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❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the roles, training, and policies related to Department of Conservation and Land Management officers in national parks, with the answer detailing extensive training programs and HR policies.

AnsweredQoN 784Legislative Assembly

Asked

8 August 2001

Member

Hon P G Pendal

Portfolio

the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Are officers of the Department of Conservation and Land Management employed in some national parks throughout the State?
(2) What roles do they fulfil?
(3) What training programs are in place to ensure such officers can provide relevant information and assistance to tourists visiting the national parks?
(4) Is there a policy in place to train an officer to provide specific information relating to a park to which he/she has been newly appointed?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

16 October 2001

Responded by

Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Response time

69 days

2. Departmental officers perform a wide range of duties that include: Interpretation activities Fauna and fauna surveys Visitor risk management assessment and remedial action Fire management Fee collection Customer service Building and grounds maintenance Road and walk trail maintenance Cultural and heritage site maintenance Disease management, regulatory roles Weed management Site planning Project management Contract management 3. Since 1995 National Park Rangers have been recruited from the Graduate Field Officer Recruitment program. The minimum entry qualification is Certificate IV in Land Management. The majority of recruits have science degrees in environmental management or science. Graduate Field Officer Recruits appointed to the Department are required to attend 14 weeks of competency based training, conducted in blocks of three to four weeks, in the first two years of appointment. Learning programs include: First aid Supervisors course Driver training Chainsaw maintenance and handling Fauna management CALM Occupational Health and Safety Law enforcement Fire management Incident control systems Interpretation activities Recreation, planning and management Health and fitness Conversing with the community Field surveying Public participation The nationally accredited recreation, planning and management course provides extensive training in providing assistance to visitors in natural areas as does the interpretation activities course which focuses on communicating with visitors. 4. In addition to the programs listed in (3), the Department's human resource policy and procedures establish a requirement for all staff to be given the induction and orientation necessary for them to fulfil their responsibilities.
4. In addition to the programs listed in (3), the Department's human resource policy and procedures establish a requirement for all staff to be given the induction and orientation necessary for them to fulfil their responsibilities.

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