together, these initiatives support a more disaster resilient Australia by demonstrating a level of national capability, based on operational readiness and underpinned by the most current qualifications and standards available, alongside lessons management and research utilisation.

Strategic Direction Three — Source of credible and timely information: The Tottenham fire in Melbourne’s west took 16 days to extinguish and required frequent community updates. Photo: MFB

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

NATIONAL WARNINGS

STANDARDS INVOLVEMENT

In October 2017, the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee (CCOSC) committed to a nationally consistent threelevel warning framework across multiple hazards.

AFAC plays a key role in the development and revision of Australian and International Standards which advance and guide the interests of the broader emergency management sector.

These include:

At that time, CCOSC acknowledged the divergent approaches to warnings frameworks in jurisdictions across Australia and committed to a consistent national warnings framework across all states and all hazards based on a three-level warning system.

˃˃

Standards Australia

˃˃

Joint Standards Australia and New Zealand Standards Committee (AS/NZS)

In response to this resolution, the AFAC Warnings Group established a project plan in February 2018 – Towards a National Warnings Framework.

˃˃

International Standards Organisation (ISO)

˃˃

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

˃˃

Fire Protection Association Australia (FPAA)

One of the project objectives was to establish a sound evidence base to move towards a national three-level warning framework for all hazards, including the review of existing research and identifying any requirements for further research.

˃˃

National Association of Steel-Framed Housing Inc. (NASH)

Over the past 12 months, one of the largest social science research projects ever conducted in Australia was undertaken. Led by the South Australian Country Fire Service on behalf of the AFAC Warnings Group, the research involved both quantitative and qualitative research. Two rounds of surveys and 49 focus groups have been conducted with communities across Australia, involving more than 12,000 individuals.

AFAC and its members have a significant voice to drive progress in the sector through the Standards Representatives Network.

All AFAC member agencies are consulted when comment is provided in relation to the development or revision of Australian or International Standards, ensuring the collective view of AFAC member agencies is put forward.

Primarily AFAC participation focuses on: ˃˃

management of fire related risks

˃˃

fire protection and fire safety

The research sought to understand how communities receive and respond to warnings and the actions they take.

˃˃

standards for firefighter’s personal protective equipment

˃˃

fire protection systems and equipment

Key findings were:

˃˃

fire safety systems and equipment

˃˃

The community supports a three-level warning system across multiple hazards.

˃˃

storage, transportation and handling of dangerous goods and hazardous materials.

˃˃

The community has clearly indicated that a warning system must be simple to understand and flexible. That is, the framework needs to be flexible to include other hazards and to ensure we maintain a consistent national warnings framework.

˃˃

There is no significant difference in results across jurisdictions or hazards.

This research will be used as the evidence base to develop a national three level warning system for multiple hazards across Australia.

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02

Key projects

AFAC IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED ON THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS COMMIT TEES Community Safety Group

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience MB-025

Public Safety, Public Administration, Business and Management/Security Built Environment and Planning Technical Group

BD-058

Thermal Insulation

BD-066

Tiltup Construction

CE-030

Maritime Structures

CS-062

Solid Fuel Burning Appliances

EL-005

Secondary Batteries

EL-042

Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems

FP-001

Maintenance of Fire Protection Equipment

FP-002

Fire Detection, Warning, Control and Intercom Systems

FP-002-01

Installation Standards

FP-002-02

Product/Panel

FP-002-03

Network Monitoring

FP-003

Fire Extinguishers

FP-004

Automatic Fire Sprinkler Installations

FP-004-03

Combined Sprinkler and Fire Hydrant Systems

FP-008

Fire Pumps and Tanks

FP-009

Fire Hydrant Installations

FP-009-01

Drafting Subcommittee AS 2419.1

FP-011

Special Hazard Fire Protection Systems

FP-017

Emergency Management Procedures

FP-018

Fire Safety

FP-019

Passive Fire Protection (Chair)

FP-020

Construction in Bushfire Prone Areas

FP-022

Fire Protection of Mobile and Transportable Equipment

LG-007

Emergency Lighting Buildings

ME-004

Lift Installations

ME-062

Ventilation and Airconditioning

ME-062-01 Ventilation and Airconditioning ME-062-09 Ventilation and Airconditioning FPAA101

Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems Design and Installation

NASH

Steel Framed Construction in Bushfire Areas

EL-003

Electric wires and cables Hazmat and CBRN Technical Group

CH-009

Safe Handling of Chemicals

CH-009-01

Emergency Response Guide Working Group

CH-009-02

Compressed Gases, Flammable Gases and Poisonous Gases

CH-009-04

Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustion

CH-009-05

Oxidising Substances

CH-009-08

Corrosive Substances

ME-002

Gas Cylinders

ME-015

Storage and Handling - LPG

ME-017

Flammable and Combustible Liquids

ME-057

Road Tankers for Hazardous Liquids and Gases

ME-070

Liquefied Natural Gas Storage and Handling

ME-093

Hydrogen Technologies Operational Equipment Technical Group

ME-030

Pumps PPE Technical Group

SF-003

Occupational Protective Footwear

SF-006

Eye and Face Protection

SF-010

Occupational Respiratory Protection

SF-018

Occupational Protective Helmets

SF-049

Firefighters PPE

SF-050

High Visibility Clothing

SF-052

Occupational Protective Clothing and Equipment

SF-053

Occupational Protective Clothing

TX-021

Sun Protective Clothing

TC/94

Personal Safety–Protective clothing and Equipment (Chair)*

TC 94/SC13 Personal Protective clothing* TC 94/SC14 Firefighters personal equipment* TC 94/SC14 Respiratory Protective Device (RPD)* - SC15 JWG NFPA

NFPA Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services PPE*

*International Standards Committee

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK AFAC COUNCIL

AFAC BOARD

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AN 1 — SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

2 — PROVIDING TRUSTED RESPONSE

Community Safety Group

AIIMS Steering Group

Climate Change Group

SES Community Safety Group

Learning and Development Group

Predictive Services Group

Rural and Land Management Group

Warnings Group

SES Operations Group

Predictive Services (Bushfire) Practitioners Network

Built Environment and Bushfire Planning Technical Group Community Engagement Technical Group Fire Engineering Network

Urban Operations Group

Fire Investigation Network

Fire and Emergency Aviation Technical Group

Pacific Islands Liaison Officers Network

Hazardous Materials (CBRN) Technical Group Rescue Technical Group Work Health and Safety Technical Group Computer Simulation Network

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3 — SOURCE OF CREDIBLE AND TIMELY INFORMATION

02

Key projects

CCOSC

ND NEW ZEALAND 2017–2021 4 — EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

5 — INFORMED BY KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH

Collaborative Procurement Business Strategy Group

AFAC Research Committee

Diversity and Inclusion Group

Knowledge, Innovation and Research Utilisation Network

TECHNICAL GROUP

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

PANEL

Workforce Management Group

Fleet Technical Group

Operational Equipment Technical Group

Operational Performance Technical Group Personal Protective Equipment Technical Group Volunteer Management Technical Group

GROUP NETWORK

Each Group, Technical Group and Network is listed under the Strategic Direction that best suits its remit, however all groups are underpinned

by Strategic Directions Four and Five.

