17 new firefighters join ACT Fire & Rescue’s frontline


Released 15/06/2018

Seventeen recruit firefighters will be on the job at stations across Canberra from tomorrow after being formally welcomed into the ranks of ACT Fire & Rescue.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman congratulated the recruits on successfully completing a 20-week intensive training course and joining one of the nation’s fastest responding fire and rescue services.

Among the new firefighters graduating at the ACT Emergency Services Agency Training Centre in Hume today, were four females 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,” Minister 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.”

In 2015, the ACT Emergency Services Agency began a proactive campaign to increase diversity across each emergency service.

Minister Gentleman said the ACT Government was committed to employing people from different cultural and professional backgrounds in the next recruitment round scheduled in the 2018-19 financial year.

“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,” Minister Gentleman said.

“As I announced earlier this month, the 2018 Budget will fund a recruit college to train 18 new firefighters for ACT Fire & 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.”

For information on how to become an ACT Fire & Rescue firefighter visit the ACT Emergency Services Agency website www.esa.act.gov.au.

- Statement ends -

Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases


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