About us

As a department our purpose is to help the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses the Fire and Rescue Service, disaster management services, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

QFES is one department with many services, many capabilities and many partners.

Purpose of the role

Psychological and Support Services (PaSS) facilitates a holistic approach to the management of the psychological, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing of QFES members. As part of the Psychological and Support Services, the Fire and Emergency Support Services Network (FESSN) team works collaboratively with other statewide stakeholders to deliver specialised prevention and intervention services to enable a well-being focused culture and delivering positive mental health outcomes to all staff and volunteers. 

Reporting to the Executive Manager, Psychological and Support Services, you will be a key leader in the implementation and delivery of overarching mental health programs within specific regions, to not only ensure the department meets its obligations to the mental health of its people but works to achieve their optimal mental health outcomes. You will be responsible for providing leadership and delivery of best practice mental health services and programs for staff, volunteers and family members, in collaboration with Program Managers for a consistent statewide approach. This can include but is not limited to triaging people matters, delivery of short-term solution focused counselling, and delivery of training.

Key requirements

Mandatory requirements

• Registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; or 
• Mental Health accredited member of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
   

Highly desirable requirements 

• Qualifications in a relevant field of post-graduate study (e.g. Organisational Psychology) would be highly regarded.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly acquire and apply knowledge of Queensland Mental Health Service delivery, legislation, policies, plans and strategies related to mental health information development.
• Experience leading a mental health service delivery team and/or program within a large and complex government sector organisation. 
• Experience in the development and delivery of evidence-based interventions to manage proactive mental health initiatives and in the mitigation of psychosocial risk.

Your key accountabilities

Your part in the ongoing success of our department, in supporting frontline services will see you responsible for a variety of work, including, but not limited to:

• Lead, manage and contribute to the delivery of best practice mental health services and programs for QFES staff, volunteers and family members (e.g. triaging people matters, delivery of short-term solution focused counselling, and delivery of training).
• Utilise data drawn from regional service delivery statistics and stakeholder consultation to develop regional positive mental health plans with specific deliverable actions and measurable outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with Program Managers to provide consistency, governance and continual development of FESSN services statewide.
• Lead regional support networks (Peer Support and Chaplaincy) including day to day triaging of crisis support to meet effective service delivery objectives. 
• Deliver training, events and workshops for regional workforce, Peer Support Officers and other relevant cohorts to promote positive outcomes across the region.
• Research and prepare complex submissions, briefs, reports and correspondence relating to psychological and support services across the department and industry, in accordance with departmental requirements and governance. 
• Establish and maintain collaborative networks and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to promote positive outcomes for QFES. 
• Represent the department on committees, working groups and whole-of-government forums to build awareness and ensure a consistent approach relating to wellbeing.

Capabilities

To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the following Leadership Competencies for Queensland behavioural profiles that link to the “key accountabilities” for this role:

Leadership Competency Stream – Program Leader (leading teams and/or projects)

Vision

• Leads strategically
• Stimulates ideas and innovation

Results

• Builds enduring relationships
• Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Demonstrates sound governance

Once you join us we will want you to exemplify the QFES shared values of:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Courage
• Loyalty

Want more information?  

Please contact Bernie Scully, Executive Manager on phone 07 3635 3474 or email [email protected].

You can also visit our website to find out more about our organisation.

You can also visit the FESSN website for more information about our Psychological and Support Services. (remove if not required)

How to apply

Please refer to the QFES Public Service Application Guide [All PS Classifications/Streams and Senior Officer] for information on how to apply for this role.

Current QFES employees must apply via their internal careers site.
Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.