All AFAC collaboration activities are informed by knowledge and research (Strategic Direction Five), and all work to achieve effective governance and resource management for AFAC members (Strategic Direction Four). *Accurate as at May 2019

Employee Relations Network

Mental Health and Wellbeing Network

Standards Representatives Network Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme Panel

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Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

03

E VENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DE VELOPMENT AFAC’s program of events and professional development provides AFAC members and the broader emergency management community with valuable opportunities for the ongoing development of skills and capability.

As part of our knowledge management strategy, we have developed activities and program specifically targeted to exchange knowledge and professional interaction. Here are some of the highlights from the past year.

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03

Events and professional development

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AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

LESSONS MANAGEMENT FORUM

EMERGENCY SERVICES HEALTH DUE DILIGENCE MASTERCLASS

More than 130 delegates representing a diverse range of sectors from locations as varied as the United States, New Zealand and Australia attended the annual Lessons Management event.

The masterclass, sponsored by Emergency Services Health and hosted by Fire and Rescue NSW, focussed on the needs of executive leaders and work health and safety staff who are committed to ensuring due diligence is exercised across everyday operations in emergency service organisations. Over 30 participants participated in the masterclass, representing fire and emergency services from across NSW, Surf Life Saving, ACT Ambulance and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Keynote speakers from sectors such as defence, health, airservices, transport, federal agencies and fire and emergency came together in Sydney for the two-day forum to share their learning, insights and perspectives on effective lessons management, culture, trends, recovery, learnings, research utilisation and innovative operational capability to name a few.

The major theme of the forum was ‘are we learning?’ Many key themes around this were explored over the two days, including lessons, insights, frameworks, communications, capabilities and leadership.

The masterclass was led by Katherine Morris, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright law firm. Katherine Morris’ presentation covered duties under the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS), a systematic approach to risk management and current trends in regulator activity. She also applied the issues associated with risk to several case law examples. Katherine’s insights and recommendations are the culmination of many years of experience gained across high safety risk industries including construction, property, transport, and energy and resources. In her session, participants engaged actively in discussions on case studies and WHS implications for fire and emergency services agencies. The key principles covered in Katherine’ session were expanded upon by a subsequent session led by Paul Considine, Director Capability and Assurance AFAC, who led an examination of a case study based on the Galston mine incident in Scotland.

The masterclass highlighted the benefits and opportunities of sharing WHS legal knowledge between presenters and participants working in diverse organisations. The sharing and collaboration opportunity provided enormous benefits to the participants and this was reiterated in the event feedback.

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01

Events and professional development

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE EVENT SERIES: MULTI-HAZARDS AND RESOURCE SHARING Longer operational seasons and the complexities of climate change are increasing the pressure on existing fire and emergency service resources and workforces. In addition, multiple and compounding events further complicate the emergency response process, requiring an increase in response capability and crossborder deployments.

The 2019 Motorola Solutions Knowledge Event Series examined these issues from an international and local perspective with guest speakers Fire Chief and Emergency Manager Patrick Shipp from the City of Webster in Houston, Assistant Commissioner Steve Yorke, from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Luke Purcell, Manager AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC).

Chief Shipp presented on the operational lessons and challenges from multi-hazard events including the national level space target hazard, Hurricane Harvey, wildfires and human-made disasters, sharing his professional insights and answering questions from the audience.

Assistant Commissioner Yorke and Luke Purcell provided an Australian perspective on resource sharing, drawn from his extensive involvement in interstate and international deployments with the AFAC NRSC. For the first time, the series travelled to all capital cities in Australia and New Zealand and engaged over 600 people.

Attendees gained valuable insights about the importance of effective coordination and communication with different agencies during operational periods.

Patrick Shipp presents at the Motorola Soultions Knowledge Event. Photo: AFAC

37

AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE On Wednesday, May 1, AFAC hosted its annual National Memorial Service to remember and reflect upon the commitment of fire and emergency service personnel across Australia and New Zealand who have died in the line of duty.

Held at the National Emergency Services Memorial on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, families were presented with an AFAC Memorial Medallion and 23 names were added to the Memorial Wall. Established last year to record the names of fire and emergency personnel who have died in the line of duty, the Memorial Wall now holds the names of 528 personnel.

The National Memorial Service was officiated by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and attended by the High Commissioner New Zealand, Her Excellency the Honourable Dame Annette King.

AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis introduced the day’s proceedings and said the occasion was of tremendous importance to the fire and emergency service sector and the families that support them.

‘Your presence here today, the presentation of an AFAC Memorial Medallion to families and the inscription of names who have died on duty onto the Memorial Wall, hopefully in some small way, provides national recognition and a level of comfort to those who have lost so much,’ Stuart Ellis said.

‘May they know that, our industry, our communities and our countries acknowledge their loss and offer our support.’

Lady Cosgrove, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and AFAC President Paul Baxter present a wreath at the National Memorial, Canberra.

Photos: Gary Hooker

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03

Events and professional development topic

39

AFAC

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC SIMULATION FORUM

NAFC FIRE AND EMERGENCY AVIATION SIMULATION SUMMIT

The use of simulation in the fire and emergency services is increasing and many are exploring its potential for business and capability development. AFAC, in conjunction with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC), held a Simulation Forum in Melbourne in 2019 focussed on the theme ‘exploring trends and future opportunities in simulation.’ The forum was designed for senior executives considering the adoption of simulation for incident management, aviation or other operational capability, alongside learning and development personnel and trainers involved in capability development, delivery and evaluation of training. The forum supported a half-day summit after the event to develop a business model for the use of simulation to build aviation management and support capability within the fire and emergency services sector.

The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) held the Fire and Emergency Aviation Simulation Summit on the morning of 20 June, following on from the AFAC Simulation Forum the day before. The summit was part of an ongoing project examining the potential for simulation to support and enhance aviation training and skills maintenance.

The Simulation Forum combined leading thinking and practice in the field of simulation, both in the public and private sector within Australia and internationally. The expert group of presenters explored how simulation has been combined with predictive models and other technologies within their organisations to meet multiple business and capability requirements. Presenters came from Melbourne University, Epworth HealthCare, the OPAQUE Group, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Geoscience Australia, CrisisSim and Crossbow Consulting Services. Over 40 participants attended the forum, representing 16 AFAC member agencies and some private companies.

Feedback from participants was very positive and confirmed the presentations at the forum increased their understanding of how simulation can be combined with other approaches to support capability development and maintenance. The sharing of expertise and subsequent discussions provided an opportunity for participants to consider how simulation can build industry capability and improve performance.

40

Personnel from agencies across Australia and New Zealand attended, marking the first occasion that key aviation simulation practitioners have come together to understand the current and potential state of aviation simulation capability, tools and techniques.

A summary of investigations from the ongoing simulation project and case studies were presented to create a snapshot of the current landscape. This was followed by blue sky thinking exercises that stimulated thinking and vigorous discussion on the potential direction of a national framework. Outcomes of the summit will be captured as part of the report to the NAFC Strategic Committee and will inform future strategic directions on the use of simulation in aviation.

NAFC thanks all participants for their enthusiastic contribution.

The summit was a successful and important step in continuing national collaboration in this space.

03

Events and professional development

EXECUTIVE FORUM The Executive Forum is a professional development and networking event targeted at Commissioners, Chief Officers, Chief Executive Officers and Fire Managers. The forum provides an opportunity for senior leaders to reflect on strategic and operational challenges amongst their peers.

