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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-05-08 Daily Xml
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METROPOLITAN FIRE SERVICE

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about home safety.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: As we move into the cooler months, education about fire risk in domestic situations becomes more important as people start to use home heaters, electric blankets and so on. There is also concern in the community about inappropriate fire play and behaviour by young people. Is the minister able to provide some details about community education programs offered by the Metropolitan Fire Service?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:17): The Community Education Section of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), which rests within the Community Safety Department, is a dedicated group whose primary aim is to improve fire safety through raising community awareness. As we all know, through education the MFS aims to bring about positive behavioural change to reduce loss of life, injury and property damage. Fire-related fatalities in South Australia occur primarily in a domestic situation, so community education programs aimed at home safety are the key to reducing loss of life and injuries.

The programs have been developed over a number of years and target identified high fire risk groups. Some of those high risk groups include the very young; the elderly; culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities (for example, our recently arrived African humanitarian refugees); alcohol and drug impaired persons; and persons suffering physical and mental disabilities. There are currently 23 programs aimed at targeting these groups.

The main programs include the Road Awareness and Accident Prevention program (RAAP). I have mentioned this program in this chamber previously. This is a hard hitting and highly successful program delivered to young drivers at high schools to highlight the consequences of unsafe driving behaviour. The RAAP program has won numerous awards and accolades for both the program itself and those involved. It currently reaches about 40 per cent of all year 11 high school students. Schools wishing to participate in the RAAP program know that they have to contact the coordinator at MFS headquarters.

Another program is the Juvenile Fire Lighters Intervention Program (JFLIP). Again, I have mentioned this program in this chamber, but concern about dangerous fire-related conduct by young people warrants further mention of this program. Some 22 MFS staff within metropolitan and regional areas are trained as JFLIP practitioners, and they provide counselling to young firefighters to educate them to see the risks of unsafe fire lighting behaviour. The program develops a greater respect for fire and an awareness of its consequences. This program has been running for about 14 years and about 900 families have been assisted.

Last financial year, over 70 young people participated in the program; about one-third in regional areas. The group was predominantly male (93 per cent). As this program works with juveniles, generally between the ages of four and 17, it involves a close partnership with parents or caregivers.

The program has been successful in modifying inappropriate fire-lighting behaviour, with follow up research showing only a 5 per cent reoffending rate. I refer also to another one of the programs, the Hard to Reach Isolated Elderly program, and others. The Community Safety Department staff train health care workers who deliver care services into people's homes. Training is also provided to managers and supervisors of other organisations, such as Housing SA, which represents many of the state's high risk groups.

Another program is in respect of fire safety educational material. Fire safety material, brochures and posters are produced in 12 languages, and information is provided on the MFS website. The website provides a wealth of information about fire safety in the home in particular, and leaflets can be downloaded from the website. Given the approaching cooler weather, of specific relevance is the information provided on the use of electric blankets and therapeutic wheat bags. Other programs include the Adelaide Royal Show and school education programs targeting young children (which members will be familiar with), and the indigenous fire safety and community presentations to various groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The community education section plays a vital role in fostering behaviour to increase community safety and to ensure public safety and requires that the community is educated and informed in all aspects of fire safety.

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