In this final Part 3 of 'The State of the Emergency Services Sector in Australia' the conversation turns to the future. In Part 3, my guest (for all three parts) Bruce Byatt AFSM and I take a hard look at what really determines success across emergency services — and where things still quietly unravel. We explore interagency cohesiveness: where collaboration works, where old wounds linger, and why genuine respect is built through relationships, shared experience, and two-way learning — not organisational charts or slick ministerial releases. We unpack the consequences of poorly considered structural redesign and the unintended barriers created by inward-focused agency models. Reform matters — but so does giving reformed agencies the time and space to mature, rather than tipping them on their heads again too soon. Culture takes centre stage. Get it right and capability follows. Get it wrong and no amount of funding will fix it. Through it all, the impact on community safety effectiveness must remain central to ongoing cultural reform efforts. We also tackle some uncomfortable truths: 🚨Spending scarce dollars on capability that may never be used, while critical areas remain under-resourced or entirely non-resourced. 🚨The fragile reality of long-term funding — and why capability, not industrial or stakeholder power, must drive investment decisions 🚨What leaders need to be acutely aware of as they step into senior and executive roles — including the support available, and the fierce resistance they may face The bottom line? ✓ The sector will continue to be confronted by unexpected challenges, amid ongoing fiscal restraints. ✓ The question is whether we’re building the leadership, culture, and capability now to meet them when they arrive.

Part 2 is live — and this is where the conversation truly sharpens.

In this follow-up episode with Bruce Byatt AFSM, we move past the polite headlines and into the structural issues that continue to hold the emergency services sector back.

In Part 2, we explore: 🚨 PPRR in 2025 — Why does Response still dominate? What does meaningful Prevention and Preparedness look like today? And are we honestly matching resources to risk? 🚨 Stakeholder Tensions — When agencies and stakeholders go head-to-head, the community often pays the price. We unpack why this keeps happening and the personal toll it takes on senior leaders. 🚨 Enterprise Bargaining Agreements — Why are we still relying on a tool designed for the 1980s to solve contemporary workplace challenges? 🚨 Workplace Culture — Many claim it’s been “sorted.” Not quite. So what now?

This episode isn’t designed for comfort — it’s for leaders who want the sector to evolve and continue serving communities well into the future. For those in the sector, even if you hesitate liking this post due to perception and personal survival reasons, still have a listen. And drop me an email if you think it would be good to look at certain other sector aspects in future episodes. influencemepodcast@icloud.com

Part 2 is available now.

#communitysafety #publicvalue #influenceme #emergencyservices #leadership

Are you interested in how effective our emergency services really are? In this three-part conversation, Bruce Byatt AFSM — former senior executive and long-time leader in the sector — joins me to unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to evolve.

We explore: ✅ Vision, Mission & Strategy — are they still fit for purpose? ✅ Resource-to-risk balance — are we getting it right? ✅ The political interface — interacting with ministers and their teams ✅ Is Response the King of PPRR? (Prevention, Preparedness, Response & Recovery) ✅ Organisational culture and operational safety ✅ The complex world of stakeholder and industrial relations

A thoughtful, candid look at how emergency services can better serve their communities — and what leadership in this space really takes.

Please enjoy Part 1. Part 2 and 3 will be released in the near future. #InfluenceMePodcast #Leadership #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #PublicValue #IR #OperationalSafety

This episode draws on the incredible knowledge of Michael Grinder, Krista Grinder and Gen Wilcox, in exploring the dynamics of having separate emergency services working together for a common purpose, this importantly being community safety. Whether you’re early in your time as an emergency service member, or even if you’re an experienced senior leader, jump on in and you may learn a thing or two from these three great minds.

The media can be a powerful ally or a formidable foe for leaders. Journalists and emergency responders often find themselves side-by-side in the most challenging situations, from natural disasters to crisis management. But despite their proximity, the media can remain a mystery to many leaders. In this ‘Influence Me’ episode, I’m joined by Graham Metcalf, a seasoned journalist and corporate leader with over 40 years of experience in media relations, crisis communication, and strategic leadership. Back in the day, Graham was key in the development of media capability within emergency services. This guy knows his business, so any current emergency management practitioner will learn something about media and communications in the context of operations. Grab the opportunity or push the episode to someone you know who might benefit. Enjoy.

Peter Dornan AM believes that men can be both troubled and troublesome — often to themselves and to the women in their lives. Despite contributing to the advancement of modern society, many men still struggle with its demands and their own responsibilities.

A former senior Queensland Australian of the year (2020) and renowned physiotherapist, Peter, in his book 'In Search of Manhood – A guide to better male health and lifestyle’, explores the complexities of modern masculinity. Drawing from a life fully lived — including surviving prostate cancer and founding vastly improved support for many diagnosed men and their families — Peter examines why men resist vulnerability, cling to dominance, communicate poorly, and neglect their health. His new book defines the challenges men face, delves into their roots, and offers clear, practical solutions for change.

It's a pleasure to have Peter as my guest for this very important episode for emergency services, and society more broadly, as we explore how his own personal journey led him to write this book.

Influence Me - Season 3 focuses on thought-provoking conversations with leaders who influence the emergency services sector. The big challenges facing the industry are explored in this series, whilst emphasising the role of leadership in driving progress.

My guest for this important discussion about sub-culture is Shannan Quain. Shannan is an experienced Senior Leader with a demonstrated history of achievement across all levels of Government. Skilled in Innovation, Strategy, Leadership, Organisational Development, Human Resources, and Culture Change. Strong skills in human centred design and agile work methods with Post Graduate qualifications in Human Resources and Change Management. Neuroscientist in training, passionate about developing leaders with resilience and kindness. Currently researching performance management in workplaces, with a view to helping organisations better lead their people.

My guest for this Podcast, Dr Nikola Stepanov, has spent much of her career in service to the public sector and community. Her background is in professional ethics and governance, research and research regulation, mediation and dispute resolution, and board governance. She has expertise in resolving complex and contentious conflicts where there are grave personal or governance risks. She holds six degrees, including a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). She completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne with the School of Global and Population Health and the Melbourne Medical School. In her spare time, she is a devoted section and thru hiker. She has just returned from hiking the 270 Km Portuguese Coastal Camino (through Portugal and Spain in 36-37 degrees!) and for her next trip is planning to hike the stunning 'W Trek’ through the Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. Have a listen to this podcast if you wish to improve your approach to navigating those challenging ethical and Integrity moments in both professional and personal life.