Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

SUPPORTING HEALTHY PARKS HEALTHY PEOPLEStaff Health and WellbeingParks Victoria undertakes a health and wellbeingprogram to:❚ Provide staff, and in some cases immediate familymembers, with access to health and wellbeinginformation and a range of support programs in theshort, medium and long term❚ Monitor staff health and wellbeing❚ Support staff during and following critical incidents❚ Enable the healthy recovery of staff.Support has continued for staff and immediatefamily members after the February 2009 fires, withthe voluntary use of external critical incident stressmanagementcounsellors, the Parks Victoria EmployeeAssistance Program and 31 internal trained peersupporters. Support has also continued for staffinvolved in giving evidence or preparing to giveevidence in the Royal Commission hearings. ParksVictoria continued to participate in the NetworkedEmergency Organisation Health and Fire andEmergency – Health & Wellbeing Committee. ParksVictoria is working with beyondblue to deliver tailoredprograms to staff and their families in fire-affectedareas with the aim to increase awareness of healthissues after traumatic events.GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCELegislative frameworkUnder the Parks Victoria Act 1998, Parks Victoria’sresponsibilities are to provide services to the State andits agencies for the management of parks, reservesand other land under the control of the State togetherwith waterways land (within the meaning of the WaterIndustry Act 1994) for the purposes of conservation,recreation, leisure, tourism or water transport. ParksVictoria’s responsibilities also extend to piers and jettiesand recreational boating in Port Phillip and WesternPort as a port manager under the Port Services Act 1995and as waterways manager under the Marine Act 1988.With the approval of the Minister, it may also provideservices to the owner of any other land used for publicpurposes for the management of that land. The Actrequires that Parks Victoria must not act in a way that isnot environmentally sound in carrying out its functions.Parks Victoria is appointed as a committee ofmanagement of various reserves pursuant to the CrownLand (Reserves) Act 1978. Currently, Parks Victoria isthe committee of management for a range of reservesincluding Albert Park, Werribee Park, Yarra Bend,several gardens in the Dandenong Ranges and piersand jetties in Port Phillip and Western Port.Learning and developmentRangers and field staff are trained in a wide varietyof skills including operating four-wheel-drive vehicles,plant and equipment through to the enforcement oflegislation. Health and safety training continues tobe at the forefront of the training program as doesfire training.This year, Parks Victoria introduced e-learning throughthe new Finance and People System to provide a widerrange of training to all staff.Leadership development remains a priority for ParksVictoria. This year, leadership training was provided tothe senior executives as well as to emerging leaders,and newly appointed supervisors. A Senior Women’sForum supported women in leadership roles. Theforum is designed to provide support, mentoring andleadership opportunities to women in the organisation.Parks Victoria is responsible for managing:❚ All areas under the National Parks Act 1975 –approximately 3.3 million hectares❚ Reserved and unreserved Crown land includingconservation and other reserves, metropolitan parks,regional parks and historic areas❚ Recreational and other activities on waterways landin the metropolitan area as defined in the WaterIndustry Act 1994❚ Piers and jetties in Port Phillip and Western Portand recreational boating on these bays pursuant topowers conferred on it as a port manager under thePort Services Act 1995 and Marine Act 1988❚ A number of other areas under leases or otherarrangements (including reservoir parks).Parks Victoria’s relationships and responsibilities forthe provision of services to the state are set out in aManagement Services Agreement (MSA) betweenParks Victoria, the Secretary to DSE and the Minister forEnvironment and Climate Change.44 Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10