The program featured presentations on major events in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, offering an insight into the associated challenges and learnings. This was followed by sessions on fire service delivery and the Resilient Melbourne initiative, with Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers providing insights on leadership and working with politicians.

A highlight of the event was keynote speaker the Honourable Troy Grant offering his reflections from his time as NSW Minister for Emergency Services, including personal insights into working collaboratively with government. The forum concluded with an open forum session, where delegates were able to share insights and challenges within a supportive environment.

The Executive Forum was well received, with 97 percent of respondents acknowledging that the forum is valuable and 100 percent confirming that the event increased their knowledge and understanding of operational and leadership challenges.

AFAC President Paul Baxter at the Executive Forum. Photo: AFAC

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

SENIOR OFFICER COHORT FORUM

AFAC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

The AFAC National Council has recognised the need to support and develop those in our industry who aspire to, and show potential for, the most senior roles in AFAC member agencies. As such, the Senior Officer Cohort (SOC) was established, with nominations sought from Council.

AFAC, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM), offered a number of professional development courses during the financial year. Representatives from the emergency management sector across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong attended the range of programs. AFAC member agencies had a combined total of more than 90 delegates in attendance during the 2018–19 financial year.

They key event for the SOC was the 2019 SOC Forum, which was held ahead of the AFAC Executive Forum in Melbourne and invited participants to meet for a combined afternoon session and networking dinner.

The SOC program covered a broad range of topics, including:

The courses offered through AIPM: ˃˃

Graduate Certificate in Applied Management

˃˃

Graduate Diploma of Executive Leadership Strategic Command Program

˃˃

briefings on AFAC, EMPS and executive development

˃˃

˃˃

leading by Leadership Victoria

˃˃

NZ Police Leadership Strategy

˃˃

executive presentation skills

˃˃

Frontline: Developing Future Leaders Programs

˃˃

course offerings and approaches from the Barrington Centre

˃˃

Balance: Women Leaders in Public Safety

˃˃

trends in strategic leadership

˃˃

Facilitate: Building Learning Organisations Workshop

˃˃

reflections from a former Commissioner.

˃˃

Evolve: Leading in Complex Environments

The event was well received by delegates, with 75 percent of survey respondents agreeing that the forum increased their knowledge and understanding and 80 percent of respondents rating the combined session with the Executive Forum delegates as very good or excellent. A significant outcome of the event was the decision to rename the SOC as the Senior Leadership Cohort to better reflect broader participation beyond operational officers.

42

A number of AFAC agency member representatives also took on the role of Visiting Fellow for the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Balance Program across the financial year. The Visiting Fellow program not only provided professional development opportunities for the incumbents, but also the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience and provide mentoring and leadership advice to course participants.

03

Events and professional development

Attendees at an AFAC Leadership Program course at AIPM, Sydney. Photos: AIPM

43

AFAC

AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ, Perth. Photos: AFAC

44

Annual Report 2018 – 19

03

AFAC18

The premier annual conference for the emergency management sector, AFAC18 powered

by INTERSCHUTZ, returned to Perth for the first time in six years. Over 2,800 attendees came together, including a record number of 1,433 delegates, to explore the latest in emergency management research and practice.

The event ran from 5–8 September 2018 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was held concurrently with the inaugural AIDR Australian Disaster Resilience Conference (ADRC), bringing the critical topics of emergency services and disaster resilience together for the first time.

‘The conference theme, changing lives in a changing world, encouraged attendees to think about the future of fire and emergency services and the direction of our industry,’ AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis said.

‘The impressive schedule of speakers on stage and an extensive display of technology, equipment at the expo helped us to imagine what is possible for the sector, and the partnership with ADRC allows us to take a more holistic approach to protecting our communities.’

The event opened with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum, featuring keynote speakers Senior Principal Research Scientist of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA Dr Neil Burrows and Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science Anna-Maria Arabia.

Keynote speakers on the AFAC18 included President Obama’s former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Singapore’s Civil Defence Force Commissioner Eric Yap, First Assistant Secretary of the National Resilience Taskforce Mark Crosweller AFSM, former NASA Astronaut Mike Mullane and Dr Dana Born from the Centre for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Presentations continued across the six-stream program, with over 140 speakers sharing their knowledge with delegates.

The exhibition was very popular with attendees and offered a chance to engage with the industry tools of the future. The AFAC conference is considered by exhibitors as a key event to engage with the public safety community and develop new ideas to better serve the sector. Also featured was a comprehensive Expo Stage program, live demonstrations and the AIDR Knowledge Centre, which displayed over 130 posters that shared insights into research and practice across the sector.

Complementing the conference program and exhibition was an engaging Professional Development Program, offering three on-site workshops and two field trips, to give participants a deeper understanding of subject matter areas.

The success of the AFAC18 powered by INTERSCHUTZ reflected on support of the host agencies: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, and the work of the conference committees.

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Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

04

46

RECOGNITION OF ACHIE VEMENT — S E C T O R AWA R D S

04

Recognition of achievement — sector awards

47

AFAC

Annual Report 2018 – 19

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION AWARDS

STEWART AND HEATON LEADING PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARD

The Motorola Solutions Knowledge Innovation Awards recognise innovative contributions to the knowledge of the emergency management sector over the past year.

The inaugural Stewart and Heaton Leading Practice in Mental Health Award was presented to South Australian Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Service (SAMFS) at AFAC18 in Perth.

In 2018 the individual award was presented to Zoe Mounsey, Senior Research Programme Advisor, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) in recognition of her implementation of new ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of research utilisation.

As part of this initiative, the research lifecycle was incorporated into a new research framework, Zoe established a new research governance steering committee and also developed FENZ’s research strategy.

The award acknowledged the establishment of a dedicated Wellness and Safety Department following the review of the University of Adelaide Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies health and wellbeing study of SAMFS firefighters in 2014. This study produced leading-edge research in this area in Australia.

Bushfires NT received the agency award for the development of the Bushfire Emergency Management System (BEMS), which digitises staff and volunteer operations data to a central webbased solution. This innovative solution has improved the ability of volunteers and staff to share information relating to permits to burn, planned burns, incident management and public information.

48

The SAMFS Wellness and Safety Department’s three current initiatives include mental health first aid training and the associated launch of the first mental health first aid training film What if I can’t Cope, exposure to trauma monitoring and a transition to retirement program.

04

Recognition of achievement — sector awards

LAURIE LAVELLE ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD The Achiever of the Year Award recognises Laurie Lavelle’s lifelong commitment to the emergency services in Australia as a longstanding Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board and inaugural Chief Executive Officer of AFAC from 1993–2001.

The objective of this award is to recognise the efforts of an individual who has undertaken a role within an AFAC member agency that has contributed significantly to enhancing the knowledge, skills, operations, performance or public profile in the emergency services sector in Australasia.

Dr Simon Heemstra, Manager Planning and Predictive Services, NSW Rural Fire Service, was the 2018 award winner. Simon was recognised for his leadership in the development of the Fire Behaviour Analyst Unit at the NSW Rural Fire Service, his leadership of predictive services at a national level and his pivotal role in establishing the AFAC Climate Change Group.

