THE three sectors of the Emergency Services sector will retain their own chief officer positions under changes announced on Monday.
The Emergency Service Reform Reference Group met on Monday to discuss ideas about how the reform should proceed.
Emergency Services Minister Tony Piccolo said he was disappointed with the way discussion about the reform had moved.
“I am concerned about the division among personnel and how damaging this is for the sector,” he said.
“This was never the aim of the reform process and I want everyone to know that I have been listening to their feedback - both constructive and positive.”
One result of this meeting it the decision that the three elements of the emergency services sector; the Country Fire Service, the Metropolitan Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, will maintain their respective chief officers.
Initially, the chief officers were to be phased out by mid-year, with a single commissioner to oversee all three.
“After the feedback I have received the chief officer position will be retained to provide leadership in the operational stream of the three services,” Mr Piccolo said.
“Primarily this is to reassure the volunteer and paid personnel in the sector that their identity will be retained.
“It will also mean that the chiefs will have less non-operational work and can focus on the operational aspects of their respective services.”
He said phase one in the reform will progress from April, beginning by removing duplication in non-operational areas, such as training and human resources.
“Key appointments will be made soon in the SA Fire and Emergency Commission to look after the corporate streams of the service,” he said.
Mr Piccolo said the current SAFECOM board will be retained in the short term until a final sector model has been developed.
The reference group includes representatives from the CFS Volunteer Association, the SES Volunteer Association, United Firefighters Union, Public Service Association, CFS Youth Advisory and the SES Youth Advisory Council.