Engaging with safety, health and wellbeing

Published: 04/03/2024 | Safety, Health & Wellbeing | National

Fire and Emergency is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our people. One of the ways we do this is by providing opportunities for our people to engage, participate and represent on safety, health and wellbeing matters.

Our safety, health and wellbeing engagement and participation structure has three main roles to represent our people’s feedback and views on safety, health and wellbeing matters.

The roles are:

Health and Safety Representative (HSR)
- An HSR is a worker who has been voted by their Station or members of their work group to represent them in safety, health and wellbeing matters.
Health and Safety Advocate (HSA)
- An HSA is a volunteer worker who represents other FENZ volunteers on safety, health and wellbeing matters.
Union or Association Representative/Delegate
- A Union or Association Representative/Delegate is put forward by their respective union or association.

Each of these roles are required to:

Provide leadership in representing and advocating for our people’s safety, health, and wellbeing.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, fellow volunteers, people leaders and union or association representatives to foster positive safety, health and wellbeing outcomes.
Help to identify and notify safety, health and wellbeing risks and issues.
Promote good practice and engagement in safety, health and wellbeing initiatives.
Communicate with leaders within the organisation.

If you are interested in hearing more about these roles or you would like to be a HSR or HSA, please contact your Region’s Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisor(external link).

Nomination and elections for HSR and HSAs

The nomination and election of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) happens every two years (or when a position becomes vacant), in line with formal agreements and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).

Health and Safety Advocate (HSA) nominations and elections happen when a position becomes vacanct.

For more information about the nomination and election process, please refer to Section 4 of the Safety, Health and Wellbeing Manual [PDF, 343 KB].

Training and development opportunities

Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) – career and paid non-operational staff

HSR’s complete Unit Standard 29315 – Introduction to the HSR role. The training provides an HSR with the knowledge and skills they need to perform the role effectively. HSRs are also entitled to annual training, which is at least two-days paid leave to attend initial or additional training and opportunities to attend external events. Any additional training must support an HSR to perform their role.

Health and Safety Advocate (HSA) - volunteers

HSA training is held by regions throughout the year and facilitated by our Region Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisors. There are also opportunities to attend external events from time to time.

Safety, Health and Wellbeing Committees

We have many Safety, Health and Wellbeing (SHW) Committees, covering all areas of our organisation. Our SHW Committees include employee and/or volunteer representatives and provide a forum to support the ongoing improvement of safety, health and wellbeing for our people. They meet regularly to discuss items of interest, SHW concerns, safety issues to be resolved or escalated and to celebrate achievements.

Our SHW Committees are typically made up of a Union and Association Representative/Delegate, HSR’s or HSA's, operational management, and subject matter experts (as required).

The chart below shows our SHW Committee structure.

Minutes from your relevant Safety, Health and Wellbeing Committee meetings are available on the Portal here Safety, Health and Wellbeing Committee information page.

For further information about opportunities to engage, participate and represent, please see Section 4 of the Safety, Health and Wellbeing Manual [PDF, 343 KB].

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