EB&Co is seeking input from all current staff and volunteers over the age of 18. Previous TFS or SES staff/volunteers who left the organisation during or since January 2021 are also invited to participate by making a written submission.

There are different ways current TFS and SES staff and volunteers can participate in the Review. 

• Participating in a small group listening session facilitated by the Review team. These will take place online in October. To book a session, please visit our bookings page here which has further details.

• Providing a written contribution via our confidential email address [email protected]. Submissions are open from 1 August  – 31 October 2024. Former staff and volunteers are also invited to participate via written submissions. 

• Completing a confidential online survey. The survey is now open and members should have received an email on 30 September from the Social Research Centre about participating in the survey. If you arae a TFS or SES staff member, you can only access the survey through the link you were emailed. If you are a volunteer for either the TFS or SES, you will have received a link via email, however you can also visit the TFS or SES intranet to find a QR code link to the survey. 

• Confidential 1:1 interviews are now fully subscribed.   

EB&Co is interested in hearing about the full range of experiences of working at the Tasmania Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, including positive and negative experiences and your ideas to strengthen culture across the Services. 

FAQ – What is the definition of culture?

Culture is the unique environment that defines ‘the way we do things around here,’ encompassing the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that shape an organization or group. For an individual, culture is experienced through what they see, hear, and feel, and this experience can vary widely based on their role, team, location, and personal attributes such as ethnicity, gender, age, and more. Workplace culture, in particular, influences how employees interact and approach their work, and what behaviours are accepted or rewarded. A strong, positive culture drives motivation, fosters collaboration, and enhances job satisfaction, while a negative culture can lead to disengagement and hinder performance.

The Review is being conducted by Elizabeth Broderick & Co (EB&Co).

EB&Co is a specialist consultancy focusing on high-level strategic consulting and transformation, particularly in the areas of gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and cultural renewal.

The EB&Co Review Team is made up of individuals of diverse backgrounds, each of whom bring deep expertise in conducting cultural reviews of workplaces across Australia and globally.

EB&Co are conducting confidential 1:1 interviews throughout September and October 2024 with current staff and volunteers via video conference or phone. These sessions are an opportunity for you to confidentially share your experiences, views, and suggestions for change.

Please note, bookings for 1:1 interviews are fully subscribed and are now closed. If we can answer any questions on this process, please email us at [email protected]  

Further details

Interview participants can bring a support person to the interview.

Written notes will be taken by the Review Team. No identifying information will be used in reporting, and only the EB&Co Review team will have access to any notes made. Interviews are not recorded.

EB&Co acknowledges that discussing bullying, harassment, racism, and issues of discrimination can cause distress and discomfort. If you experience distress or discomfort while participating in this Review, you can choose not to answer certain questions, skip questions, or stop participating at any time.

EB&Co will be conducting small group listening sessions with staff and volunteers In October 2024. A range of times will be made available. Bookings are now open.

Group listening sessions will be facilitated by the EB&Co Review Team.

Written notes will be taken by the Review Team. No sessions are recorded.

These sessions are an opportunity for you to confidentially share your experiences, views, and suggestions for change in a small group.

Further details

EB&Co acknowledges that discussing bullying, harassment, racism, and issues of discrimination can cause distress and discomfort. If you experience distress or discomfort while participating in this Review, you can choose not to answer certain questions, skip questions, or stop participating at any time.

EB&Co will administer an online survey to gather information about the lived experience of working in the Tasmania Fire Service and the State Emergency Service. The online survey will be open shortly and further details on how to participate will be available at a later date.

Volunteers and staff will receive email communication from the Social Reserach Centre once the survey is open.

The survey will collect information on the observations and experiences of workplace culture and harmful behaviours including bullying, sexual harassment, everyday sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination and exclusion. It will also seek to understand people’s knowledge and experience of positive culture and leadership, and the reporting and complaints processes.

The survey is strictly confidential.

The results of the survey will be included in the final report of the Review.

You can share your experiences by providing a written contribution via email to [email protected].

It is helpful if the written contributions address the specific criteria covered by the Review.

Your written contribution can be as long or as short as you like, and we are interested in hearing about both positive and negative experiences of working at the Tasmania Fire Service and State Emergency Service, alongside your ideas for strengthening workplace culture.

Alternatively, you can mail your written contribution to:

GPO Box 396,
Sydney, NSW 2001

Please note that by providing a written contribution you are not making a complaint or report.

Written contributions close on 31st October 2024.

If you choose to contribute to the Review by participating in a confidential 1:1 interview, a small group listening session, EB&Co will ask you questions about:

• the workplace culture of Tasmania Fire Service and the State Emergency Service workplaces;
• the risk factors contributing to harmful behaviours including bullying, sexual harassment, everyday sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination and exclusion for staff and volunteers at Tasmania Fire Service and State Emergency Service workplaces; and
• your awareness of relevant policies, practices, processes and supports.
• your experience of positive culture and leadership, and what works well in your organisation.

EB&Co acknowledges that discussing harmful behaviours can cause distress. If you experience distress or discomfort while participating in this Review, you can choose not to answer certain questions, skip questions, or stop participating at any time.

If you would like to be involved in the Review and want to discuss how EB&Co can support your involvement by providing appropriate supports and/or adjustments, please contact us at [email protected]

Personal Information

By providing a written contribution to this Review, you consent to EB&Co collecting and using the information you provide for the purposes of the Review. Information you provide will be de-identified and held in strict confidence – you will not be named publicly, nor will personal identifying details be shared with the TFS or SES.

EB&Co will produce a report on the findings of the Review to the State Fire Commissioner at the end of March 2025.

EB&Co will treat your name and personal information confidentially. Your name and other personal or identifying information will not be published in the report, or in any other EB&Co publication. The information you provide may be drawn upon, quoted or referred to in the public report and other resources produced by the EB&Co in connection with the Review, but will not be attributed to you, and will not be used if its use could identify you.

Reporting Obligations

In certain circumstances the EB&Co Review team may be obligated under relevant State and Territory laws to report to the relevant authorities an act that involves an act that is a ‘serious indictable offence’. This is known as ‘mandatory reporting’. Mandatory reporting obligations may also arise in cases of suspected risk of future abuse or harm. Whether mandatory reporting obligations are triggered in the course of this Review will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The State Fire Commission has commissioned EB&Co to undertake the Review.

EB&Co is an independent organisation with extensive experience conducting cultural reviews of complex organisations and workplaces. Further information about EB&Co can be found on our website.

EB&Co will share its findings and recommendations in a report to the State Fire Commission by the end of March 2025. The State Fire Commission will have a process in place for disseminating findings and next steps to the TFS and SES.

If you would like any further information or have any questions concerning this Review, please contact EB&Co at [email protected].

If your situation is urgent and you wish to report a criminal offence, contact 000 or police services in your jurisdiction.

Support line

If you are a Tasmania Fire Service or State Emergency Service employee or volunteer you can access support via DPFEM’s Wellbeing Support which is available 24/7 by calling 6173 2873 or emailing [email protected].

Other services:

Australian National Support services

1800RESPECT
National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
Telephone: 1800 737 732

Beyond Blue: Anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention support service
Telephone: 1300 224 636

Lifeline: Crisis support and suicide prevention
Telephone: 13 11 14

Headspace: Supports young people aged between 12 and 25 years of age
Telephone: 1800 650 890

Kid’s Helpline: Counselling service for those aged between 5 and 25 years of age
Telephone: 1800 55 1800