The call has gone out encouraging men and women with diverse skills and experience from all walks of life to consider a career as a firefighter.
Fire and Rescue NSW is looking for permanent firefighters, for a job that is about a lot more than just fighting fires.
Today the job involves community education about fire prevention, attending road crash rescues, and hazardous material incidents and severe weather-related events including storms and bushfires. Sometimes they’re rescuing animals, especially cats, that have gotten stuck in challenging spaces.
Springwood Station officer Kevin O’Reilly has been a firefighter for 22 years, drawn to the job after working as a shopfitter, printer, and within the building trade. He was in the RFS for several years before joining FRNSW.
He says they’re looking for “people with an inherent want to assist others – an inherent drive to want to help.”
“We have a diverse workforce that can work collaboratively to achieve a goal under difficult circumstances,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“The job is so dynamically dangerous we have massive safety procedures that do reduce risk in a high-risk environment.”
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said applicants will need to complete an online application and undergo a series of tests, including problem solving and a physical aptitude test.
“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,” he said.
Applications close on November 19. For more information visit: www.fire.nsw.gov.au/recruitment.
