Public Administration

Public Safety

Employers in this sector cover a range of services with occupations and careers in the major agencies responsible for the protection, security and safety of all Australians.

• Defence
• Australian Police Forces
• Metropolitan and Country Fire Services
• State Emergency Services
• Emergency Management
• Aquatic Search & Rescue

The Public Safety industry sector requires a highly skilled workforce able to work in very specialised operations, within hazardous environments by highly trained operational personnel using advanced technology, risk management, committed teamwork and high awareness of personal risk and protection.

Public Safety Training Package PUA00

The Public Safety Training Package (PSTP) reflects the wide range of skills and qualifications applied to work in public safety. The latest version of the PSTP is Version 7, which was endorsed on 12 March 2009. For further information, click to view http://www.governmentskills.com.au

The Public Safety industry sector includes in WA major employing agencies such as:

WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE ACADEMY

The Western Australia Police is responsible for policing the largest single police jurisdiction in the world, an area covering 2.5 million square kilometres with a structure comprising three regions, 14 districts and 162 police stations. Click to view http://www.policeacademy.edu.au

The Police Academy lies adjacent to two major tertiary institutions – West Coast College of TAFE and Edith Cowan University – the Academy is part of the Joondalup learning precinct and it shares facilities with both institutions.

Training Providers are approved by the Commissioner of WA Police to deliver Security training. Only qualifications listed by these training providers can be accepted for licensing purposes in WA.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY (IALES)

IALES is a collaboration between West Coast Institute of Training and the Western Australia Police. IALES is located within the Joondalup Learning precinct. Click to view www.iales.wa.gov.au

FESA (Fire & Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia)

FESA facilitates the development and maintenance of emergency management arrangements for the State and provides advice and support on emergency management issues to key stakeholders at the local, State and national levels.

Since its introduction in 1999 FESA has enhanced both provision of emergency services to the Western Australian community and support for more than 30,000 volunteers and 900 career firefighters around the State.

The emergency services volunteers and career personnel who are supported by FESA respond to a range of hazards – bush and structural fires, incidents involving hazardous materials (chemical, biological, radiological), floods, storms, cyclones and earthquakes. Emergency services personnel also undertake searches and rescues on land and at sea.

FESA not only helps improve the State’s capability to respond to hazards but also undertakes wide-ranging programs to help the community:

• prevent hazards such as fires and
• mitigate the effects of others such as cyclones, storms and floods.

FESA’s responsibilities are wide ranging. To find out more please search the FESA website – http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au

FESA provides training and development services to its volunteer and career staff, ensuring they are able to perform emergency prevention and response duties proficiently and competently within the WA community.

FESA’S Training Centre – located at 547 Dundas Road, Forrestfield – provides a wide array of training resources for FESA staff and firefighting volunteers and State Emergency Service volunteers.

To help the community prepare, prevent and respond more efficiently to emergencies, FESA also provides specialised training to organisations in the private and public sectors.

Through a special joint venture with FESA, TAFE colleges around Western Australia provide members of volunteer marine rescue groups with qualifications to effectively undertake marine search and rescue operations.

Through its Emergency Management Services (EMS) division, FESA also provides and facilitates emergency management training to help government and non-government organisations improve their capacity to mitigate against, prepare for, and recover from emergencies.
Topics in this area of training include emergency risk management, emergency management for local government, post-emergency recovery and evacuation management. Seminars are also run regularly on emergency management-related topics.

Please visit the EMS website for more information on emergency management training and development opportunities.
Click on the FESA website for further information on different areas of training provided by FESA:

• Career firefighter training
• Corporate training
• Emergency Services Cadets training
• Volunteer training

Corrective Services

Correctional Services Training Package CSC07

The Correctional Services Training Package (CSC) describes the range of skills and qualifications required for the supervision and management of offenders and detainees in the criminal justice system. The latest version of the CSC is version1, which was endorsed on May 2007. For further information, click to view http://www.governmentskills.com.au

The Department of Correctional Services

The Department of Correctional Services began operating in February 2006. The department contributes to community safety by upholding the integrity of custodial and non-custodial sentences and by positively influencing offender behaviour to reduce re-offending.

