Implement the Knowledge Management Strategy

Latest Status Report

The Need

The industry is facing a number of external drivers:

• The impacts of climate change with the potential for prolonged and extreme events
• Increased scrutiny by Government and the community of the fire and emergency services agencies
• Demographic change
• Declining rural communities
• A decreasing volunteer workforce
• An ageing workforce with many senior personnel due for retirement

A key challenge for the industry is to ensure that the insights, experience and knowledge gained by so many people over a lifetime are available for future generations.

In response to this, AFAC has established knowledge management as a sustainable and important AFAC business activity.

Benefits and Strategic Alignment

The AFAC Knowledge Management approach and strategy “Thinking Requires Knowledge: An approach to Knowledge Creation” was endorsed by the AFAC Council in April 2009.

Actions to commence implementation of the AFAC approach to Knowledge Management fall into four categories:

• People
• Content
• Process 
• Technology

New initiatives will provide opportunities for AFAC members and at times, non-members, to share and learn from each other.

While the implementation of the Knowledge Management Strategy will involve the delivery of a number of initiatives, the majority of the work over the next 12 to 18 months will be on the development of a professional development event series which will be developed into a sustainable business activity for AFAC.

The Knowledge Web is a primary enabler of the AFAC Knowledge Management Strategy.

Proposal

An annual calendar of professional development events will be developed and targeted to AFAC members and at times, non-members. Events will be held around the various States and Territories in Australia, and in New Zealand, to maximize opportunities for members to participate. These professional development events will:

• Support Bushfire CRC research adoption.
• Facilitate the uptake of knowledge management across the industry
• Provide new opportunities for knowledge exchange and transfer

In addition, a series of professional development events will be held preceding the Annual AFAC/BCRC Conference, with the conference format also being revised.

A Guideline has been developed that articulates the types of events AFAC will deliver, the purpose of these events and how they will be run.

The events program will be:

• Developed over the period Jan 2010 to June 2011
• Subject to 6 monthly reviews.
• Flexible enough to incorporate new events on an ad hoc basis
• Supported by a range of learning and information resources.
• Supported by a marketing and branding strategy

An Awards program will also be designed to recognize individual and agency Knowledge Management initiatives, particularly in relation to the identification and promotion of knowledge innovation within an agency.

Consultation

The AFAC Knowledge Management Group contributed to the development of the Strategy and has provided input into the development of the professional development program.  AFAC Group Managers have also been consulted and have proposed topics for events.

The Bushfire CRC research adoption area has provided significant input into the development of the professional development program with many events jointly presented by AFAC and the Bushfire CRC.

Other organisations involved in the development of the professional development program include:

• Fire Protection Association of Australia
• Emergency Management Australia

Governance

There is a high level of support for this project across AFAC and the Bushfire CRC.

The proposed governance of this project is:
Project Owner: Naomi Brown
Project Manager:Amanda Leck, AFAC Manager of Knowledge Innovation
Project Team:

• Noreen Krusel, Research Adoption Manager, Bushfire CRC
• Amanda Leck, AFAC Manager of Knowledge Innovation

For more information on this project contact Amanda Leck, AFAC Manager of Knowledge Innovation