Western Australia’s firefighting ranks have been boosted today with the graduation of 24 new recruits who come from a wide range of backgrounds including a surf instructor, a banker and a teacher.
Also among the new graduates were some old hands with an aviation firefighter, volunteer firefighter and two interstate career firefighters also joining the WA service.
The State’s newest Department of Fire and Emergency Services career firefighters graduated after 20 weeks of intensive practical and theoretical training.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the structure of the training school was altered to prioritise essential skills first to ensure they were ready to be deployed to the frontline as soon as possible if required.
The graduates will be based at fire stations across Perth and regional towns including Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.
For more information on a firefighting career, visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/recruitmentandtraining
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:
“Congratulations to our newest firefighters, who will be working alongside our emergency service personnel to help keep the Western Australian community safe.
“The 24 men and women displayed great physical and mental endurance to complete this course during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The course’s practical training schedule was rearranged so the graduates could gain frontline skills early in the piece to help bolster the State’s response to the emergency situation.
“Specialised training in responding to fires, road crash rescues and hazardous material incidents has prepared them for the demanding role of a firefighter.”
