Fire & Rescue NSW encourages female firefighters
BEC Colling always wanted a frontline role in an industry that helped people but never imagined it would be as a firefighter.
Fairfield
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FORMER country girl Bec Colling always wanted a frontline role in an industry that helped people.
She never imagined that dream would lead her to a job with Fire & Rescue NSW.
The 24-year-old is celebrating her first anniversary as a firefighter based at Yennora.
With more than 7000 applications for about 120 positions each year, Colling was ecstatic when she received a call-up to the service in 2015.
Marking 12 months as a fulltime firefighter, Colling reflected on why she joined an industry dominated by men.
Colling was unsure what to do when she left school, but playing a frontline role was something that was important to her.
“After I finished school I didn’t want to go to uni or have a job that was the same every day ... I didn’t know females could be firefighters until I saw an advertisement for retained firefighters in Kempsey,” she said.
“So I applied and I haven’t looked back.”
Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is working to spread the word that firefighting is not just a man’s world and it can be a fulfilling and rewarding career for women as well.
During the 2016 recruitment campaign, changes were made to address existing gender imbalances in firefighter recruitment, and a 50 per cent female recruitment target was introduced.
“It marked a call to deliver gender equity,” an FRNSW spokeswoman said.
Collings said she loved working with the men in her platoon and they always apologised when they swore around her.
“I always tell them that they don’t have to change just because I’m here,” she said.
The first two fulltime female firefighters joined together in March 1985 and FRNSW’s first female Station Officer was promoted in July 1998.
Over the past 32 years, FRNSW has steadily increased the number of female firefighters in its ranks.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re male or female, to be a firefighter you’ve got to be strong and fit and not mind getting sweaty and dirty,” the spokeswoman said.
“Being a firefighter is the best job ever.”