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Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

05

50

A FA C C O L L A B O R AT I O N

05

AFAC collaboration

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

34

100

Groups and networks in the Collaboration Framework

875

Group meetings and teleconferences

Group members

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

Collaboration occurs through sharing knowledge and exchanging insights, exploring opportunities and creating solutions.

This approach enables members to consider common challenges, generate solutions, develop positions and inspire new directions in practice.

The AFAC Collaboration Framework is aligned to the Strategic Directions for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand 2017–2021.

52

DIRECTION 1

DIRECTION 2

DIRECTION 3

DIRECTION 4

DIRECTION 5

Supporting resilient communities

Providing trusted response

The source of credible and timely information

Effective governance and resource management

Informed by knowledge and research

05

AFAC collaboration

DIRECTION 1 | Supporting resilient communities

COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP Darren Klemm, DFES-WA Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Amanda Leck, AFAC Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC Colin Lindsay, SA-MFS Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA Glenn Benham, SA-MFS Jamie Hansen, CFA-VIC Jennifer O’Beirne, FFMV-DELWP Jennifer Wolcott, EMV Lucy Saaroni, CFA-VIC Mark Edwards, GA Mark Kahler, QFES Mark Whybro, FRNSW Martin Braid, MFB-VIC Rick Curtis, DFES-WA Rob Saunders, FENZ Sandra Whight, TFS Simon Burt, NTFRES Steve Cameron, EMV Trent Curtin, MFB-VIC

Chris Beattie, SA-SES Kate White, VIC-SES Amanda Leck, AFAC Ailsa Schofield, NSWSES April Ryan, SLSA Chris Irvine, TAS-SES Colleen Ridge, TAS-SES Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA

Daniel Greig, TFS David Boverman, NSWRFS

Peter Wilding, FENZ Ivan West, AFAC

Mark Whybro, FRNSW

David Kearsley, CFA-VIC

Anthony Miles, NTFRES

Ivan West, AFAC

David Kubler, SA-MFS

Ben Millington, NSWRFS

Allan Oates, NTFRES

Gavin Maund, DFES-WA

Cheryl Cook, NSWRFS

Allan Riley, DFES-WA

Jamie Vistnes, FRNSW

Dale Rayner, TFS

Andrew Andreou, CFA-VIC

Joe Gomez, Airservices

David Groer, Airservices

Andrew Sharrad, SA-MFS

Steven McKee, QFES

Gary Baxter, DFES-WA

Anthony McKinnon, NTFRES Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA Colin Paton, SA-CFS Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS Daniel Greig, TFS David Lewis, FRNSW Gary Baxter, DFES-WA Gavin Maund, DFES-WA Gavin Rooney, MFB-VIC Ian Shepherd, QFES Marcus Morgan, NSWSES Mark Carter, MFB-VIC Simon Davis, FENZ

BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING TECHNICAL GROUP — BUSHFIRE PLANNING WORK GROUP Andrew Stark, SA-CFS Ivan West, AFAC Corey Shackleton, NSWRFS David Boverman, NSWRFS Greg Potts, ACT-ESA Jackson Parker, DFES-WA James Haig, QFES Leah Bertholini, SA-CFS Len Leslie, CFA-VIC

Geoff Townsley, QFES

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS Amanda Leck, AFAC Amanda Moore, OEM-NSW Anthony Bradstreet, NSWRFS Brigid Little, AIDR Colleen Ridge, TAS-SES David Webber, NSWSES Fiona Amundson, ACT-ESA Greg Howard, SA-MFS Heidi Farnden, NTFRES Jen Dick, DEW-SA

George Xydias, VIC Police Graham Kingsland, FRNSW Leslie Vearing, FFMV-DELWP Mark Klop, TFS Nicole Harvey, CFA-VIC Peter Jones, DFES-WA Phillip Crossley, SA-MFS Richard Maloney, ACT-ESA Shaun Ruxton, SA-MFS Tim Mitchell, FENZ Timothy Landells, MFB-VIC

PACIFIC ISLANDS LIAISON OFFICERS NETWORK

Julie Harris, MFB-VIC

Barry Gray, MFB-VIC

Karen Enbom, CFA-VIC

Luke Purcell, AFAC

Keiran Stone, SLSA

Adam Dewberry, FRNSW

Ken Baulch, Bushfires NT

Ben Millington, NSWRFS

Kristina Riley, Bushfires NT

Brad Commens, QFES

Liz Connell, SA-SES

Glenn Benham, SA-MFS

Michael Morris, FRNSW

Glenn Brewer, ACT-ESA

Muriel Leclercq, DFES-WA

Greg Newton, NSWSES

Nicole Hogan, NSWSES

Ian Pickard, FENZ

Paul Harris, CFA-VIC

Jeremy Smith, TFS

Rob Saunders, FENZ

Matt Davis, SA-CFS

Sandra Barber, TFS

Patrick Haines, SPC

Shane Daw, SLSA

Rodney Evans, Airservices

Mark Chladil, TFS

Nicholas Cowham, NTFRES

FIRE ENGINEERING NETWORK

Steve Cameron, EMV

Terry Trewin, NTFRES

Steve Dorman, MFB-VIC

Tony O’Day, CFA-VIC

Simon Davis, FENZ

Susan Davie, VIC-SES

Ivan West, AFAC

Suzanne Blyth, DFES-WA

Rick Curtis, DFES-WA

Amy Seppelt, SA-MFS

Troy Davies, QFES

Brian Talbot, ACT-ESA

Vinny Schar, SA-MFS

AFAC Manager

Liz Connell, SA-SES

Outgoing Current

Deputy Chair

Eamonn Lennon, QFES

Cihan Soylemez, MFB-VIC

FIRE INVESTIGATION NETWORK

Chair

Brian Cox, QFES

Chris White, ACT-ESA

Council Sponsor

SES COMMUNITY SAFETY GROUP

BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING TECHNICAL GROUP — BUILT ENVIRONMENT WORK GROUP

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Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

