An AFAC Position is an agreed statement of opinion, a way of viewing a matter, a stand. They are used throughout the industry for operations, community safety and advocacy. They may become agency or jurisdictional policy on a matter. Member agencies vote on proposed positions in Council and are expected to support AFAC positions unless their dissent has been minuted at a Council meeting.

The position statements outlined below represent the agreed, collective view of AFAC member agencies as researched and determined by senior representatives of those agencies. The positions, supported by detailed discussion and analysis, provide an industry perspective on matters of national and industry importance and are designed to convey a consistent meaning and understanding.

Community Safety and Engagement

• Bushfires and Community Safety - Prepare, Stay and Defend or Leave Early
  This paper expresses AFAC's position on the safety of residents and their homes during a bushfire event as of 2010. This position considers the events of Black Saturday and the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
  

• National Systems Approach to Community Warnings
  This Discussion Paper outlines an approach that incorporates four elements considered important for warnings to be effective. The paper is one of a suite of discussion papers relevant to the future refresh of the Bushfires and Community Safety position statement.

• Smoke Alarms
  The purpose of this position is to support AFAC member agency efforts to inform and educate home owners and occupiers about best practice in regard to domestic smoke alarms. As legislative provisions for smoke alarms vary between Australian jurisidctions, AFAC seeks to influence Government to adopt consistent and effective smoke alarm provisions across Australia.
  
  
• Fire Risk from the Management of Gamba Grass in Northern Australia
  The purpose of this position is to establish an informed national approach to the use, management and control of Gamba grass in relation to fire risk. This position is supported by a Background Paper which outlines the underpinning rationale and thinking.

Emergency Management Practice and Systems

• Public Safety Mobile Broadband The natural disasters recently experienced across Australia have exposed a number of gaps in emergency communications arrangements. An opportunity exists through the current review of the allocation and use of mobile broadband spectrum to address these gaps and provide an avenue for emergency management agencies to enhance their service delivery and improve public safety outcomes. This Position explains position taken by AFAC Members on the key requirements that support improved emergency communications.
• An endorsement of common Level 3 Incident Controller. The purpose of this position is to outline a common process for agencies to follow when endorsing level 3 incident controllers. It is not a national accreditation scheme: agencies are free to establish their own criteria for endorsement within the broad framework outlined in the position. Further detail of the thinking behind this position is set out in the Discussion Paper.

Fire Fighter Safety

• Class A Recycled Water for Fire Fighting Purposes
  The purpose of this paper is to establish an informed stance on whether the use of Class A recycled water poses a health risk to fire fighters and consequently whether it should be used for fire fighting purposes. The Background Paper on this issue outlines all supporting analysis and thinking.
  
  
• Use of Lookouts, Awareness, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones (LACES) System for Wildfire Firefighters Safety on the Fire Ground
  This is a position to implement Lookouts, Awareness, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones (LACES) into all Australian and New Zealand fire services to increase fire fighter safety during wildfire operations. It provides a simple way to help fire fighters remember the key elements to survival and the avoidance of entrapment situations.
  
  
• Use of Personal Fire Shelters in Wildfires
  This is a position to affirm that the use of personal fire shelters as a means of self protection of fire fighters in Australasia is not recommended in favour of other more proactive safety systems. The Discussion Paper on this issue outlines all supporting documentation and analysis.
  

Regulation and Standards

• Common Hose Couplings for AFAC Member Agencies
  This position establishes one of the standards for firefighting equipment to best meet the needs of Australian AFAC member agencies. The rationale for the selection is fully explained in the Discussion Paper: Investigating Common Hose Couplings.
  
  
• AFAC Information Exchange Standards (CAP & ICEMS)
  The purpose of establishing this position is to create a base upon which fire and emergency services can progressively develop systems and processes that lead to the seamless exchange of information and improved community safety outcomes.
  
  
• Firefighting Water Point Markers
  This position will be used to promote AFAC’s position that blue retroreflective markers should be used only to mark the location of firefighting water supply points.
  

Knowledge and Research

• Climate Change and the Fire and Emergency Services Sector.
  This position is to establish an informed national approach to climate change and its impacts on fire and emergency service organisations. It is supported by a comprehensive scientific review of climate change articulated in a Discussion Paper.