Key performance indicators

CONTENTS
STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION AUDITOR GENERALS OPINION FESAS OUTCOME STATEMENT EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 1 Local Government Fire Protection Rating System KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 2 Number of residential fires per 100,000 persons KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 3 Response times KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 4 Proportion of structure fires contained to room of origin KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5 Human costs of flood, tropical cyclone, storm, earthquake and tsunami hazards KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 6 Organisational capability to deliver timely, quality and effective services - Training
- Fire and Rescue Urban Volunteer Brigade Profiling - FESA training courses, competencies and numbers

136 137 138

139

140

141

143

144

144

successfully completed:

EFFICIENCY INDICATORS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 7 Weighted average cost per prevention service KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 8 Emergency Services: Average cost per operational personnel ready to respond to an emergency 153 151

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STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION

We hereby certify that the performance indicators are based on proper records, are relevant and appropriate for assisting users to assess the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia performance and fairly represent the performance of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia for the financial year ended 30 June 2004.

M Barnett FESA BOARD CHAIR

W N N Forbes ACTING FESA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

23 August 2004

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FESAs vision is to achieve a safer community through: its mission: Working in partnership with the people of Western Australia to:
- improve community safety practices; and - provide timely, quality and effective emergency services.

meeting its strategic intentions:

- Community-centred emergency management (composed of prevention, preparedness,

response and recovery initiatives);

- Sound business practices; and - Quality people services.

ensuring that its outputs (prevention and emergency services) produce FESAs agreed outcome for the Western Australian community.

FESAS OUTCOME STATEMENT

The impact of human and natural hazards on the community of Western Australia is minimised.

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EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 1
Local Government Fire Protection Rating System

Local governments are responsible for minimising the impact of fires through the administration and maintenance of bush fire brigades (Bush Fires Act 1954). Currently, 122 local governments hold this responsibility. FESA assists local governments by providing training and advisory services to bush fire brigades. The Local Government Fire Protection Rating System (LGFPRS) shows the extent to which local governments meet recommended fire protection standards, appropriate to hazards and risks. The relevant FESA district manager assesses each brigade area using a standard rating system made up of 19 indicators grouped into three categories fire prevention, operations and training. The current assessment determines whether the local government has established: fire prevention plans, policies and fire break orders; brigade rules, local laws, standard operating procedures and response plans; its own response plans; a five-year equipment replacement strategy; and an appropriate training program.

In Table 1 a summary of the 2003-04 assessment for all local governments is shown compared with results for 2002-03. Figure 1 shows achievement levels over the past seven years.
TABLE 1: LOCAL GOVERNMENT FIRE PROTECTION RATINGS
MAJOR CATEGORIES MAXIMUM RATING POINTS ASSESSED RATING POINTS 2003-04 2002-03 Fire Prevention Operations Training Total 366 1,342 610 2,318 231 1015 339 1,585 211 970 301 1,482 LEVEL ACHIEVED (%)

2003-04 63.1 76 55.6 68.59

2002-03 57.6 72.3 49.3 63.93

* Maximum of 1 rating point for each of 19 categories for 122 local governments in 2002-03 and 2003-04. All ratings are as at June of each year.

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FIGURE 1: LOCAL GOVERNMENT FIRE PROTECTION RATINGS

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Level achieved (%)

Fire Prevention 1997-98 2002-03

Operations 1999-00

Training 2000-01

Total 2001-02

1998-99 2003-04

NOTE: Comparison of assessed rating points with maximum rating points.

By focusing on areas of importance, FESA has influenced improved performance. Results demonstrate steady improvement in each category and in overall results. Since the first data collection in 1997-98, the level of achievement has increased over 20%.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 2

Number of residential fires per 100,000 persons Prevention Services are one of FESAs principal outputs. Provision of these services is through FESAs focus on community-centred emergency management. Public awareness of hazards and community involvement in minimising their impact is the impact of these services. Individuals and the wider community are encouraged to take greater responsibility for fire safety. Prevention and awareness campaigns are offered. These include: WinterSafe, SummerSafe, FireSafe Dry Season, as well as Smoke Alarm Awareness and the Fire Inside Out education program. Effective prevention services have the potential of impacting on the incidence of residential fires. However, considering external factors and time lags, the relationship between prevention services and residential fires will at best be a partial one. Reporting the number of residential fires per 100,000 persons acts to control for population changes, which in Western Australia, comprise an annual increase generally between 1-2%. In 2003-04, Fire and Rescue Service brigades and bush fire brigades attended more than 26,700 primary incidents, of which 941 were residential fires. For 2003-04, the number of residential fires per 100,000 population was 48. Over the past eight years, the level has been maintained in the order of 46 to 55 fires in any one period. Figure 2 indicates the steady level of fires per 100,000 people.