DIRECTION 2 | Providing trusted response

AIIMS STEERING GROUP

Greg Butters, TFS

Chris Gibson, ForestrySA

Kaylene Jones, NSWSES

James Harington, Airservices

Darrin McKenzie, FFMV-DELWP

Kyle Stewart, NSWSES

Andrew Stark, SA-CFS

Jeannie Cotterell, ACT-ESA

Dasarath Jayasuriya, BOM

Leon Smith, TAS-SES

Cain Trist, EMV

Jemma Krasowski, SA-MFS

Dave Gossage, CAVFA

Lloyd Bailey, DFES-WA

Chris Quinn, Airservices

Jodie Stevenson, TFS

Dean Sheehan, STTAS

Murray Copas, SLSA

Craig Patterson, SA Police

Joshua Humphrey, VIC-SES

Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC

Paul Carr, DFES-WA

Craig Waters, DFES-WA

Kevin Archer, OEM-NSW

Evan Morgan, BOM

Paul Turner, FENZ

Dave Hunt, DCNZ

Lawrence Arps, FENZ

Fiona Gill, DEW-SA

Robert Landon, NSWSES

David Coetzee, MCDEM-NZ

Leigh Ridge, SA-SES

Glenn Benham, SA-MFS

Shane Daw, SLSA

David Nugent, PARKSVIC

Liz Walker, NTFRES

Graham Swift, DFES-WA

Tim Wiebusch, VIC-SES

Gavin Freeman, CFA-VIC

Marc Bellette, DHHS-VIC

James Haig, QFES

Greg Newton, NSWSES

Mark Beech, ACT PCS

Jason Heffernan, NSWRFS

Greg Rankin, FRNSW

Mark Harriott, ACT-ESA

Jeffrey Harper, TFS

Iain Mackenzie, IGEM-QLD

Michael Dwyer, QFES

Jeremy Smith, TFS

John Cawcutt, QFES

Michael Fleming, AMSA

Joe Murphy, ACT-ESA

Malcolm Cronstedt, DFES-WA

Nicholas de Rozario, DEW-SA

John Bates, BNHCRC

Mark Brown, ACT-ESA

Pamela Simon, SLSA

Kevin O’Connor, FENZ

Murray Carter, DFES-WA

Paul Wallworth, VIC-SES

Leigh Kleinschmidt, HQP-QLD

Paul McGuiggan, FRNSW

Penny Dunstan, CFA-VIC

Luigi Cucchiaro, NTFRES

Paul Ryan, DFES-WA

Rachel Rowett, SA-SES

Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW

Paul Seager, OEH-NSW

Richard Boykett, DBCA-WA, PWS

Paul Bailey, FRNSW

Scott Cashmere, AMSA

Peter Leeson, QPWS

Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC

Paul Turner, FENZ Robert Charlton, SA-SES Scott Hanckel, NSWSES

Serena Eales, SA-CFS

Simon Rickard, Australian Red Cross

Sherri Adcock, QFES

Steve Davies, Airservices

Stephen Glassock, NSWRFS

Stuart Ellis, AFAC

Stevie-Lee Knott, FRNSW

Stuart Midgley, NSWRFS

Susan Gronow, FRNSW

Susan Fayers, EMV

Tony Duckmanton, CFA-VIC

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP Naomi Stephens, OEH-NSW

Sonya Oyston, NSWSES

Wendy Blair, OEH-NSW

RURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT GROUP

Cassandra Curtis, SA-CFS

Neil Cooper, ACT PCS

Sandra Lunardi, AFAC

Murray Carter, DFES-WA

Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA

Greg Esnouf, AFAC

Craig Waters, DFES-WA

Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC

Daniel Catrice, FFMV-DELWP

Andrew Dunn, HQP-QLD

Deborah Parsons, SA-MFS

Andrew Graystone, PARKSVIC

Douglas King, QFES

Bryan Jensen, DCNZ

Eric Claussen, OEH-NSW

Chandra Wood, Brisbane City Council

Fadia Mitri, MFB-VIC

54

Paul Black, PWS-TAS Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS Rob Sandford, SA-CFS Robert McNeil, FRNSW Shoni Maguire, BOM Stefan de Haan, DBCA-WA, PWS Tim McGuffog, ForestryNSW Tim Mitchell, FENZ Tim Sanders, Melbourne Water

SES OPERATIONS GROUP

URBAN OPERATIONS GROUP Greg Crossman, SA-MFS Dan Stephens, MFB-VIC Gavin Freeman, CFA-VIC Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Brad Stringer, DFES-WA Bruce Byatt, TFS Daniel Austin, SA-CFS David Bruce, MFB-VIC Gary Gifford, DFES-WA Jim Hamilton, FRNSW Joe Gomez, Airservices John Watson, QFES Lloyd Bailey, DFES-WA Mark Brown, ACT-ESA Mark Spain, NTFRES Michael Morgan, SA-MFS Paul Fletcher, SA-MFS Paul Jones, NSWRFS Paul Salter, TFS Paul Turner, FENZ

Mark Smethurst, NSWSES

Trevor Arnold, SA-SES

Peter Jeffrey, QFES

FIRE AND EMERGENCY AVIATION TECHNICAL GROUP

Georgeina Whelan, ACT-ESA Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Brian Cox, QFES

Andrew Stark, SA-CFS

Dermot Barry, SA-SES

Andrew Griffiths, AMSA

Gary Gifford, DFES-WA

Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT

Greg Newton, NSWSES

Anthony Ferguson, NSWRFS

Jason Collins, NTFRES

Brad Bourke, DBCA-WA, PWS

Jeffrey Butler, ACT-ESA

Brad Commins, DBCA-WA, PWS

05

AFAC collaboration

Corey Dunn, SA-CFS

Jim Dittmar, Airservices

David Pearce, SA-CFS

Krystle Mitchell, SA-MFS

Derek Parks, DFES-WA

Matthew Allen, CFA-VIC

Glenn Crombie, NSW NPWS

Michael Logan, QFES

COMPUTER SIMULATION NETWORK Aaron Stockton, CFA-VIC Sandra Lunardi, AFAC

Graeme Dudley, FFMV-DELWP John Kingsbury, FENZ Leah Parlour, DFES-WA Maria Lambrinos, FFMV-DELWP

Ian Millman, FENZ

Michael Shepherd, SA-MFS

Adam Shearer, SA-CFS

Luke Patterson, CFA-VIC

Pat Jones, ACT-ESA

Antony Sadler, DFES-WA

Matthew Watson, DFES-WA

Martin Gibson, QFES

Paul Beylerian, FRNSW

Chris Mower, SA-MFS

Michael Cosgrove, DPFEM

Martin Piesse, STTAS

Paul Johnstone, FRNSW

James Hall, MFB-VIC

Neil Mott, Airservices

Matt Plucinski, CSIRO

Peter Cleary, FRNSW

Lee Hume, FRNSW

Nicole Middleton, FFMV-DELWP

Michelle Jenkins, NSWSES

Stuart Males, TFS

Logan Leahy, FENZ

Peter Manley, ACT-ESA

Neil Brooksbank, TFS

Terry Trewin, NTFRES

Lyneece Naylon, SA-CFS

Peter Pera, FRNSW

Nik Stanley, SA-CFS

Trudy Geoghegan, FENZ

Mitchell Fitzgerald, SA-CFS

Phil Collins, DBCA-WA, PWS

Raymond Jasper, VIC-SES

Victor Lenting, FENZ

Nathan Smith, Airservices

Richard Gorey, QFES

Richard Alder, NAFC

Wayne Atkins, SA-CFS

Paul Cockerill, CFA-VIC

Robin Marlin, SA-CFS

Richard McNamara, FENZ

Will Klinge, MFB-VIC

Paul Durston, QFES

Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA

Paul Hattink, QFES

Sandra Taylor, QFES

Peter Carter, NSWRFS

Sylvia Hudson, CFA-VIC

Robert Lightfoot, FRNSW

Terese Howlett, VIC-SES

Roy Veal, FENZ

Troy Morrisby, DPFEM

Terry Jarvis, DFES-WA

Xave Watson, FFMV-DELWP

Robert Landon, NSWSES Rohan Scott, ACT-ESA Viki Campbell, NSWRFS Wayne Rigg, CFA-VIC

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR TECHNICAL GROUP

Jim Hamilton, FRNSW Erin Liston-Abel, AFAC Andrew Beattyman, Airservices Barry Byrne, MFB-VIC Darren Simon, CFA-VIC David Gill, DFES-WA David Imhoff, AMSA Gary Osborne, NTFRES Greg Howard, SA-MFS Jeff Harper, QFES Jeffrey Davis, DFES-WA

