❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding technician recruitment and salary increases within the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). The Minister provides details on recruitment timelines, budget, and contingency plans.
AnsweredQoN 1197Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES — TECHNICIANS
1197. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to question without notice 1142 and the recent
reports that salaries for Department of Fire and Emergency Services mechanical
and auto-electrical technicians will increase by as much as 25 per cent.
(1) Noting
that several of these vital roles have been vacant for over a year, why was a decision
not made to raise salaries and commence a recruitment campaign sooner?
(2) When did the recruitment campaign commence and when will
it conclude?
(3) What is
the budget for the recruitment campaign, and will the minister please provide a
breakdown of how this is being spent?
(4) What
arrangements are in place to maintain capability during this high-threat period
if recruitment is not immediately successful?
1197. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to question without notice 1142 and the recent
reports that salaries for Department of Fire and Emergency Services mechanical
and auto-electrical technicians will increase by as much as 25 per cent.
(1) Noting
that several of these vital roles have been vacant for over a year, why was a decision
not made to raise salaries and commence a recruitment campaign sooner?
(2) When did the recruitment campaign commence and when will
it conclude?
(3) What is
the budget for the recruitment campaign, and will the minister please provide a
breakdown of how this is being spent?
(4) What
arrangements are in place to maintain capability during this high-threat period
if recruitment is not immediately successful?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services paid
an attraction and retention incentive to the technicians whilst a work
value review and bargaining for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Fleet and Equipment Services Agreement 2022 was ongoing. DFES does not have the
authority to increase or advertise salaries and wages outside of those existing
frameworks.
(2) The DFES fleet technician roles were initially
advertised in 2022 for a 12-month period as a pool recruitment process.
A new recruitment campaign commenced on 22 September 2023 following the
registration of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Fleet and
Equipment Services Agreement 2022. This campaign will be in the market until 12
December 2023.
(3) The total
budget allocated for this recruitment campaign is $200 000, approximately $130 000
for media placement and $70 000 for production costs.
(4) DFES has
in place a number of arrangements with multiple service providers for appliance
maintenance support for DFES operations for the 2023–24 southern
high-threat period.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services paid
an attraction and retention incentive to the technicians whilst a work
value review and bargaining for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Fleet and Equipment Services Agreement 2022 was ongoing. DFES does not have the
authority to increase or advertise salaries and wages outside of those existing
frameworks.
(2) The DFES fleet technician roles were initially
advertised in 2022 for a 12-month period as a pool recruitment process.
A new recruitment campaign commenced on 22 September 2023 following the
registration of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Fleet and
Equipment Services Agreement 2022. This campaign will be in the market until 12
December 2023.
(3) The total
budget allocated for this recruitment campaign is $200 000, approximately $130 000
for media placement and $70 000 for production costs.
(4) DFES has
in place a number of arrangements with multiple service providers for appliance
maintenance support for DFES operations for the 2023–24 southern
high-threat period.
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