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FIGURE 2: NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL FIRES PER 100,000 PEOPLE

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 3

Response times

SCOPE OF RESPONSE INDICATORS As most Fire Services emergencies occur in the Perth metropolitan area, reported response times are for incidents within FESA metropolitan brigade areas where career brigades provided the primary response. As response time statistics for incidents in country areas and those attended by volunteer firefighters are subject to different control procedures, these are not included in the assessment. The community expects quick response to emergency incidents not only to minimise their impact, but also to demonstrate community satisfaction with our services. Response time indicators are provided for four major classes of emergencies: Property fires (Figure 3); Grass, scrub, bush and rubbish fires (Figure 4); Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents (Figure 5); and Rescues (Figure 6). In summary, excellent response times have been maintained. In general, faster responses are observable for property fires.

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FIGURE 3: RESPONSE TIME TO PROPERTY FIRES

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8

% of incidents

2002-03 2003-04

Minutes

FIGURE 4: RESPONSE TIME TO GRASS, SCRUB, BUSH AND RUBBISH FIRES

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8

% of incidents

0-9

>9

2002-03 2003-04

Minutes

FIGURE 5: RESPONSE TIME TO HAZMAT INCIDENTS

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8

% of incidents

0-9

>9

2002-03 2003-04

Minutes

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0-9

>9

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

FIGURE 6: RESPONSE TIME TO RESCUES

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
0 0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8

% of incidents

2001-02 2002-03

Minutes
NOTE: Response time is measured as the duration from the time stamping of an incident by a FESA Communications Centre operator (ie. the incident is confirmed as an emergency) to the arrival at the scene of the emergency.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 4

Proportion of structure fires contained to room of origin

The percentage of fires where damage is confined to room of origin is a measure of effectiveness in combating property fires. Prompt detection and rapid response, plus the use of effective firefighting techniques, make a significant difference in the percentage of fires contained. It is impossible to contain 100% of these fires because of uncontrollable factors including weather and traffic conditions as well as the time elapsed before notification of an emergency. However, Figure 7 indicates a steadily increasing trend to the year 2002-03. There was a slight drop in 2003-04 in the percentage of properties with damage confined to the room of origin. Currently, 68.5% of structure fires have damage confined to the room of origin.

FIGURE 7: PROPORTION OF STRUCTURE FIRES WITH DAMAGE CONFINED TO ROOM OF ORIGIN

80
% of fires with confined damage

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

0-9

>9

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5

Human costs of flood, tropical cyclone, storm, earthquake and tsunami hazards The State Emergency Service responds to five major natural hazards flood, tropical cyclone, storm, earthquake and tsunami. The report of deaths and serious injuries caused by these events is a partial indicator of the effectiveness of emergency services. In particular, this relates to the preparedness and response activities undertaken in partnership with local communities. The total number of events is combined in Figure 8. No deaths or serious injuries were recorded in 2003-04. Moreover, for the seven years before 2003-04, the number of recorded deaths was one or zero and there were no serious injuries. This does not include the death of a State Emergency Service volunteer during a rescue in Karijini National Park, near Tom Price. The natural environment is inherently variable and the total of hazard events changes from year to year because of this factor. There were only 21 hazard events in 2000-01, but 104 were recorded during 200102. Hazard events increased again to 133 in 2002-03, but fell during 2003-04 to 93. The relationship between hazard frequency and the incidence of deaths/injuries is not a cause and effect one. Nevertheless, better preparedness for hazards directly affects minimisation of the hazards impacts. Examples of preparedness are undertaking response planning and evacuation procedures.
FIGURE 8: TOTAL HAZARD EVENTS, DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES
140 120 Number 100 80 60 40 20 0
1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

events

deaths

serious injuries

NOTE: For all years, there have been no serious injuries. One death was recorded in1996-97 and 1998-99.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 6

