We now live in a world where things are constantly changing at a rapid pace. We can get answers at the touch of a button. The expectations of our community, leaders and organisations have changed, while technology continues to rapidly challenge the status quo.  

The establishment of the Fire Services Commissioner, following the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC), marked an important milestone in the history of fire and emergency services in Victoria. It immediately changed the way in which fires would be managed and the structural arrangements that underpinned a ‘single person in charge’. Leading change was now the main game, the VBRC Commissioner’s commented ‘some things needed to be done differently and for other problems; we need to find completely new ways of working’.

It is worth examining definitions of ‘transformational change’ and ‘organisational change’. Transformational change often is used to describe a shift in the culture of an organization resulting from a change in the underlying strategy and processes that the organisation has used in the past. Organisational change is often used to describe an incremental improvement on existing organisational capabilities

To create a clear and compelling vision for innovation and change, a brand and community value proposition was developed that embodies a common vision and is founded on the values of leaderships, integration and accountability. These values are represented in the three colour of the central symbol. This was not done from an internal perspective but from an analysis of the external market and what public value the establishment of the Fire Services Commissioner added to the community, sector and business of fire and emergency management.

The capability to lead, drive and deliver change must become a core competency requirement for our people, and our organisations. To maintain trust, relevance and confidence with the community, Government and business partners, we all must be at the forefront of modern, agile and integrated organisational planning and adaptation.