The department’s outcome is to provide a safe, secure and decent corrective services which contributes to community safety and reduce offenders’ involvement in the justice system. This is further defined through the department’s business outcomes which are:

• Contributing to community safety
• Reducing re-offending
• Contributing to community wellbeing through our service activities
• Fulfilling our obligations as a government agency through operational compliance and enhanced capability

To find out more please search the Department of Corrective Services website –http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au

The Department is Western Australia’s fourth largest public sector employer.

It provides a variety of services to government and the community, delivered by almost 4000 people in a wide range of interesting and challenging positions.

It operates at some 22 locations within the Perth metropolitan area and 27 regional areas throughout Western Australia, providing a range of career and lifestyle opportunities for enthusiastic and committed people.

The Department is committed to offering a stimulating and rewarding workplace where you could be involved in any of our core functions:

• Providing psychological, nursing or educational / vocational training services to offenders
• Managing adult and juvenile offenders in the community and in custody
• Assisting people who are victims of crime.

So if you think you have what it takes to part to contribute to this key service for the Western Australian community, there could be a position for you.

Take a look at our Careers in the Department page – it may be your first step towards a new and rewarding career.

Public Sector

Overview

The Western Australian State Government (also known as the WA Public Sector) is a diverse and dynamic group of over 200 agencies that work together to provide a wide range of services to the people of Western Australia.
The WA Public Sector is comprised of:

• Government Departments;
• Statutory Authorities;
• Government Trading Enterprises;
• Central Agencies; and
• Independent Offices.

Collectively, these agencies are responsible for providing all West Australians with the best services and information in:

• Health, Community and Education
• Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries
• Corporate Services (eg: Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology)
• Recreational Services and Tourism
• Emergency and Protective Services
• Science, Technology and Engineering

The WA Public Sector is one of the largest employers in WA, employing over 145 000 people across Western Australia. Around 25% of its workforce is based in regional areas.
Some of the largest agencies within the WA Public Sector include:

• Department of Education and Training
• Department of Health
• WA Police Service
• Department of Corrective Services
• Department of Environment and Conservation
• Department for Child Protection
• Disability Services Commission
• Department of Agriculture and Food
• Department of the Attorney General
• Department of Treasury and Finance

The occupational group of Administration Professionals and Clerical is the 3rd largest occupational group in the WA Public Sector, representing just over 20 000 employees or 18.5% of its metropolitan workforce and 3 500 employees or 14% of its regional workforce.
For further information, visit the Public Sector Commission’s website to download the Profile of the WA Public Sector Workforce.

Careers in the Public Sector

Visit www.jobs.wa.gov.au to view the hundreds of job opportunities – both full time and part time - available in the WA Public Sector. With 700-800 jobs advertised at any one time, this website is the most efficient and comprehensive way to find a career in the WA Public Sector.

For general information about employment in the WA Public Sector as well information on specific Sector-wide employment programs such as Business and School-Based Traineeships and the Entry Level Employment Program, the Getting a Job website ( www.gettingajob.dpc.wa.gov.au )is a great source of information.

Some of the Sector-wide programs are tailored to those under 25 years of age, of indigenous descent and for people with a disability.

Registered Training Organisations

Some Government agencies are also Registered Training Organisations (RTO) who offer existing employees industry-specific training from nationally recognised packages such as the Department for Child Protection and the Department of Environment and Conservation to name just a few. Agencies without a RTO status may establish partnership arrangements with TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations to deliver selected qualifications.

