What we examined

Our review followed one line of inquiry:

1. Are public entities transparently reporting the performance of their major projects against cost, time, scope and benefits?

To answer this question, we surveyed 15 of the 19 entities in scope for this review and examined 113 selected major projects.

Appendix A lists agencies’ formal letters of response to this review along with their recommendation action plans. Appendix G contains the entity responses to our survey.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix D: Respondent demographics for our FRV staff survey.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix C: Audit scope and method.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix B: Abbreviations, acronyms and glossary.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix A: Submissions and comments.

FRV's recruitment process for firefighter applicants includes a health screening. The health screening involves tests that help FRV assess if an applicant is fit for firefighting duties. But FRV has not fully documented its process. And it does not consistently follow its current process when it identifies a mental health condition.

FRV based its screening criteria on guidelines that have limited information about mental health and firefighters’ work. It is working to modernise its screening process. This includes developing an updated medical standard.

FRV does not have a mental health strategy. This limits its ability to strategically identify, monitor and manage mental health risks across the organisation in the short and long term. FRV can also improve how it collects, analyses and uses data to inform decisions. 

FRV does not assess psychosocial hazards and their risks. It also does not monitor staff's cumulative exposure to trauma, but it plans to address these gaps.

Covered in this section:

FRV provides mental health services, training and information to all its staff. In our survey, staff who accessed services for an emotional or a mental health issue in the last 12 months said they found them 'quite' or 'extremely' useful.

Overall, FRV staff reported better experiences of mental health support compared to staff in comparable organisations. 

We made 6 recommendations to address our findings. Fire Rescue Victoria has accepted these recommendations.

What we examined

Our audit followed 2 lines of inquiry:

1. Does Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) effectively support and promote a mentally healthy and supportive workplace and culture?

2. Does FRV proactively identify, monitor and manage its employees' mental health and wellbeing risks?