Purpose of specific work area and position

The Bushfire Resilience and Operational Support Branch sits within the Strategic Capability Division of the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) and leads strategic and operational asset management, bushfire mitigation strategy and land use planning resilience for the RFSQ. The Bushfire Mitigation function comprises operational and non-operational staff with expertise in four key areas – mitigation strategy, first nations capability development, environmental ecology (natural and cultural), and landscape fire policy.

As a Bushfire Mitigation Officer [First Nations] Mitigation Strategy, you will be responsible for providing operational and cultural expertise to support Bushfire Mitigation Officers in the Districts in undertaking mitigation planning, implementation, and evaluation. You will also provide oversight of state-wide bushfire hazard mitigation culture and traditional burning support to Traditional Owners, their communities, and stakeholders. You will support fire management groups, Volunteer Community Educators, Fire Wardens, brigades and rangers, and coordinate community education and engagement.

Reporting to the Executive Manager Bushfire Mitigation, you will provide expertise, coaching, consultation to Area and District personnel regarding cultural protocols to enable effective working relationships with Traditional Owners and their communities. The role works closely with Managers of Bushfire Mitigation in the Districts, as well as a range of internal and external stakeholders across bushfire mitigation and landscape fire policy.

Identified position
This is an identified position. Under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), it is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent to be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. This recruitment process is only open to applicants who identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people without this attribute will not be considered.

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is one who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and either:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
• is accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which they live.

Mandatory requirements

• All persons applying will be required to provide a letter of provenance to confirm you are of Aboriginality/ or Torres Strait Islander descent.
• Must meet the mandatory requirements and attributes as outlined in the generic RFSQ Rural Officer Two (RFOO2) role description.

Highly desirable requirements

• Can demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders from rural and near rural communities.
• Knowledge of, or experience working with volunteers and/or within a volunteer organisation.

Primary duties

This RFSQ Role Specification Statement appends to the generic RFSQ (RFOO2) role description (key accountabilities and capabilities), and provides clarity on the duties of this role, and will see you lead by example and model QFD values and behaviours in the delivery of the responsibilities of the role, which includes:

• Utilise Indigenous cultural fire management and/or cultural burning practices to enhance Indigenous governance systems for fire and biodiversity.
• Lead community education in bushfire prevention and preparedness, including collaboration with regions on brigade initiatives and community events, ensuring activities are tailored to Community needs.
• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of initiatives and partnerships to support Indigenous communities and groups to develop, enhance, maintain, and apply traditional fire knowledge and practices.
• Support the statewide coordination and delivery of bushfire mitigation activities by Traditional Owners, rangers, brigades, and partners.
• Support the Managers of Bushfire Mitigation and Bushfire Management Officers in the development of plans and strategies to reduce bushfire risk in their districts, with a particular focus on protection of First Nations identified values. This will include supporting local risk assessments, and supporting the development and implementation of bushfire risk mitigation plans for Indigenous communities.
• Undertake the role of Fire Warden for an Area/s or District (where vacancies exist and after appropriate training).
• Support the Executive Manager Bushfire Mitigation and other mitigation unit personnel to monitor and evaluate bushfire risk, identify current fuel loads, and coordinate bushfire mitigation strategy and hazard reduction activities to ensure QFD strategic objectives and operational capabilities are met.
• Support the management of culturally appropriate collection of data on environmental conditions and mitigation activities to enhance bushfire risk analysis, including leading the completion of fuel hazard assessments.
• Support district personnel in management of Locality Specific and Area Fire Management Group meetings and other relevant bushfire committees or working groups, as required.

Additional information

• Be able to meet the attributes of the generic RFOO2 role description.
• Rural Officer One (RFOO1) or applicants with equivalent industry experience, appropriate skills, and knowledge, are encouraged to apply.
• Volunteers and external parties with appropriate skills are highly encouraged to apply, noting that they may be asked to provide additional information to satisfy internal policies.
• You will be required to travel to and work within regions and may also be required to undertake interstate travel.
• Applicants will have five weeks leave a year, there is a range of special leave so the employee can attend cultural activities and attend to family related matters.
• Officers appointed to this position will participate in a personal professional development program in conjunction with their supervisor.
• We are looking for someone who has a proven commitment to maintaining skills, connection with the land and can work in a team environment.
• This Role Specification Statement is linked to the generic role description, that provides the ‘key accountabilities’ and ‘capabilities’ to be addressed by the applicant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review this role specification statement with the role description and consider the requirements when preparing their application.

​​​​​​​Note: Where there is a conflict between the Role Description and the Role Specification Statement, the Role Description will prevail.

• More information on how to apply is provided in the relevant QFD Application Guide.