RIT - Monthly Newsletter February 2024

Welcome to the RIT February update. We’re off and racing towards the finish line, and we will be there sooner than we know!

We want to ensure you know what is changing and understand what your future operating state will look like. Please take a moment to get comfortable and join us as we provide updates on recent developments.

RIT

Standby for Broadcast

Join Acting Assistant Commissioner Marcus Hill for our February edition of standby for broadcast. The A/C is answering the questions you are asking. What has happened in the past month? Have we encountered any roadblocks? What is ahead of us next month?

Check out the video below.

Welcome to the new Chief Officers!

Let us give a warm welcome to Mark Armstrong (SES) and Tony Wulff (MRQ).

The two Chief Officers will oversee the State Emergency Service (SES) and the soon to be established entity Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). These Chief Officers will be responsible for the strategic and operational guidance of the SES and MRQ as entities within the QPS Disaster and Emergency Management portfolio.

It is important to note that once established, QPS members will not have line control of any SES or MRQ paid or volunteer members and established activation protocols will remain.

Parliamentary Committee Sitting

On Monday 12 February, Acting Assistant Commissioner of the RIT, Marcus Hill, SES Acting Assistant Commissioner Brian Cox and MRQ Business Reform Coordinator Greg Ringuet answered questions at a Public Briefing into the proposed Emergency Services Reforms Amendment package.

The package consists of:

• The Emergency Services Reform Amendment Bill 2023
• State Emergency Service Bill 2023
• Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023

These bills will provide various protections to volunteers, while ensuring Queensland's emergency services providers are equipped with the resources and organisational structures needed to keep Queenslanders safe in times of disaster and emergency.

The next step in the legislative process is the second reading of the Bills, which is anticipated to occur on 7 May 2024.

Click here to watch the CSSC Parliamentary Briefing from 12 February 2024.

Do you have a question? We have the answer!

The reforms teams across all agencies have been compiling frequently asked questions throughout the duration of the reforms.

Did you know they are available right here on ForGov? Broken down by their agency to ensure you can find the answers you are searching for.

Visit ForGov today to get the answers you need

Nominate a volunteer for an award today!

Celebrate and recognise our incredible volunteers! 

Nominations are being taken for the 2024 Queensland Volunteering Awards by Volunteering Queensland

Nominate today to capture the incredible work done by our volunteers who dedicate their time, knowledge and experience in keeping Queenslanders safe, where ever they are.

Finalists are invited to attend the Queensland Volunteering Awards in Brisbane during National Volunteer Week. 

Nominations close on 31 March 2024. Visit the website for more details.

RIT Steering Committee update

RIT-27 - CLOSED

SteerCo approved the request to close RIT-27 as the Office of the Inspector General of Emergency Management (IGEM), the State Disaster Coordinator and the State Recovery Coordinator will be partnering with the Department of Premier and Cabinet to address the deliverables of this RIT

RIT-14 - QPS Disaster Management Budget

SteerCo endorsed the request to submit a letter to the Premier and Treasurer to draw down on $20M of centrally held funds for the EMCC to operate in 2024-25. This letter will go out in March with 3 other funding requests included in the letter for SES, MRQ and QPS Corporate Services.

RITs 04, 13, 15, 18, 19 and 26

SteerCo approved proposed changes to the definitions of delivered. The Government  decisions and Definition of Delivered PDF on the RIT home page was updated with these changes.

Disaster Management

Collaboration at its finest

Disaster Management teams continue to respond and support the safety of all Queenslanders and visitors, as Queensland continues to battle disasters. The commitment of our people is a testament to their preparation, training and their personal drive to keep every Queenslander safe.

To reinforce this message, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Minister for Police and Community Safety, Mark Ryan attended the SDCC alongside the respective Commissioners for both the QPS and QFES.

The RIT DM Project Team is continuing to progress the planning for Phase 3 of the DM Project which includes the transition of functions from QFES to QRA, the transition of DM information technology systems from QFES to respective agencies and the transition of the final relevant DM functions from QFES to the QPS.

State Emergency Service

Onboarding approach, People Hubs and the SES Bill

Work is underway to define the on-boarding approach for volunteers and staff. On-boarding for volunteers and staff will involve training and information on policy and procedure, systems and required training products (for staff). Further information about this can be viewed via the townhall link.

