Background
Over the next decade the community will undergo significant change bringing new challenges for fire services. These will include higher levels of social and financial disadvantage, the unprecedented growth in single-person households and declining levels of social connection. In addition our population is ageing, including an estimated 30% who will be culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and more people with higher levels of disability will be cared for via an ‘in home’ model of community care. For fire services under increasing pressure to develop and build community resilience, the expectation of government will also be for increased efficiencies with less resources.

Objectives
This presentation will identify strategies developed by Metropolitan Fire Brigade to address these issues through a model of shared responsibility at the local, state and national levels.

Methods
While fire services have led debate and reform in relation to safety in the built environment, industry and natural resource management, there has been less focus on the frameworks and entities that have established relationships with or responsibilities for a growing proportion of the community. This session will identify alternative frameworks such as policy, program delivery, training and legislation to build sustainable community resilience outcomes.

Findings 
Three case studies will outline how broader analysis of evidence and trends identified common risk and demographic features. This information led to key stakeholders with a shared, and sometimes higher, level of responsibility for those at risk and gaps in existing policy, service provision and regulations. Based on this information strategies and treatments were developed which have delivered sustainable outcomes based on partnership at a local, state and national level.