Further Information

Public Sector Commission – http://www.publicsector.wa.gov.au information on the administration of the WA Public Sector

Jobs WA – http://www.jobs.wa.gov.au search and apply for vacancies in the WA Public Sector

Getting a Job – http://www.gettingajob.dpc.wa.gov.au information on employment opportunities in the WA Public Sector

Department of Education and Training – http://www.det.wa.edu.au information on training opportunities

Local Government

Local Government is one of the three spheres of Australian Government. Local Government is known as Shires, Local or Elected Councils. There are Councils (sometimes known Shires) and six Regional Councils totalling one hundred and forty seven local government agencies throughout Western Australia. Each Local Government Shire varies greatly in geographic and population size.
Local Government in Western Australia has various roles and responsibilities. It provides citizens with building, health and community services, infrastructure and property services, recreation services, along with other services including water and sewage services. Local Government also administers facilities including those of a cultural nature.

The purpose of Local Government is to assist and support citizens. There are fourteen hundred elected members, one point nine million constituents and fifteen thousand employees within The Western Australian Local Government. Of the fifteen thousand employees approximately five thousand six hundred are employed in regional areas.

Industry areas of employment within The West Australia Local Government are categorised into four major areas. These areas are Corporate, Environmental, Human Services, Engineering and Infrastructure.

The Western Australian Local Government Association or WALGA is the peak body which lobbies and negotiates on behalf of the all the Local Governments Shires in Western Australia. A State Council consisting of representatives (who are elected members from the various constituencies) is the overarching body within WALGA. Members are elected from country and metropolitan zones (aligned geographically) and are responsible for advising, planning and formulating policy. A membership based organisation WALGA works on behalf of Local Government. It is an independent as well as a private entity.

Skills Shortages in Local Government

The National Local Government Skills Forum Reporting’s have determined that skills shortage exists in the following areas of Engineering, Planning, Environmental Health (Officers) and Trades (especially electrical). There is also a national shortage of Earthmoving Plant operators (Bulldozer drivers). There are also shortages additional to those mentioned above of accountants and other selected occupations in a variety of industry areas.
The summarised information of the National Local Government Skills Forum is now available online at http://www.lgma.org.au

Careers Advice

Those interested in gaining employment or developing their career including employees and students interested in working in these areas would be best advised to speak to a Careers Counsellor or Coordinator in their school, workplace or make an appointment at a Career Development Centre to speak to an adviser.

You could contact Human Resource Officers within Local Government to advise you of the particular need and training required to assist in developing career pathways and/or employment working in specific regions or shires within Local, State Government and Private Enterprise. EUPA can also direct you to appropriate services according to your need.

How do I gain entry into Local Government?

A wide variety of career opportunities are available in Local Government.
To access these opportunities you may enter after completing a higher qualification or many opportunities exist for those who are interested in a hands on experience of an Apprenticeship or Traineeships (They are offered in many different streams dependent upon the needs of the community)

Explore the following website for further information regarding Local Government

Department of Local Government sponsored Career site for School students, leavers and University undergraduates: www.localexposure.ca.com.au

The national website www.careergov.com.au also gives details about your Local Council including traineeships and apprenticeships

OTHER WEBSITES to explore for more information about vacancies in Local Government in Western Australia

Workplace Solutions (the Main Employer of WALGA)
www.workplacesolutions.asn.au/vacancies

WALGA www.walga.asn.au

www.reachfoundation.com.au (working in conjunction with WALGA and Main Roads)

For Careers Advisers and Counsellors research data released at the National Local Government Association Forum March 2009 is available to be viewed at the Local Government Managers Association Website -LGMA website www.lgma.org.au

Other websites e.g. (for funding and skills shortages)

The Western Australian Government site of DET www.det.wa.edu.au/training

(Productivity Places Program)PPP http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/ProductivityPlaces/Pages/default.aspx

National site of the Department of Employment Educations and Workplace Relations http://www.deewr.gov.au

For State Qualifications and National Qualifications for Local Government Training Packages visit

www.apprenticentre.com.au

www.ntis.wa.gov.au

Registered Training Organisations in Western Australia

CY O’Connor College of TAFE - http://www.cyoctafe.wa.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx

Central West TAFE – http://www.centralwest.wa.edu.au/

Central TAFE - http://www.centraltafe.wa.edu.au/

Community Arts Network WA Ltd- http://www.canwa.com.au/