Organisational capability to deliver timely, quality and effective services - Training Developing and enhancing the competencies of staff, volunteers and community members impacts significantly on FESAs capacity to deliver effective services. Provision of training therefore contributes significantly to FESAs vision of a safer community. Due to FESAs focus on training, more community members are prepared and capable of dealing with emergency incidents. In 2001-2002, FESA Fire and Rescue Service introduced the concept of volunteer brigade profiling for its urban volunteer brigades. A brigade profile is a common set of key skills/competencies that the volunteers in a brigade should possess in order to function safely and efficiently at operational incidents. Profiles which detailed required and actual levels of competency achievement for volunteer Fire and Rescue Service brigades were reported in 2001-02 and in 2002-03. Work also commenced on development of competency profiles for FESA State Emergency Service.

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Most emergency services organisations rely heavily on the commitment of volunteers and FESA is no exception. Without the dedication of volunteers, the resources required to effectively manage emergencies could not be provided. Profiling has been developed in order to give a fair representation of the capacity of volunteer brigades to respond to incidents, and to identify areas where FESA should concentrate its attention. Another indicator of performance related to profiling is demonstrated in Tables 1-5, which show the number of FESA personnel and community members achieving competence or qualification in FESAs core training programs. As noted in last years report, a number of weaknesses had been identified in the concept of profiling as it applied in the initial phase of implementation. In addition, training throughout Australia has been undergoing major structural changes. This has impacted on the Fire and Rescue Services ability to develop and provide targeted training which would meet the particular needs of volunteers. As profiling is intimately linked with volunteer training, this had in turn adversely impacted on our ability to apply profiling concepts as broadly as we would like. During the last 12 months many of these underlying issues have been resolved and considerable developmental work has therefore been undertaken to redefine the profiling concepts and to match these adjusted concepts with a new volunteer curriculum that is currently under development. In the 2002/3 annual report it was foreshadowed that a new approach to profiling would be structured around each brigade having numbers of volunteers qualified to undertake key roles (e.g. wildfire firefighter, incident controller, structural firefighter, etc). The majority of these role requirements have now been developed and it is hoped that the remainder will be finished within the immediate future. An example of a role requirement for a wildfire firefighter is provided in Table 2.

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TABLE 2: OPERATIONAL ROLE REQUIREMENTS: WILDFIRE FIREFIGHTER

1. Has a broad understanding of wildfire behaviour and is able to apply that knowledge effectively in practice,
e.g. understands:
- How materials burn and how heat is transferred; - The factors that affect basic wildfire behaviour; and - Extremes of wildfire behaviour that could be a danger to the individual firefighter.

2. Has sufficient knowledge and skills to be able to maintain personal safety and survival at a wildfire incident,
e.g. understands:
- Protective clothing and equipment; - How to protect themselves from unexpected events (e.g. sudden wind shifts); - Safety features and equipment and emergency procedures; - The impact of and protection from heat related illnesses; and - Hazards related to wildfires (e.g. working with vehicles or heavy machinery, working near power

lines, understanding briefings, etc)

3. Is able to act safely and efficiently in an unsupervised manner, or as a member of a team at a wildfire
incident.

4. Able to apply a range of wildfire suppression practices (i.e. both wet and dry) and can apply them
effectively in an incident context, for example:
- Operates brigade suppression equipment effectively; - Can operate hand tools; - Use normal wildfire suppression agents; and - Understands basic wildfire firefighting tactics.

5. Understands operational chain of command/control structures in a wildfire context. 6. Can effectively operate the operational communication systems available to the brigade and can apply
them functionally in a wildfire incident context.

7. Has basic map reading skills and can utilise them effectively in a wildfire operational context.

Once these role requirements are completed, volunteer Fire and Rescue Service brigade profiles will then be determined on the basis of these role requirements. For example, Table 3 outlines the likely minimum profile for a volunteer urban brigade based on role requirements.

