Expressions of interest - Impairment Policy development

We’re developing a new Impairment Policy that will support our people to understand how they can contribute to safer working environments and maintain safe working behaviours.  

The policy will provide an approach to managing the effects of conditions, substances or situations that may result in impairment while working or volunteering in Fire and Emergency. Impairment can have severe consequences for our personnel, the communities we serve and our reputation. 

We’re asking for people who want to contribute and be part of this important mahi. 

What's involved? 

The project will develop an Impairment Policy that helps keep our people, communities and sites safe.  

This mahi will incorporate a hazard and risk assessment to ensure we fully encompass managing risks associated with impairment. 

It will also include developing procedures for identifying, reporting and managing impairment that align with operational procedures.  

The project will work closely with key operational and non-operational personnel from across the organisation. We will regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including our unions and associations.  

How can you be involved? 

We’re calling for expressions of interest from people who wish to be involved in this work.   

We want to make sure we include a range of views and perspectives, so we’re setting up an Impairment Policy Working Group that will include representatives from our unions and associations, health and safety reps, volunteer reps via the Volunteer Voice Network, specialist subject matter experts and operational personnel.  We will also receive input from our Eke Taumata Internal Advisory Rōpū.

We’re now looking for eight individuals (a mix of people leaders and employees) who have a strong interest in supporting this work to be part of this working group. We’re particularly interested in understanding your motivation in being part of the group as well as any relevant experience you can bring. 

To ensure a wide range of voices are included, we encourage expressions of interest from operational and non-operational personnel. All work will be online, so location is not a barrier, you just need access to a Fire and Emergency device.  

The work requirements for this working group include attending monthly meetings on Microsoft Teams (online), doing pre-reading and carrying out tasks that may be identified within these meetings – maximum of 5 hours per month between late January and around the end of June 2026.   

Overtime rates as per the CEA will apply where work is required to be completed outside of your rostered shifts for operational personnel.  

If this sounds interesting to you, please discuss with your leader and seek their endorsement before you apply. 

Due to having limited positions available in the working group, we will be shortlisting applications and making final selections based on the information provided in the expressions of interest form. Please ensure you discuss with your leader prior to submitting your EOI.  

Head over to our portal page to learn more: Impairment policy development

Use this form to submit an expression of interest - Impairment policy working group - EOI form(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)(external link)

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 21 January 2026. 

Questions? 

If you have any pātai (questions), please email:  eketaumata@fireandemergency.nz