Complex Infrastructure
Project Timeline
September 2025 – August 2026
Project Overview
Public Skills Australia’s 2025 Public Safety Workforce Insights Report identified a workforce challenge regarding responding to incidents involving complex infrastructure.
The Fire and Emergency Service Complex Infrastructure Project aimed to establish a robust evidence base through a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) to ascertain how the PUA Public Safety Training Package could support training for complex infrastructure emergencies.
This was achieved by identifying the knowledge and skill requirements for responding to complex infrastructure emergencies and then mapping these requirements against the current PUA Public Safety Training Package and identifying gaps in the current training products.
Industry Engagement
Sept 2025 - Oct 2025Public Skills Australia held initial consultations with Fire and Emergency Services, national and international subject matter experts. These consultations informed the project and a Stakeholder Insights Report.
Consultation
Feb 2026 - Apr 2026Workshop consultations were held with participating jurisdictions and the United Fire Fighters Union to develop a Training Needs Analysis.
Research and Analysis
Feb 2026 - May 2026Stakeholder Insights Report
Consultations identified three priority complex infrastructure types:
- High rise and mid-rise buildings
- Large volume spaces
- Transport tunnels
The three complex infrastructure types were prioritised due to the high-consequence nature incidents and the operational complexity they present to Fire and Emergency Services.
Training Needs Analysis
Perspectives from practitioners and subject matter experts on the knowledge and skills required for responding to fires involving complex infrastructure were analysed to identify common themes. The themes were mapped against ten identified units of competency within the PUA Public Safety Training Package to identify gaps in current training coverage.
Finalisation
Live nowAug 2026 - Aug 2026The Training Needs Analysis is progressing through internal Public Skills Australia governance and will be submitted to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in late August 2026.
The Training Needs Analysis will be provided to stakeholders and made available on the Public Skills Australia website upon project completion.
Project Timeline