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TABLE 3: MINIMUM PROFILE FOR A VOLUNTEER URBAN BRIGADE

ROLE REQUIREMENT REQUIRED NUMBERS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE BRIGADE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THAT ROLE COMPETENTLY AND SAFELY

Wildfire Firefighter Structural Firefighter Road Rescue Firefighter Hazmat Firefighter Driver Pump Operator First Aid Firefighter Incident Controller (Type 1)

6 6 5 5 3 5 3 2

The FESA Training Centre will be asked to develop training courses/subjects which will enable the brigades volunteers to perform these roles safely and efficiently. The major advantage with this system is that the overall profile does not have to be varied every time there is a minor adjustment to training courses or subjects. The profiles become relatively fixed. At the same time the exposition of a role requirement enables the course/subject developers in the training environment, to more closely match training development to operational needs. In the longer term these advantages are seen as justifying the major changes that will take place and the delays in detailed reporting that have been experienced over the reporting year just completed. By the beginning of the 2006 calendar year, it is hoped that nearly all of these changes will be firmly in place with role requirements and associated training being available to all volunteer urban brigades. From January 2006 onwards it should then be possible to closely monitor the profiles of all Fire and Rescue Service brigades. In addition to overall brigade profiling, work has also begun on the concept of minimum crewing at incidents for volunteer urban brigades. Whilst a brigade profile ensures that a brigade has sufficient trained volunteers to cover its incidents, it is no guarantee that it will enable it to adequately cover each particular incident with sufficient numbers of trained personnel. Data which is available indicates that many volunteer brigades have trouble mustering sufficient trained crew during certain periods (e.g. working hours during weekdays). This is caused by such things as volunteers not being able to be released during working hours or working at some distance away from the location of their brigade. During the coming 12 months it is intended to work on a system which will enable crewing at incidents to be monitored. The introduction of a dual system of this kind (i.e. brigade profiling and minimum crewing at incidents) will, it is believed, lead to greatly enhanced volunteer safety in the longer term. BUSH FIRE BRIGADE PROFILING Whilst FESA Fire Services is not responsible for the crewing and training of bush fire brigades, it is under the FESA Act required to develop plans for and provide advice on, the management and use of emergency services. In this regard, FESA has recommended that local governments with bush fire brigades adopt profiling for their brigades. To date nearly all outer metropolitan and country shires with bush fires brigades have been approached regarding the adoption of profiling. At this point 45% of them have indicated that they are prepared to adopt profiling for their bush fire brigades. Whether or not they make profiling an inherent part of their operational procedures, is a matter for each shire to determine, but FESA is available to assist them with any issues that may arise.

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Table 4 updates the information presented in the 2002-03 Annual Report on profiling for urban volunteer brigades. In broad terms, there have only been minimal changes to this data in the 2003-04 reporting year. This in part reflects the unavailability of certain volunteer training courses. The implementation of the revised profiling approach outlined above means that future reporting will gradually alter in order to reflect these revised arrangements.
TABLE 4: DEGREE TO WHICH URBAN VOLUNTEER FRS BRIGADES MEET PROFILING REQUIREMENTS
Competency Area Total volunteer brigades in sample Average profile number required Average actual profile of brigades No. of brigades meeting profile requirements No. of brigades with a shortfall No. of brigades with a 100% shortfall in profiling numbers 2 No. of brigades with a 50-100% shortfall in profiling numbers No. of brigades with a 0-50% shortfall in profiling numbers

Induction Training Introduction to Firefighting Wildfire Skills Vehicle Rescue Skills Hazmat Competencies Incident Command & Leadership Senior First Aid Skills Breathing Apparatus ICS AIIMS

98

7.89

15.01

73

25

17

98 98 98

7.89 7.89 6.42

13.72 6.81 9.39

86 36 72

12 62 26

0 17 5

3 21 10

9 24 2

98

6.49

8.68

68

30

11

16

98

3.59

2.51

27

71

27

16

28

98

3.91

0.85

91

86

98 98

6.49 2.18

9.52 0.29

88 16

10 82

0 70

2 7

8 5

NOTE: figures are as of 30 June 2004. Ninety-eight volunteer brigades are included in the sample for all competencies. Given this number is close to 100, the percentage of brigades meeting requirements or with a shortfall will be similar to the numbers specified.

