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Report on Government Services 2016

Chapter 9, Volume D

Fire and ambulance services

The Fire and ambulance services chapter (chapter 9) reports on the performance of governments in providing emergency management services provided in the event of fire and out of hospital medical emergency events.

Please note: An errata was released with this chapter. The files below have been updated to reflect the changes.

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  • Key Facts
  • Indicator Framework
  • Indicator Results

Fire events

Performance reporting for fire events includes information on fire service organisations, which are one of the primary agencies involved in providing emergency management services for fire events. Nationally in 2014-15:

  • fire service organisations attended a total of 385 118 emergency incidents, of which 97 545 were fire event incidents
  • total expenditure of fire service organisations was $3.7 billion, or $156 per person in the population
  • 18 853 full time equivalent (FTE) paid personnel were employed by fire service organisations, of which 75.8 per cent were paid firefighters. A large number of volunteer firefighters (226 052 people) also participated in the delivery of fire services.

The objective of government involvement in fire events is to build fire resilient communities that work together to understand and manage the fire risks that they confront.

Emergency management services provide highly effective, efficient and accessible services that:

  • reduce the adverse effects of fire events on the community (including people, property, infrastructure, economy and environment)
  • contribute to the management of fire risks to the community
  • enhance public safety.

Ambulance events

Performance reporting for ambulance events includes information on ambulance service organisations, which are the primary agencies involved in providing services for out-of-hospital medical emergency events. Nationally in 2014-15:

  • there were 3.4 million incidents resulting in 4.2 million ambulance service responses to attend to 3.2 million patients
  • recurrent expenditure across Australia was approximately $2.8 billion (or $119 per person)
  • there were 15 976 full time equivalent paid personnel, 6211 volunteers and 1122 community first responders in ambulance service organisations. (Community first responders are trained volunteers that provide an emergency response (with no transport capacity) and first aid care before ambulance arrival.)

The objectives of government involvement in ambulance service to provide pre hospital and out of hospital care and patient transport services, that:

  • are high quality, timely, and meet clients' needs through delivery of coordinated and responsive health care
  • are equitable and accessible
  • are effectively, efficiently and sustainably delivered
  • reduce the adverse effects of emergency events on the community by providing specialised medical care in emergency situations.

Fire events

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of emergency services for fire events. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2016 Report.

Fire events indicator framework

Ambulance events

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of ambulance services. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2016 Report.

Ambulance events indicator framework

Fire events

An overview of the Fire events performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Fire and ambulance services chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity and effectiveness — prevention/mitigation indicators

Fire incidents

Fire incidents attended by fire service organisations per 100 000 people, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 408 373 400 443 422 669 220 1154 413
Source: Attachment table 9A.14

Accidental residential structure fires per 100 000 households, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are complete but are not comparable (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 95.2 113.4 46.9 60.2 73.6 112.9 89.1 51.4 84.5
Source: Attachment table 9A.15

Level of safe fire practices in the community

Estimated percentage of households with a smoke alarm/detector, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are incomplete and are not comparable (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 94.4 97.2 94.9 na na na na 80.0 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.23

Equity and effectiveness — preparedness

Firefighter workforce

Number of firefighting personnel (FTE) per 100 000 people, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Mo. 54.4 80.4 52.9 42.7 52.3 59.4 90.5 115.9 60.5
Source: Attachment table 9A.24

Equity and effectiveness — response

Response times to structure fires

State-wide response times to structure fires, 2014-15 — including call taking time, 90th percentile, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
min. 14.1 10.9 12.3 15.2 11.7 17.7 11.0 23.2 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.26

State-wide response times to structure fires — excluding call taking time, 90th percentile, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are incomplete and are not comparable (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
min. 13.2 9.5 11.6 13.6 14.0 16.3 9.0 15.1 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.27

Efficiency indicators

Fire services expenditure per person

Fire service organisations' expenditure per person, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 131.63 214.31 129.96 145.61 134.85 157.24 211.64 220.13 156.42
Source: Attachment table 9A.29

Outcome indicators

Fire death rate

Fire death rate, per million people, 2013

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
no. 4.5 4.0 4.9 2.8 4.8 2.6 4.2 4.3
Source: Attachment table 9A.6