Prior to that an overview of how our corporate services will be provided in the future was shared. Part of the corporate services model is people hubs which will provide services to the State Emergency Service, the future Marine Rescue Queensland and the Emergency Management and Coordination Command.

A working group was established to progress the model with representatives from the various services. The People hubs will be an important interface into QPS corporate services. They will consist of services for volunteers and staff, which include Work Health and Safety, workplace wellbeing and culture.

The future SES Act is crucial to ensure Queenslanders have the right foundations and legislative framework. Public submissions closed on the 31 January 2024.  The first public briefing has been held and an additional public hearing is scheduled for 4 March 2024, but not yet confirmed.

Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Recovery and transition efforts continue

The QRA Reform Implementation Team continues to progress internal design for the incoming functions transferring from QFES to QRA, as well as ongoing engagement with QFES.

QRA continues to assist local communities with recovery efforts from the recent disasters in Queensland and remains committed to no degradation of service throughout the disaster and emergency management reforms.

Marine Rescue Implementation Program

Phase 1 Transition 
Ten transition sites have been identified to form a Phase 1 Transition group. The group builds on the learnings of the Desktop Pilots undertaken in 2023, adding a regional lens to ensure we understand the particular and distinct attributes and needs of each region.

The 10 transition sites were identified via a range of criteria including location, state of readiness, and sentiment towards joining MRQ.

Leaders of change launched

Establishing a brand-new entity will bring change for our volunteers.

To implement change effectively, a team of trusted peers gathered together to deliver information, communicate key changes and support the upcoming change.  We understand the importance of volunteers being able to provide feedback and have key program knowledge to share with their teams.  To embed this approach, the Leaders of Change network has been established, the members first met on 5 February 2024.

Email us at marinerescue@police.qld.gov.au to find out more or to nominate your unit’s LOC.

Queensland Fire Department

Implementation phase commencing

The focus of reform has now moved towards planning for implementation and the critical activities required to transition services and move to the Queensland Fire Department from 1 July 2024.

The recent live-streamed QFD February Townhall was an opportunity for the Special Coordinator Steve Gollschewski to inform current QFES (and future QFD) staff and volunteers about the overall vision for the reforms and how we will continue to work together and provide an update on the legislative process.  

The Acting Commissioner introduced new QFD executives who have recently commenced and provided details about the indicative implementation timeline.  All QFES senior executive leaders presented at the Townhall on what has been happening across their streams, what has been settled or decided, and explained next steps for implementation.

Share your feedback on the QFD vision

The proposed vision, purpose and strategic objectives of the new QFD have been released. 

Staff and volunteers are encouraged to consider the proposal and provide feedback through the survey (closes 30 March 2024).

These insights will be used to strengthen work in establishing the QFD Strategy, the QFD Strategic Plan 2024-2028 and corresponding Service plans.

Support your leaders, so they can support you

While we all have a part to play in the success of the QFES Reforms– QFES Executive, senior leaders, and managers play a critical role in leading QFES staff and volunteers through the process.  A range of tools and resources are being provided to support our leaders to successfully lead their teams during this time of significant change.

New Fire Department to call Albion home in 2025

In 2025, the Queensland Fire Department will move its state headquarters to 240 Sandgate Road, Albion. The entire site will be leased including 10 floors, carparks and surrounding land. 

The new office will bring together more than 500 QFD state level executives and corporate staff currently located across offices at Kedron, Albion and Brisbane city.

QFD will continue to have a presence at the Kedron Emergency Services Complex, along with the Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Police Service. 

The move to the new premises, formerly the TAB building and marketed as Hudson Common, is prompted in part due to machinery of government changes and desired reform outcomes.

QFES has also been considering its future options for many years with issues around accommodating growth at the Kedron facility and the need to lease other properties in Brisbane.

Consolidating the headquarters and three other office locations will deliver better value for money, provide room to grow and enable better collaboration between staff.

Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services, The Honourable Nikki Boyd issued the Ministerial Media Statement on 14 February 2024.

Visit ForGov for information, news, videos, upcoming engagement opportunities and events.

Have any questions, comments or concerns? Please contact us. We value your feedback.

Last updated:

26 February 2024