Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is calling for new firefighter recruits as it kicks off its latest campaign ahead of the busy summer season.
Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant launched the ‘More than Fire’ recruitment call alongside FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter at the new Orchard Hills Academy last Friday.
This year’s recruitment drive has already begun, with thousands of would-be firies expected to apply.
Mr Grant said the campaign targets applicants from a wide range of industries and fields.
We need firefighters with diverse skills to meet the challenging nature of the job, so we are encouraging potential candidates to think outside the traditional role of a firefighter,” he said.
“FRNSW firefighters do so much more than fight fires. They are highly trained and trusted first responders on scene at road crash rescues, hazardous material incidents and severe weather-related events.”
The campaign hopes to encourage men and women with diverse skills and experiences to pursue a career as a firefighter.
Community engagement and education will form a significant part of their role to promote fire safety awareness and preventative measures in the community.
Commissioner Baxter said the campaign was designed to attract the largest possible pool of candidates for permanent (full-time) and retained (on-call) firefighter positions.
“This campaign is about honouring our firefighters, their personalities, their differences and the reason each of them became a firefighter,” he said.
“We are looking for fit, passionate and resilient individuals with well-developed interpersonal skills and the capacity to undertake a range of different functions, including fire response and investigation, community engagement, rescue and hazardous materials response.”
Applicants will need to complete an online application and undergo a series of tests, including problem solving and a Physical Aptitude Test.
Candidates who are offered a place in the recruitment intake will undergo training at the new state-of-the-art FRNSW Emergency Services Academy, which will welcome its first class of recruit firefighters in 2019.
Applications close on November 19. Visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au/recruitment.
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.
