You may have heard about some changes and new appointments to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ (QFES) Executive Leadership Team. Assistant Commissioner Joanne Greenfield joins QFES from Queensland Health and Gary McCormack has been permanently appointed in his role as Assistant Commissioner.
There will also be several Assistant Commissioner rotations across our regions and services over the coming months. This movement will ensure we remain an agile and modern department that embraces new and innovative ways to better serve our Queensland communities, our partner agencies and our people. Recruitment is currently underway for the new QFES Commissioner with applications closing on July 24.
Queensland’s annual bushfire mitigation exercise Operation Cool Burn is in full swing with QFES working closely with local governments and other partners through Area Fire Management Groups to target high risk locations and communities.
This year, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is predicting a dry and warm winter for many parts of Queensland, which means an early onset of the bushfire season may eventuate in some regions. The BOM’s recent Queensland Bushfire Potential Outlook has also predicted increased fire risk around central, south west and south east Queensland, including the central Queensland coast.
This is supported by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre’s (BNHCRC) recent Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook, which predicted heightened bushfire risk in these areas. QFES has prioritised supporting its partners in delivering hazard-reduction burns and community engagement activities in these high-risk areas.
QFES recently launched Strategy 2030, providing the department with a clear direction to meet the changing needs and expectations of Queensland communities. The strategy contains five principles that will help QFES navigate to its preferred future.
The guiding principles — capable communities, interoperable, intelligence, sustainable and adaptive — will be applied in our everyday decision making before, during and after emergencies.
Many conversations with QFES staff and volunteers, communities, and partner organisations informed the final strategy. A vital part is how we continue to build relationships with important partners such as local government.
For example, the principle of capable communities focuses on local solutions to local problems and working with communities to develop knowledge and practical skills, something we do in close partnership with local governments around Queensland.
The strategy also highlights the importance of communication and engagement in helping us to achieve our guiding principles, ensuring that our approach is people-centric. I am confident Strategy 2030 paves the way for QFES to continue to work closely with local government into the future.
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