 |
Influence Me Leadership Podcasts - Andrew Short AFSMAuthor: ajshort
Leadership Podcast Series hosted by former Australian Emergency Services Senior Executive - Andrew Short AFSM. Season 3 commencing July 2025 focuses on thought-provoking conversations with leaders who influence the emergency services sector. The big challenges facing the industry are explored in this series, whilst emphasising the role of leadership in driving progress. As the title suggests, Im here to learn, grow, and be influenced - and I invite you to join the conversation. The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. - (William James) This is my philosophy. Podcast contact is: influencemepodcast@icloud.com Language: en-au Genres: Education, Self-Improvement, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
“The State of the Emergency Services Sector in Australia (Part 3)” - Influence Me Podcast - Season 3 - Episode 5
Episode 5
Saturday, 17 January, 2026
In this final Part 3 of 'The State of the Emergency Services Sector in Australia' the conversation turns to the future. In Part 3, my guest (for all three parts) Bruce Byatt AFSM and I take a hard look at what really determines success across emergency services — and where things still quietly unravel. We explore interagency cohesiveness: where collaboration works, where old wounds linger, and why genuine respect is built through relationships, shared experience, and two-way learning — not organisational charts or slick ministerial releases. We unpack the consequences of poorly considered structural redesign and the unintended barriers created by inward-focused agency models. Reform matters — but so does giving reformed agencies the time and space to mature, rather than tipping them on their heads again too soon. Culture takes centre stage. Get it right and capability follows. Get it wrong and no amount of funding will fix it. Through it all, the impact on community safety effectiveness must remain central to ongoing cultural reform efforts. We also tackle some uncomfortable truths: 🚨Spending scarce dollars on capability that may never be used, while critical areas remain under-resourced or entirely non-resourced. 🚨The fragile reality of long-term funding — and why capability, not industrial or stakeholder power, must drive investment decisions 🚨What leaders need to be acutely aware of as they step into senior and executive roles — including the support available, and the fierce resistance they may face The bottom line? ✓ The sector will continue to be confronted by unexpected challenges, amid ongoing fiscal restraints. ✓ The question is whether we’re building the leadership, culture, and capability now to meet them when they arrive.