Luke Purcell, AFAC Alan Crossman, DFES-WA Colin Lindsay, SA-MFS Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC Garth Lawrence, DFES-WA Gary Osborne, NTFRES George Arnold, MFB-VIC Graeme Hall, QFES Ian Duncan, FENZ Mark Dobson, TFS Paul Bailey, FRNSW Peter Mason, SA-MFS Rebecca Hosking, DHA-EMA Rick Owen, CFA-VIC Robert Landon, NSWSES Trevor Arnold, SA-SES

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICAL GROUP Outgoing Current

Karen Roberts, DFES-WA David Kemp, SAFECOM Jeff Green, CFA-VIC Sandra Lunardi, AFAC Alison Donohoe, FRNSW Andrew Pitt, DPFEM Andrew Taylor, TFS Anthony Dodd, VIC-SES Brendan Mott, FRNSW Col Strawbridge, MFB-VIC Darren Crawford, DEW-SA

Deputy Chair

Dean Harrison, Airservices

Pat Jones, ACT-ESA

Chair

Brett Cowcher, MFB-VIC

Formerly Urban Search and Rescue and Technical Rescue Technical Group

Council Sponsor

Formerly Hazardous Materials Technical Group

RESCUE TECHNICAL GROUP

Mathew Grant, FRNSW

David Heslop, NSWRFS David Savio, MFB-VIC Gary Zuiderwyk, NSWSES Glen Cook, SA-MFS

AFAC Manager

55

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

DIRECTION 3 | The source of credible and timely information

PREDICTIVE SERVICES GROUP

Lucy Saaroni, CFA-VIC

Damon Ezis, DEW-SA

Mark Cunnington, NTFRES

Dan Jones, PARKSVIC

Shane Fitzsimmons, NSWRFS

Mark Spain, NTFRES

Daniel Heinrichs, CFA-VIC

Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS

Matthew Aitchison, SAFECOM

Darcy Prior, FFMV-DELWP

Mike Wouters, DEW-SA

Mhairi Revie, TAS-SES

Dave Atkins, DBCA-WA, PWS

Greg Esnouf, AFAC

Nicholas Kuster, NSWSES

David Field, NSWRFS

Alen Slijepcevic, CFA-VIC

Nicola Moore, IGEM-QLD

David McKenna, DEW-SA

Alice Gower, FFMV-DELWP

Nicole Ely, SA-MFS

David Philp, NSWRFS

Andrew Sturgess, QFES

Peta Miller-Rose, QFES

David Taylor, PWS-TAS

Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT

Peter Middleton, TFS

Dean Putting, CFA-VIC

Brian Levine, ACT PCS

Phil Nickerson, IGEM-QLD

Duncan Watt, ForestryNSW

Christopher Collins, TFS

Philip Lindsay, FRNSW

Eddie Staier, PWS-TAS

David Taylor, PWS-TAS

Reegan Key, EMV

Erin Heinrich, NSWRFS

Evan Morgan, BOM

Sascha Rundle, ABC

Francis Hine, QFES

Grant Pearce, FENZ

Shoni Maguire, BOM

Frazer Wilson, FFMV-DELWP

Hamish Webb, FFMV-DELWP

Sita Bacher, SAFECOM

Gareth George, CFA-VIC

Jackson Parker, DFES-WA

Tamsin Achilles, VIC-SES

Gavin Maund, DFES-WA

John Bates, BNHCRC Lachlan McCaw, DBCA-WA, PWS Natalie Tostovrsnik, FFMVDELWP Nick Lhuede, ACT-ESA

PREDICTIVE SERVICES PRACTITIONERS (BUSHFIRE) NETWORK

Geoff Selwood, NSWRFS Glen Daniel, DFES-WA Graeme Martin, QFES

Mike Wouters, DEW-SA

Graham Hardy, DFES-WA

Greg Esnouf, AFAC

Greg Mattingley, PARKSVIC

Meaghan Jenkins, Uni Wollongong Mika Peace, BOM Murray Mitchell, DBCA-WA, PWS Musa Kilinc, CFA-VIC Nathan Faggian, BOM Neil Burrows, DBCA-WA, PWS Nicholas Bauer, FFMV-DELWP Nicole Syme, DBCA-WA, PWS Nils Waite, NSWRFS Paul Cook, NSWRFS Paul Rampant, DBCA-WA, PWS Pedro Palheiro, DBCA-WA, PWS Rick McRae, ACT-ESA Rob Woodward, QFES Robert Haigh, Fraser Coast Regional Council Rochelle Richards, TFS Russell Stephens-Peacock, QFES Samuel Ferguson, TFS Sean Walsh, Uni Melb Sharon Merritt, CFA-VIC

Adam Whitchurch, PARKSVIC

Helen Bull, Obliqua Pty Ltd

Agnes Kristina, DFES-WA

Ian Tanner, DEW-SA

Tim Mitchell, FENZ

Ailish Germain, NSWRFS

Jackson Parker, DFES-WA

Alex Aitken, DFES-WA

Jamie Molloy, FFMV-DELWP

WARNINGS GROUP

Alex Otterbach, DEW-SA

Jason Sharples, Uni NSW

Katarina Carroll, QFES

Andrew Jones, NSWRFS

Jessica Ngo, CFA-VIC

Anthony Clark, NSWRFS

Andrew Sturgess, QFES

Jill Read, PARKSVIC

Amanda Leck, AFAC

Anne McLean, DEW-SA

Joanna Wand, FFMV-DELWP John Runcie, NSWRFS

Amy Miller, EMV

Anthony Cheesman, FFMVDELWP

Angela Gardner, CFA-VIC

Barry Heilbronn, QFES

Joshua Wong, FFMV-DELWP

Barry Gray, MFB-VIC

Ben Twomey, QFES

Justin Dally, CFA-VIC

Carla Mooney, BOM

Bradley Stewart, NSWRFS

Kathryn Schneider, PARKSVIC

Christina Hanger, CFA-VIC

Brett Beecham, DBCA-WA, PWS

Kelsey Tarabini, BNHCRC

Faruk Yay, DHA-EMA

Brett Loughlin, SA-CFS

Kent Barron, QFES

Fiona Dunstan, SA-CFS

Brian Levine, ACT PCS

Valerie Densmore, DBCA-WA, PWS

Kerryn McTaggart, PARKSVIC

Casey Scholten, QFES

Wieslaw Lichacz, ACT-ESA

Graeme Wynwood, SA-SES

Lachlan McCaw, DBCA-WA, PWS

Hannah Tagore, DFES-WA

Cassidy Newland, DFES-WA

Laurence McCoy, NSWRFS

Hayley Gillespie, QFES

Chris Medlin, FFMV-DELWP

Mark Beech, ACT PCS

Jacob Riley, VIC-SES

Chris Quinn, NSWRFS

Mark Chladil, TFS

Jill Downard, DFES-WA

Christopher Collins, TFS

Matt Plucinski, CSIRO

Kaylee Rutland, ACT-ESA

Damien Dubrowin, OEH-NSW

Matthew Geiger, QFES

Noreen Krusel, AFAC Richard Thornton, BNHCRC

Ailsa Schofield, NSWSES

56

John Stoner, PARKSVIC

Simeon Telfer, DEW-SA Simon Dawson, QFES Simon Heemstra, NSWRFS Stephen Lewin, QFES Steve Nicholson, DBCA-WA, PWS Steve Summers Stu King, TFS Tim Hunt, CFA-VIC Tim McKern, CFA-VIC Timothy Groves, DEW-SA Timothy Wells, CFA-VIC Tom Denman, OEH-NSW Tony Smith, DBCA-WA, PWS

