Volunteer Professionals - NSW Rural Fire Service - NSW Government

05 OBJECTIVE
For the review period, business development initiatives grew more strongly
than the previous year. There was a balance between visitors coming to
Australia and some projects where Service personnel travelled overseas.
Inbound projects involved delegations from China and Bhutan, while
outbound teams visited China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New
Guinea and Croatia. Potential projects were identified in Indonesia, Taiwan,
the Philippines and South Korea. The potential for domestic business
opportunities is also being explored through commercial fire management
projects on behalf of local land managers.
A major strengthening of the relationship with China resulted in negotiation
of a formal agreement to commit to a multifaceted co-operation program
involving exchange of officers, commercial training, language and culture
development and forest fire research. Negotiations are well advanced and it
is anticipated that a document will be signed in the coming year.
Strategic partnerships were formed and strengthened with Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF),
AusAID, International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) and the World
Bank. The alliance with ITTO opened access to forestry management
agencies in both producer and consumer countries with the potential for
identification of more business opportunities. The alliance with ASEAN HTTF
remains one of the Service’s most important, giving access to current
political and strategic thinking on fire and smoke haze pollution across the
South East Asia region.
The Minister established the Environmental Agencies Consortium (EAC)
during the reporting period. This clearing house for all NSW government
emergency management agencies has a special interest in international
projects. The EAC has the potential to greatly strengthen multi-agency
approach to environmental projects in developing countries. A significant
success of the EAC was demonstrated in the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between Bhutan and New South Wales giving agreement to
co-operation on a range of areas of common interest, including forest fire
management.
On behalf of the Australasian Fire Authorities Council the Service completed
a comprehensive series of nationally recognised learning manuals for fire
and emergency training in general industry. Commercial income derived
from this project was used to supplement income for the Service’s core
training activities.
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NSW Rural Fire Service Annual Report 2001/02