Fire injury rate

Rate of hospital admissions due to fire injury, per 100 000 people, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
no. 15.1 12.0 19.2 19.3 28.6 15.4 9.6 78.3 17.2
Source: Attachment table 9A.9

Confinement to room/object of origin

Proportion of building fires confined to room of origin, all ignition types, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 68.3 71.8 69.5 65.9 66.2 60.4 73.4 94.0 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.10

Proportion of building and other structure fires confined to room of origin, all ignition types, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 80.4 78.8 83.9 73.6 72.7 72.2 85.7 94.0 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.11

Value of property losses from fire events

Value of fire event household insurance claims per person, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 17.44 20.21 21.52 13.27 31.41 63.11 12.21 15.73 20.38
Source: Attachment table 9A.12

Ambulance events

An overview of the Ambulance events performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Fire and ambulance services chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity — Access indicators

Response locations

Paid, mixed and volunteer locations per 100 000 people, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 3.2 4.5 5.6 7.6 6.6 9.7 2.1 3.7 4.9
Source: Attachment table 9A.38

Availability of ambulance officers/paramedics

Number of full time equivalent ambulance officers/paramedics per 100 000 people, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 42.1 50.0 61.5 28.8 45.0 47.7 36.0 37.7 46.7
Source: Attachment table 9A.35

Urban centre response times

Capital city centre response times, 90th percentile, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
min. 21.2 18.3 15.1 14.3 14.7 17.5 12.5 18.2 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.44

Effectiveness — Access indicators

State-wide response times

State-wide response times, 90th percentile, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are complete but are not comparable (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
min. 22.9 22.1 16.4 16.8 16.8 24.0 12.5 17.5 na
Source: Attachment table 9A.44

Triple zero call answering time

Proportion of calls from the emergency call service answered by ambulance service communication centre staff in a time equal to or less than 10 seconds, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 86.1 93.8 91.2 94.4 92.3 96.8 95.8 93.4 89.5
Source: Attachment table 9A.45

Effectiveness — Sustainability indicators

Workforce by age group

Operational workforce under 50 years of age, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 75.6 77.3 80.0 79.8 75.5 74.5 80.3 85.0 75.2
Source: Attachment table 9A.36

Staff attrition

Staff attrition, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 4.0 4.3 2.6 3.3 2.6 6.2 2.8 na 3.6
Source: Attachment table 9A.36

Paramedics in training

Enrolments in accredited paramedic training courses, per million people, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 106.9 381.6 419.1 295.7 207.0 174.8 414.5 -- 271.3
Source: Attachment table 9A.37

Efficiency indicators

Expenditure per person

Ambulance services expenditure per person, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 115.47 123.26 129.84 86.41 145.65 127.27 114.94 108.90 119.45
Source: Attachment table 9A.47

Outcome indicators

Cardiac arrest survived event

Adult cardiac arrest survival rate — where resuscitation attempted (excluding paramedic witnessed), 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 31.1 29.8 25.0 24.5 23.4 29.1 36.9 26.1 28.4
Source: Attachment table 9A.41

Pain management

Proportion of patients who report a clinically meaningful pain reduction, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 86.4 90.3 88.7 82.3 64.6 88.3 93.4 86.7 86.5
Source: Attachment table 9A.42

Level of patient satisfaction

Overall satisfaction rate, 2015 c

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 9)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 99 ± 1.1 97 ± 1.4 98 ± 1.3 97 ± 1.7 98 ± 1.3 98 ± 1.3 98 ± 1.3 97 ± 2.6 98 ± 0.5
Source: Attachment table 9A.43

Legend

a Caveats for these data are available in chapter 9 and attachment 9A. Refer to the indicator interpretation boxes in chapter 9 for information to assist with the interpretation of data presented in this table.

b Some data are derived from detailed data in chapter 9 and attachment 9A.

c The percentages reported for this indicator include 95 per cent confidence intervals.

na Not available.

.. Not applicable.

Source: Chapter 9 and attachment 9A Source: Chapter 9 and attachment 9A