05

AFAC collaboration

DIRECTION 4 | Effective governance and resource management

COLLABORATIVE PROCUREMENT BUSINESS STRATEGY GROUP

Colin Thomas, MFB-VIC

Chris Pines, FRNSW

Chris Bowyer, ACT-ESA

Corinne Manning, MFB-VIC

Dan Jones, CFA-VIC

Chris Wells, FENZ

Daniel McLaughlin, PARKSVIC

Darren McQuade, MFB-VIC

Erin Baker, DPFEM

Derren Halleday, SA-SES

David Goreham, SA-MFS

Jason Elmer, DPFEM

Diana MacMullin, SA-SES

David Lloyd, QFES

Karen Roberts, DFES-WA

Greg Nettleton, SA-CFS

Francis Hines, FFMV-DELWP

Kathleen Iacurto, NSWSES

Guy Thomas, QPWS

Ian Tanner, DEW-SA

Frank Howe, DPFEM

Katrina Bahen, VIC-SES

Darren Stafford, FENZ

James Dullard, CFA-VIC

Gary Osborne, NTFRES

Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW

Kristy Phelps, SAFECOM

Jeremy Smith, TFS

Grant Wilson, NSWSES

Nancy Appleby, DFES-WA

Russell Shephard, AFAC

Karen Roberts, DFES-WA

Gregory Mason, ACT-ESA

Peter Button, SA-MFS

Angela Gruler, NTFRES

Katrina Bahen, VIC-SES

Ian Peisley, FRNSW

Shiona Somerville, SA-MFS

Anita Anderson, QFES

Lisa Greig, SAFECOM

Jason Jones, ACT-ESA

Trina Schmidt, NSWRFS

Anne Ward, Airservices

Lisa Jones, EMV

Jason Kleemann, SA-CFS

Arthur Tindall, AFAC

Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW

Jean Cresswell, FENZ

Chris Myers, VIC-SES

Mark Spain, NTFRES

Jeff Davis, QFES

Dan Jones, CFA-VIC

Matthew Brocklehurst, TAS-SES

John Gabbedy, Airservices

Arthur Tindall, AFAC

Darryl Purdy, FENZ

Michael Morgan, SA-MFS

Lorna Toynton, VICSES

Russell Shephard, AFAC

Dean Fornito, MFB-VIC

Neil Cooper, ACT PCS

Lynette Connor, VIC-SES

Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS

Gillian Meakin, EMV

Paul Seager, OEH-NSW

Mark Luchetti, NSWSES

Andrew Webb, CFA-VIC

Lynette Connor, VIC-SES

Peter Button, SA-MFS

Mark Saunders, QFES

Anthony Mallia, ACT-ESA

Mai Ly, SAFECOM

Rosie Amatt, QPWS

Mark Wootton, DFES-WA

Carl Hollis, OEH-NSW

Nick Alfieris, FRNSW

Ross Dickson, ForestryNSW

Mick Appleton, FFMV-DELWP

Craig Brownlie, CFA-VIC

Patrick Cummins, DPFEM

Stacey Naughtin, DFES-WA

Mike Moran, FENZ

Evonne Harding, QFES

Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS

Stefan de Haan, DBCA-WA, PWS

Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW

Ian Bounds, TFS

Richard Burnell, DFES-WA

Stephen Miles, Airservices

Nathan Symonds, Airservices

Jeff Whittaker, NTFRES

Robyn White, ACT-ESA

Steve Smith, QFES

Peter Hill, NTFRES

Jeremy Bowen, FFMV-DELWP

Rodney Lambert, NSWRFS

Stuart Ellis, AFAC

Peter Mason, SA-MFS

Julian Smith, FFMV-DELWP

Sam Mitchell, NTFRES

Wayne Mackey, FENZ

Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS

Lee Watson, SA-CFS

Po Chung, MFB-VIC

Mark Aylward, FFMV-DELWP

Robert Welling, VIC-SES

Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW

Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA

Nathan Ferguson, NTFRES

Satinder Sahota, ACT PCS

Owen Parker, FFMV-DELWP

Alex Lee, DPFEM

Peter Mason, SA-MFS

Jennifer Reilly, NTFRES

Stephen Herbert, DBCA-WA, PWS

Allan Jones, DBCA-WA, PWS

Julie Bissinella, MCC

Tony Slade, NSWRFS

Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS

Noreen Krusel, AFAC

Trevor Hazenberg, QFES

Andrew Harding, NSWSES

Amalgamation of former Business Management Network and Collaborative Procurement Group

Stephen O’Malley, NSWRFS Todd Crawford, DPFEM

Tim Smith, CFA-VIC Lee Watson, SA-CFS Russell Shephard, AFAC

Andrew Short, QFES

Andrew Webb, CFA-VIC

Andrew Turner, Bushfires NT

Ashley Sullivan, NSWSES

Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA

Barbara Zandona-Gehan, QFES

Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS

Brad Commins, DBCA-WA, PWS

Callum MacSween, QFES

Bryan Ries, OEH-NSW

Chris Eagle, FFMV-DELWP

Chris Fogarty, OEH-NSW

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT GROUP

Rob Walker, QFES Robert Landon, NSWSES Ross Trimboli, MFB-VIC Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA

