Page 2874 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015

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The strategic reform agenda aims to achieve the following outcomes: to integrate risk management into planning and decision making; to respect the identity of our four operational services but to operate as one cohesive whole; to continually improve our services to the community; to use performance information to improve what we do and how we do it; to modernise our governance arrangements; to evolve our leadership and people skills; to demonstrate an inclusive and supportive culture; and to reflect the diversity of our community in the ESA workforce.

Overall this strategy will allow the ESA to continue to deliver first-class services to our community on behalf of the government.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary, question, Dr Bourke.

DR BOURKE: Minister, how do these reforms complement the work the ESA is doing to support the diverse workforce and progress the women in emergency services strategy?

MS BURCH: I thank Dr Bourke for his question. As the first female Minister for Police and Emergency Services in the ACT I am proud to oversee and have a portfolio responsibility for the Emergency Services Agency and I have a keen interest in ensuring successful delivery of the women in emergency services strategy. The women in emergency services strategy is a critical element of the overall strategic reform agenda, and improving the representation of women in emergency service activities will be a key focus over the coming years.

To support this focus the ESA is working through the development of a strategy, the pathway to a diverse and inclusive workforce, and the overarching aim of that document is to provide greater visibility and opportunities for collective learning, for contributions from personnel within the ESA and all the while working to achieve the broader intention of a more inclusive and diverse workforce. The pathway will include some longer term goals focusing on key themes of messaging and marketing, policy, recruitment standards and training. These goals incorporate moving the focus to make sure that we have a diverse and inclusive emergency services agency here in the ACT.

The women in emergency services strategy is a good, positive step forward to a diverse workforce and I am looking forward to seeing the difference this strategy makes in the coming years.

Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Supplementary answers to questions without notice

Public housing—waiting lists

MS BERRY: During question time on 11 August 2015, I took a series of questions from Ms Lawder and Mr Smyth in relation to the public housing waiting list. In response to the members’ questions, I can inform the Assembly that there is no separate waiting list for management-initiated transfers or out-of-turn transfers; they are included on the transfer list under clause 28(2) of the public housing rental assistance program, which says:


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