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SETTING A NEW DIRECTION FOR FPA AUSTRALIA
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PAUL WATERHOUSE
FPA Australia
A strategic plan for the next five years, Directions 28 is the product of extensive thought, discussion, and consultation with the FPA Australia Board, staff, members, and stakeholders about the future role and direction of the organisation.
The process sought to define how we would deliver greater safety for the community and ensure the viability and success of the industry by asking key questions:
Who are we?
What do we do?
Where do we want to be in five years’ time?
Who are we?
FPA Australia is both a national peak industry body and a charitable institution.
Our almost 1,800 members cover the breadth of the industry, from those who make and supply fire protection systems to those who design, install, or service them.
We provide services and support to around 30,000 people, all in the interests of reducing the risk of fire, and have the support of both government and industry for our key vision of a safer community.
What do we do?
FPA Australia covers several different functions:
as a member organisation, we provide a broad range of distinct services and support to our industry
as a peak body, we actively represent and advocate for fire protection
as an accrediting authority, we work to improve the quality and accountability of fire practitioners
as a technical organisation, we seek to make regulations and standards better and easier to understand
as a registered training organisation, we’re upskilling current and future fire practitioners
Where do we want to be in five years’ time?
The aim of our strategy is to position FPA Australia for ongoing success. This means that, as a memberfocused industry association, we want to:
be the first point of contact and ‘membership organisation of choice’ for all fire industry-related matters
deliver clearly defined career pathways from ‘student to retirement’
advocate successfully for the establishment of a national skills framework
deliver a fit-for-purpose membership model that delivers more value
be the ‘voice’ of members, communicating and representing their interests
be recognised by all levels of government as the pre-eminent source of fire industry advice
help to deliver simpler, more relevant regulations and standards
encourage innovation and industry improvements
contribute to tangible reforms that improve the industry.
Seeing STARS
If we are to realise our goal of becoming the trusted partner for everything to do with fire protection and prevention, we need a clear structure.
This is where the STARS comes in. STARS forms the basis for everything we do, allowing us to position ourselves as the ‘voice of the fire protection sector’ and to ensure that the services and support we provide is of tangible value and benefit for the industry.
S Skills development Delivering skills-based training that builds capacity and capability and supports and strengthens a ‘world class’ fire protection industry.
T Technical advice Supporting industry knowledge by giving advice to FPA Australia members about leading practice fire protection for the Australian community.
A Accreditation and licensing
Implementing and managing professional schemes that raise standards and qualifications and provide clients with confidence across the various roles and services of the fire protection industry.
2023 priority:
To develop, implement, and promote industry skills pathways from ‘student to retirement’.
2023 priority:
To enable access to trusted, competent, and effective technical advice to protect people and prevent fire.
2023 priority:
To ensure that accreditation schemes are appropriately mapped, resourced, implemented, and communicated, with clear pathways to qualifications.
R Representation and advocacy
Being ‘the voice’ of our members and the wider industry by representing them in forums with stakeholders, government departments, and agencies, and advocating about relevant fire protection industry matters.
S Services to members Ensuring that members receive value from their membership, have access to the services they need, are able to participate in FPA Australia events, and are informed about important issues. The goal is to remain relevant and local.
2023 priority:
To be recognised as the pre-eminent source of advice in relation to fire industry matters.
2023 priority:
To deliver an enhanced value proposition to increase membership and professional accreditation.
These underpin our strategy for the future, provide a focusing lens for our work, and form our value proposition to members, ensuring that we remain relevant, local, and a great place to work.
Directions 28 will form the basis for our strategic work, goals, and objectives over the next five years, providing a framework and focus for all of our activities.
To see a copy of Directions 28, visit www.fpaa.com.au/media/344836/ fpaa_directions_28-final.pdf
