ca updates: ca19 update 16

SCTF Terms of Reference Agreed

I am pleased to report that signatories to CA19 (importantly including your union and Fire and Rescue) have reached agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Safe Crewing Task Force (SCTF).

This means there is a clear and agreed direction on what the SCTF is, what it will do and when, and most importantly for you and your colleagues, what areas the SCTF will look into.

The ToR establishes that the SCTF has been established under the authority of QFES, in accordance with CA19, and that the SCTF functions are supported, resourced and endorsed by QFES.  I welcome this important recognition of the SCTF by QFES. 

I understand the QFES Commissioner is in the near future to publish some information in support of the endorsement, support and resourcing of the SCTF and its functions and I welcome that happening.

The nitty gritty of the SCTF for most of you will come from involvement with the UFUQ Working Group (which will be made up of UFUQ officials, SME’s from across all areas of UFUQ coverage as required, and representatives from Fire and Rescue).  The UFUQ Working Group will lead research into the areas of concern raised by input from you and your colleagues, provided to the state office in December 2019 and January 2020.

The SCTF UFUQ Working Group will focus its efforts on approximately 15 generalised topics, which are a collation of all of the individual matters you put forward to the state office, and I am confident this work will leave no stone unturned.  I will publish specific details on the UFUQ Working Group, the generalised topic areas for research, review and recommendation, and a call for your further involvement, following the initial SCTF meeting which has been booked for 2 March 2020, and then the commencement of the Working Group.

This is an exciting time for all covered by CA19, and has been described by the chair of the taskforce as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to address matters across CA19 coverage.

In conclusion I want to thank those involved in the work to reach agreement on the SCTF ToR, there was much discussion, all of it positive.  

As I mentioned above, I will forward the full details of the UFUQ Working Group to you in mid-March 2020.

John Oliver - General Secretary