Operational Reviews & Audits

Auditing operational readiness and capability reflects a strong commitment, beyond the rhetoric, to a prevention and risk reduction paradigm. Leading Emergency Services has conducted major operational audits for emergency services and governments across Australia. Why wait until a major incident or death before reviewing procedures, preparedness and performance? We all accept that financial audits are essential to good corporate governance; operational audits are essential to good risk management. Leading Emergency Services has the operational experience and credibility to audit any emergency service or emergency response and provide an independent, balanced and incisive report which adds value to the organisation and confidence to governments, companies and other stakeholders.

If a major incident has occurred Leading Emergency Services can provide understanding, explanation and depth of knowledge not accessible through many investigators. Leading Emergency Services has a depth of experience in report writing for emergency incidents that is currently unmatched in Australia. An important element of reviewing and learning from any incident is the conduct of an operational review or investigation. This is often a political requirement but is also a key element of becoming a learning organisation. Members of Leading Emergency Services arguably are amongst the most current operational investigators for major fire and emergency events in Australia, having been personally involved and authored or directly contributed to reports on:

  • The Black Hawk helicopter disaster in 1996
  • The Victorian Auditor General's performance audit into fire prevention and preparedness in 2002
  • The operational response into the bushfires in the ACT in January 2003
  • Stuart Ellis chaired and co-authored the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management in 2004
  • LES conducted an operational audit of fire management in the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service in 2005
  • LES regularly audits performance for local government in regard to their bushfire prevention and management responsibilities.