Mark Roche, QFES

Scott Chamberlin, Airservices

Sandra Lunardi, AFAC

Stephanie Mundy, ACT-ESA

Anna Geromichalos, SAFECOM

Stephen Boucher, SA-CFS

Brendan Nally, FENZ

Terrence Farley, FRNSW

Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA

Timothy Moore, DFES-WA

AFAC Manager

Andrew Plush, SA-CFS

Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS Deputy Chair

Andrew McCullough, NSWSES

Chair

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GROUP

FLEET TECHNICAL GROUP

Outgoing Current Council Sponsor

Scott Bridgement, NSWSES

OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL GROUP

Bronwyn Jones, NSWRFS

57

Annual Report 2018–19

AFAC

DIRECTION 5 | Informed by knowledge and research

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS NETWORK

Hatti Zhao, FFMV-DELWP

Karen Roberts, DFES-WA

Ian Scott, FENZ

Ken Middleton, CAVFA

Peter Button, SA-MFS

Lee Watson, SA-CFS

Kerry Laurie, CFA-VIC

Shiona Somerville, SA-MFS

Lynette Connor, VIC-SES

Kristine Wendtman, NSWRFS

Lorna O’Dwyer, AFAC

Mark Aylward, FFMV-DELWP

Kylie Kapeller, TFS

Andrew Short, QFES

Mark Luchetti, NSWSES

Lisa Greig, SAFECOM

Bernard King, FRNSW

Mark O’Donnell, TFS

Michael Smitheram, SAFECOM

Brendan Stevens, ACT-ESA

Mark Tarbett, CFA-VIC

Simone O’Dea, SAFECOM

Chris Bowyer, ACT-ESA

Matthew Price, NSWSES

Sonia St Alban, CAVFA

Chris Wells, FENZ

Natalie Middleton, OEH-NSW

Suzanne Pigdon, VIC-SES

Courtney Collins, DPFEM

Nathan Ferguson, NTFRES

Troy Davies, QFES

Fiona Bridges, QFES

Pat Jones, ACT-ESA

Gabrielle Bird, DFES-WA

Peter Mason, SA-MFS

Helen Redmond, DFES-WA

Phil Collins, DBCA-WA, PWS

Janette Pearce, MFB-VIC

Phil Kilsby, SA-MFS

Laura Taylor, Airservices

Phil Taylor, MFB-VIC

Leanne Banting, MFB-VIC

Rob Walker, QFES

Lisa Chih, NSWRFS

Rodney Evans, Airservices

Mark Roche, QFES

Sam Sanderson, DEW-SA

Noel Quinn, NSWSES

Shane Batt, TFS

Peter Mason, SA-MFS

Sheridan Dyne, QFES

Sharyn Haas, DPFEM

Sreten Landolac, CFA-VIC

Stephen Jenkins-Flint, Airservices

Stephanie Plattner, NSWSES

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Arthur Tindall, AFAC Russell Shephard, AFAC Brenton Clarke, SA-SES Chris Myers, VIC-SES David Mack, SA-MFS Emma-Lee Thornton, DBCAWA, PWS Esitone Pauga, FENZ Evonne Harding, QFES Gerry Thomas, Melbourne Water

58

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL GROUP Kathleen Iacurto, NSWSES Trina Schmidt, NSWRFS Zoe Kenyon, AFAC Catriona Freeman, AFAC Ali Martin, CFA-VIC Andrew McCullough, NSWSES Cameron Beresford, AMSA Faye Bendrups, NSESVA Janine Taylor, QFES Jennifer Pidgeon, DFES-WA Jon Kneebone, FENZ

Adair Forbes Shepherd, EMV Barry Howard, FENZ Cheryl Steer, FRNSW David Foot, ACT-ESA Diana MacMullin, SA-SES Eric Claussen, OEH-NSW Geoff Kaandorp, MFB-VIC

Malcolm Connellan, FRNSW

Georgie Cornish, SA-CFS

Lorna O’Dwyer, AFAC

Greg Christopher, BNHCRC

Andrew Pitt, DPFEM

Heather Stuart, NSWSES

Anneliese Smith, DFES-WA

Holly Foster, EMV

Annette Balshaw, FFMV-DELWP

Jim Dittmar, Airservices

Ann-Marie Burgoyne, ACT-ESA

Jim Henry, OEM-NSW

Bernie Scully, QFES

John Gilbert, CFA-VIC

Brendan Mott, FRNSW

Julie Wyner, FRNSW

Brendan Parsey, Airservices

Leanne Adams, SA-SES

Brian Moon, SA-MFS

Lisa Jackson, EMV

Fairlie Morgan, MFB-VIC

Mark Cuthbert, DHA-EMA

Irina Tchernitskaia, CFA-VIC

Meg Lowe, QFES

Jane Abdilla, SAFECOM

Melissa Matthews, AIDR

John Kingsbury, FENZ

Michael Bourne, CFA-VIC

Julian Robinson, NTFRES

Sarah Rooke, QFES

Karen Roberts, DFES-WA

Stuart French, CFA-VIC

Kelly Strange, VIC-SES

Tracy Smith, DFES-WA

Nicole O’Reilly, MFB-VIC

Zoe Mounsey, FENZ

Outgoing Current

Paul Scott, NSWRFS Rachel Treeby, VIC-SES Stacey Naughtin, DFES-WA Susan Jenkins, NSWSES Tom Alexander, NSWSES Tony O’Day, CFA-VIC Troy Morrisby, DPFEM AFAC Manager

Geoff Laidlaw, VIC-SES

Tyron Clark, TFS

Noreen Krusel, AFAC

Deputy Chair

David Falla, MFB-VIC

Timothy Moore, DFES-WA

Mark Thomason, SA-CFS

Chair

Andrew Canderle, NSWRFS

Terrence Farley, FRNSW

Stephen Glassock, NSWRFS

Council Sponsor

Tracey Snoad, SA-MFS

Stephen Boucher, SA-CFS

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING NETWORK

KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION AND RESEARCH UTILISATION NETWORK

05

AFAC collaboration

59

Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

06

60

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

06

Financial highlights

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ˃˃

AFAC has reported a total surplus for the financial year ended 30 June 2019 of $499,862 compared to a surplus last year of $31,487.

˃˃

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

˃˃

Through the National Resource Sharing Centre, AFAC has successfully coordinated two international deployments: 1.

Canadian deployment through the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources

2.

US Deployment through the US Forestry Service

˃˃

The income and expenditure related to the deployment were recognised in the 2018–19 financial year accounts.

˃˃

The members of National Aerial Firefighting Centre Ltd resolved to transfer its assets and liabilities to AFAC effective June 2018 as part of planned merger with AFAC. From 1 July 2018, all NAFC activities and operations have been transitioned from NAFC to AFAC and carried out by AFAC.

˃˃

The AFAC18 conference was conducted at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. AFAC18 was the third conference delivered under the AFAC Conference Pty Ltd partnership and attracted over 2,831 attendees which included the largest number of delegates to ever to attend an AFAC conference.

˃˃

AUDITOR’S OPINION In our opinion the financial report of Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Ltd is in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission Act 2012, including: a.

giving a true and fair view of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Ltd financial position as at 30 June 2019 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and

b.

complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission Regulation 2013.

JOHN S CREFFIELD 21 August, 2019

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) successfully carried out its contract deliverables during the 2018–19 financial year.

61

Annual Report 2018 – 19

AFAC

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Statement of Financial Performance for the year ended 30 June 2019

2019 ($)

2018 ($)

Revenue

40,789,355

16,141,586

NAFC aircraft disbursements

-24,382,675

-

International deployment expenses

-6,928,828

-8,065,336

Salaries and related expenses

-4,773,421

-4,688,144

Occupancy expenses

-579,929

-561,120

Consultancy and management fees

-460,495

-232,249

Travel and meeting expenses

-429,720

-334,483

IT and communication expenses

-386,991

-326,192

Research utilisation expenses

-323,772

-315,941

Centre of excellence expenses

-128,316

-128,496

Predictive services expenses

-85,341

-76,819

Media and promotional expenses

-59,715

-76,832

Legal expenses

-17,418

-23,613

Other expenses

-1,732,872

-1,264,880

499,862

47,481

-

-15,994

499,862

31,487

Surplus for the year

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Net fair value loss on investments Total comprehensive income for the year

62

06

Financial highlights

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Statement of Financial Position for the year ended 30 June 2019

CURRENT ASSETS

2019 ($)

2018 ($)

44,078,311

29,244,161

1,404,360

1,047,479

45,482,671

30,291,640

IT, office equipment and leasehold improvement

1,129,268

1,242,400

Total non-current assets

1,129,268

1,242,400

46,611,939

31,534,040

26,747,898

12,828,243

Revenue in advance

4,558,873

4,506,305

Special project funding

6,597,130

6,109,663

Total current liabilities

37,903,901

23,444,211

Others

742,162

623,815

Total non-current liabilities

742,162

623,815

38,646,063

24,068,026

7,965,876

7,466,014

Cash and debtors Others Total current assets

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Total assets

CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade creditors

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Total liabilities Net equity

63

AFAC is the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services ‘We are here for you’

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