Fire safety training for supported accommodation.
Over the past 15 years there have been significant improvements in the engineering and the fire safety systems installed in the department’s residential buildings offering 24 hour supported accommodation (including supported disability accommodation, Out of Home Care and Secure Services).

These improvements have removed the necessity for staff to manage all aspects of a fire situation. The strategy now focuses on Safe Place and Safe People; the safety of people as a first priority is addressed through safe engineering controls, supported through an effective evacuation procedure and allowing the installed equipment to manage any fire. The use of first attack emergency equipment (that is, portable fire extinguishers etc.) by staff is no longer recommended as part of fire and emergency management.

The department’s Fire and emergency preparedness and response procedures and training framework (the Framework) provides a generic framework for the management of fire, emergencies and evacuations in properties owned by the Department of Human Services and in which staff provide supported accommodation services.

Supported accommodation services are properties defined by the department’s 2013 Capital development guidelines - series 7 and includes:

7.3 Secured facilities
7.4 Supported community – based houses (supported disability accommodation)
7.5 Congregate care facilities (Disability Services & Children, Youth and Families)
7.7 Community – based houses (Children, Youth and Families - Out-of-home care)

The Framework document sets minimum standards for documenting or delivering fire and emergency response procedures and training; management structures that should be in place; content of fire, emergency and evacuation procedures; and the training that should be provided.

The department has developed a number of learning resources, skills maintenance resources, and other resources to assist organisations to meet these minimum standards set out in the Framework.