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FESA TRAINING COURSES, COMPETENCIES AND NUMBERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

FESA FIRE SERVICES

TABLE 5: FESA FIRE SERVICES CAREER TRAINING 2003-04
NUMBERS ACHIEVING COMPETENCE OR QUALIFICATION 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

TRAINING ACTIVITY

Skills Enhancement Program Certificate II Firefighting Operations Certificate III Firefighting Operations Certificate IV Firefighting Operations Operational Management Program

652 33 0 11 9

550 22 23 23 8

818 31 55 2 12

The Skills Enhancement Program is delivered annually according to training needs. The key skill areas of the 2003-04 program included urban search and rescue (USAR), training for chemical biological and radiological (CBR) hazards, air operations and hydrant flow measurements.
TABLE 6: FESA FIRE SERVICES VOLUNTEERS 2003-04
NUMBERS ACHIEVING COMPETENCE OR QUALIFICATION 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

TRAINING ACTIVITY

FESA Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Training and Education Curriculum FESA Bush Fire Service Core Training Program Public Safety Training Package

2,234

1,570

665

3,177 N/A

3,904 80

2,944 26

Fire Services volunteer firefighter performance indicators are reflected in the competencies achieved in the two volunteer firefighter training programs and the Public Safety Training Package.

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FESA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE

TABLE 7: FESA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE PREVIOUS TRAINING SYSTEM

NUMBERS ACHIEVING COMPETENCE OR QUALIFICATION 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

TRAINING ACTIVITY

Level 1 Specialist Skills Level 2 Team Leader of Specialist Skills Level 3 Instructors of Specialist Skills

955 68 39

1,231 31 81

800 33 61

TABLE 8: FESA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE NEW COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING SYSTEM

NUMBERS ACHIEVING COMPETENCE OR QUALIFICATION 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

TRAINING ACTIVITY

Level 1 Specialist Skills Level 2 Team Leader of Specialist Skills Level 3 Instructors of Specialist Skills

367 0 70

820 0 70

841 0 131

FESA SES indicators illustrate the number of volunteers and staff successfully completing courses at the three training levels. The large volume of participants gaining specialist skills (eg airborne observation; cliff, flood and road crash rescue; land search; roof safety; storm damage; and chainsaw operation) is in accordance with SES operational requirements. In 2003-04, the FESA Training Section SES successfully developed and implemented Training Resource Kits (TRKs) in Communications Voice Procedures, Workplace Assessor (version two), Train Small Groups (version two) and Land Search Team Member. Another TRK, Air Observer was completed in consultation with Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR). The FESA Training Section is also near implementation of the Storm Damage Operations TRK and the Operations Room Team Member TRK. The FESA Training Section SES also in 2003-04 successfully developed and implemented Navigate in Urban and Rural Environments, a TRK linked to the Public Safety Training Package. Currently under development and due for completion in the next six months are another five TRKs: Road Crash Rescue, Technical Rescue, Local Manager, Basic Rescue Skills and General Rescue. VOLUNTEER MARINE RESCUE SERVICES There are currently 157 volunteers engaged in training in TAFE colleges throughout the state. Some volunteers are undertaking the complete Certificate III in Volunteer Marine Rescue Services while others are undertaking only particular modules. FESA COMMERCIAL TRAINING One of the key components of community-centred emergency management is to increase the communitys preparedness to respond effectively to workplace emergencies. In 2003-04, FESA Commercial Training delivered courses to over 1,523 personnel from health-care, manufacturing and mining organisations across the State. Table 9 represents the activities of Commercial Training over the past three years. In 2003-04, FESA Commercial Training produced 40 written evacuation procedures for a corresponding number of Western Australian organisations. To reinforce this essential aspect of workplace safety, FESA

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also conducted 290 evacuation instruction and fire safety sessions with the participation of more than 7,188 workplace employees.
TABLE 9: COMMERCIAL TRAINING
NUMBERS ACHIEVING COMPETENCE OR QUALIFICATION 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

TRAINING ACTIVITY

Workplace Emergency Response Training (including Fire Warden / Extinguisher courses) Emergency Operations Training

94 / 81

181 / 57

423 / 35

4,391

1,646

1,523

NUMBERS PROVIDED TRAINING ACTIVITY 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

Provision of written evacuation procedures Provision of evacuation instruction and fire safety demonstrations

29

25

40

37

242

290

FESA CORPORATE TRAINING FESA also provides training programs for executive development and organisational skills. Study assistance is provided for attendance at post secondary courses.
TABLE 10: CORPORATE TRAINING
NUMBERS PROVIDED TRAINING ACTIVITY 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

