Purpose of specific work area and position

Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Districts are focussed on supporting a range of operational and organisational functions in the management of rural fires, enabling field-based staff and volunteers to concentrate on immediate task execution and response. Each District encompasses operational and non-operational staff, RFSQ volunteers and rural fire brigades who provide fire management, mitigation, and response services for rural and semi-rural communities, including some urban fringe areas across the state.

The Area Training Officer role is responsible for the coordination, facilitation, delivery and evaluation of training to volunteers and brigades, in accordance with the annual training plan, while ensuring compliance with Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and organisational audit requirements are met. The role supports training activities across the District, however, service delivery may be focussed to a specific Area within the District. The Area Training Support Officer may be required to assist across the Region.

Reporting to the Manager Operational Training, the role will be embedded within the Areas and will maintain an indirect reporting line to the relevant Area Manager. The role works closely with volunteers as well as other Area and District stakeholders.

Mandatory requirements

• Must meet the mandatory requirements and attributes as outlined in the generic RFSQ Rural Officer Two (RFSO2) role description.

Highly desirable requirements

• 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 (RFSO2) 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:

• Lead the coordination, delivery, facilitation and evaluation of formal and informal training and support additional courses for volunteers, to ensure the volunteer workforce are appropriately trained to carry out their roles.
• Conduct training needs assessments for volunteers to identify gaps in current capabilities, actively seeking input from brigades and Area stakeholders on training requirements.
• Provide Area input into development of the annual training plan for the District, with a focus on volunteers.
• Coordinate onboarding activities for new brigade volunteers, such as inductions, with a focus on building brigade operational responsiveness capability.
• Contribute to training compliance and quality assurance by ensuring training is being delivered, assessed and data entered correctly, adhering to procedural requirements pertinent to the position.
• Attend brigade meetings to provide timely updates and advice relating to training, and responsively develop and implement strategies to address any identified gaps or issues.
• Assist the Manager Operational Training in conducting training evaluation and assurance activities, to support continuous improvement of volunteer training strategies, programs, and curriculum products, as well as compliance with industry and Registered Training Organisation standards.
• Participate in forums, communities of practice and working groups, as required, to support the development of rural fire service training knowledge, skills, and capabilities.

Additional information

• Be able to meet the attributes of the generic RFSO2 role description.
• Rural Officer One (RFSO1) or applicants with equivalent industry experience, appropriate skills, and knowledge, are encouraged to apply.
• Possession of current Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and/or accredited tertiary qualification in adult education or equivalent.
• 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.
• Applicants will:
  • have proven commitment to maintaining bushfire competencies and operating in a team environment.
  • capacity to participate out of hours (i.e. night or weekends) shift roster during disaster operations.
• Thorough knowledge of the concepts, strategies and issues associated with managing rural fire services, particularly in a volunteer environment and have a sound knowledge of and ability to provide operational leadership at emergency situations utilising the AIIMS/IMS methodology.
• Incumbents may be required to travel and work within their area of responsibility and may also be required to undertake intrastate and/or interstate deployment and travel.
• This is a day work position yet may require flexible hours of work to meet functional demands, including working at night on weekends as part of the role.
• Officers appointed to this position will participate in a personal professional development program in conjunction with their supervisor.
• 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.