The New Zealand Fire Service Commission has a statutory duty to promote fire safety, better work practices and effective rural fire management. This requires that it supports research into better methods and practices of fire safety. The Commission has made available a contestable research fund of $550,000 for 2012-2013 for research into a variety of areas identified as being of immediate importance.

Expressions of Interest are invited from organisations in a position to carry out such research for projects to start in March/April of 2013. The New Zealand Fire Service Commission seeks to fund research that meets its mission of reducing the incidence and consequence of fire.

The research may be in any field. The Commission has determined the following priorities, but welcomes any submissions that address its mission.

Targeting Vulnerable Groups

• exploring successful social marketing approaches (using primarily digital channels) to improving the safety behaviours of older children (ages 12 to 16)
• exploring successful social marketing approaches (using primarily digital channels) to improving the safety behaviours of older adults (age 65+)
• fire-related loss and injuries in rental households
• fire-related loss and injuries in refugee and migrant communities
• attitudes to fire and safety in families with newborn babies
• exploring successful social marketing campaigns that have attracted and maintained a volunteer labour force, with a particular focus on attracting Generation Y

Built Environment

• evaluation of the Fire Brigade Intervention Model
• effectiveness of processes for recalling faulty products that cause fires

Environment

• key elements for defining and then determining what is a bushfire prone area within the urban / rural interface, and for forest and rural areas
• development of a risk management framework for permitted land use fires on forest and rural lands

Measuring our effectiveness

• evaluation of our pre-school programme (which will be 10 years old in 2013/2014)
• evaluation of the effectiveness of our 'home fire safety check' programme
• evaluation of the effectiveness of Rural Fire (National) Prevention campaign (‘Bernie’)

Incidence and control of vegetation fires in rural areas

• projects in alignment with Rural Fire Research Strategy
• what motivates people in small rural communities to become volunteer rural fire fighters
• what is the minimum level fitness standards for rural fire volunteers
• what cost effective strategies would reduce powerline caused wildfires

Applicants intending to submit expressions of interest on the Commission’s listed priorities are advised to read the relevant briefing documents.

Research must be novel, must address issues in the context of New Zealand legislation, culture, climate, environment, construction practice or lifestyle, or should show how work carried out overseas may be applied in New Zealand.

Particular consideration will be given to providing seeding grants for projects seeking funds from other sources.

Please submit expressions of interest no later than 5.00pm Monday 26 November 2012. Instructions for preparation of expressions of interest, and briefing documents for topics are available at www.fire.org.nz or by calling Abi Davidson on (04) 496 3688.

Submissions will be assessed by an independent committee, and suitable applicants will be invited to prepare detailed research proposals.