Executive Development Program Key Organisational Skills Training Study Assistance Scheme

1 238 18

2 164 37

4 213 53

EFFICIENCY INDICATORS
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 7
Weighted average cost per prevention service In order to form one composite indicator covering the majority of FESAs prevention related activities, appropriate output-based efficiency measures have been selected and weighted. Weightings were originally established from costs for 1999-00 as supplied in the 2000-01 Budget Papers. Current measures correspond with prevention services reporting in the 2004-05 Budget papers. The weighting system is proportional. As the majority of prevention expenditure is directed towards community prevention/awareness campaigns, a weighting of 1 was applied to this output. Comparatively, the smaller weightings for emergency management services training and explosive inspections

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represented the difference in unit cost of these services. For the year 2002-03 explosive inspections were outsourced and are no longer part of the equation. They are reported for the last time this year as a zero factor. As noted in the 2003-04 Budget, in addition to community prevention/awareness campaigns, previous Budget reported on the production of media prevention/awareness campaigns. Following the increasing alignment of these areas, the two output measures were amalgamated in 2001-02. Consequently, all media campaign costs are now consolidated in the one community prevention/awareness measure. Figures for previous years have been adjusted to enable current assessment of the prevention services total and average cost.
TABLE 11: PREVENTION EFFICIENCY MEASURES AND WEIGHTINGS
INDICATORS WEIGHT 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 1999-00

Number of community prevention / awareness campaigns delivered Nominal contact hours for participants undertaking emergency management services training programs 0.0002 Weighted: 2.0 Number of two-person teamdays for explosive inspections 0.0025 (a) Raw: 0 (a) Raw: 0 Weighted: 1.8 Weighted: 1.6 Raw: 596 Weighted: 1.5 Prevention services total 23.0 21.8 21.1 Weighted: 1.5 Raw: 771.5 Weighted: 1.9 22.4 Weighted: 1 Raw: 871.5 Weighted: 2.2 22.2 Raw: 9,9027 Raw: 8,936.5 Raw: 8,021.5 Raw: 7,729.5 Raw: 5,166 1 21 20 18 19 19

(a) As indicated last year, this service phased out during 2002-03. The outsourcing of explosive inspections was completed ahead of schedule and FESA has a regulatory and advisory role only. No explosive inspections were conducted by FESA this year and therefore there can be no calculation of this component in the efficiency measures.

TABLE 12: AVERAGE COST PER PREVENTION SERVICE

2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 1999-00

PREVENTION SERVICES

23.0

21.8

21.1

22.4

22.2

TOTAL PREVENTION EXPENDITURE $000 AVERAGE COST PER PREVENTION SERVICE $000

15,155

13,652

13,483

12,840

12,336

658.913

626.238

639.004

573.214

555.675

The average cost has only risen three percent since 2001-02, the year of the previous highest expenditure.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 8

Emergency Services: Average cost per operational personnel ready to respond to an emergency The output quantity measure used to determine emergency services efficiency is formed by the number of operational personnel ready to respond to an emergency. In total, operational staff and volunteers numbered 27,451 in 2003-04 and 29,120 in 2002-03. An ongoing review of volunteer status and the establishment of more accurate personnel records systems have had a large impact on the numbers in 2003-04.

TABLE 13: AVERAGE COST PER OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL READY TO RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY
2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 1999-00

Number of operational personnel ready to respond to emergencies Total expenditure $000

27,451

29,120

26,771

26,339

24,792

129,637

100,348

93,847

90,707

87,148

Average cost per operational personnel $

4,722.49

3,446.02

3,505.54

3,443.82

3,515.16

FESA and local governments are improving the systems of recording active volunteer numbers. The apparent loss of more than five per cent operational personnel this year is actually the establishment of a more accurate base line of total numbers. With the introduction of the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) in July 2003, the accuracy of record systems is being improved. Transfers, resignation and moves of volunteers are being resolved to prevent double counting and other inaccuracies. These improvements are leading to a more accurate appraisal of the cost per personnel. The average cost has increased as the ESL now provides an additional $12.5 million in local government grants for bush fire brigades and SES units. It also requires associated levy costs of $10 million and cost of awards $7.2 million for salary increments.

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