Seventeen new firefighters have joined the ranks of ACT Fire and Rescue after completing a 20-week intensive training course.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman noted that among the new firefighters graduating at the ACT Emergency Services Agency Training Centre in Hume were four women and two Indigenous recruits.
“All 17 recruits have proven themselves capable of meeting the many challenges of the job, from firefighting and road‑crash rescue to advanced first aid, fire behaviour and hazardous materials response,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Recruit College 39 is a wonderfully diverse group of women and men from various backgrounds, and for the first time the College includes two recruits selected from the Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy.”
He said the ACT Emergency Services Agency began a proactive campaign in 2015 aimed at increasing diversity across each emergency service.
“The Government is committed to seizing the opportunity to change both the demographics of the workforce and the perception of our work to ensure a fire service career is a job for all,” Mr Gentleman said.
He said the 2018 Budget would fund a recruit college to train 18 new firefighters for ACT Fire and Rescue during the 2018–19 financial year
“I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a career firefighter to start thinking now about this rewarding career opportunity,” Mr Gentleman said.
