Of 5,800 applicants last financial year, 103 recruits became career firefighters

A Fire Rescue Victoria training boss reveals the key to getting through the rigorous recruitment process and why they’re keen to hire more women.

Diversity among firefighters will remain a key focus in coming recruitment intakes, the organisation attempts to increase the number of female firefighters.

Of Fire Rescue Victoria’s 4298 employees in the 2020-21 financial year, just 473 were women, a figure the agency is keen to improve.

During the same period, just 103 recruits became career firefighters from four intakes. They came from a highly competitive pool of more than 5,800 applicants, according to a leading FRV training boss.

“If we go to market for recruitment we get inundated with applicants, there is never a shortage,” Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Operational Training Graeme Murphy said.

Fire Rescue Victoria gets inundated with applicants when they have a recruitment drive. Picture: FRV Fire Rescue Victoria

He said candidates were selected on the basis of their motivation, aptitude and behaviours, and undergo a 20 week rigorous training course.

But he wants the public to know they “don’t have to be a body builder or an elite athlete” to become a career firefighter.

“We are trying to reflect the community in our recruitment,” Mr Murphy said.

“We are desperately seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds.

“Historically, recruits would have been Anglo-Saxon males. As much as that is fantastic, it is not necessarily what we want as an organisation. A diverse workforce makes a better environment to work in. Different people will bring their own knowledge and skills. That is how we learn and grow.”

Herald Sun reporter Brianna Travers takes part in a training program. Picture: FRV Fire Rescue Victoria

Mr Murphy said he urged women to consider firefighting as a profession.

“We want to increase our number of female firefighters, it is not as high as we would like it,” he said.

“You don’t have to be a body builder or an elite athlete to be a firefighter. While we can’t compromise on the fitness needed, our trainers help teach recruits how to maintain the level of fitness required.”

He added: “Many of the women in our organisation say don’t call me a female firefighter, just call me a firefighter. They do identical work to the men.”

Firefighter Ashlee Roberts said while the physicality of the job was challenging, the emotional side could at times be more demanding.

“People think it’s all about driving fast in the red trucks and putting out fires,” she said.

“It’s not an easy job, the gear is heavy, it is hard, it is sweaty and you don’t know what you are walking into. But you trust the people next to you and that is the beautiful part of the job.”

There is more to the job than driving fast in the red trucks and putting out fires. Picture: FRV Fire Rescue Victoria

First responders to life-threatening emergencies

Firefighters are being called to a record number of emergency medical response jobs as Victoria’s health crisis continues to place more pressure on the state’s paramedics.

As Fire Rescue Victoria celebrates its two year anniversary, the organisation’s efforts have been hailed as game changing for everyday Victorians in need of urgent help, responding to an average of 800 medical call outs a month.

Firefighters have reached the milestone of more than 1000 medical “saves” as first responders to medical emergencies since the program’s inception in 2001, new data reveals.

“A large proportion of our calls are now emergency medical calls,” Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Operational Training Graeme Murphy said.

Firefighters respond to an average of 800 medical call outs a month. Picture: FRV Fire Rescue Victoria

“We provide a service where we can respond to a patient within a 7-9 minute time frame.

“There are people who will have a greater chance of survival because firefighters turn up and provide emergency response management.

“While the ambulance is on their way for specialised help, we can assist in the meantime.”

Firefighters are dispatched to life threatening emergencies at the same time as Ambulance Victoria, and arrive first to about 50 per cent of call outs.

The program was rolled out to all FRV stations across the state in 2011 due to its success.

It is one of the many roles the agency plays in the state’s emergency response which aside from fighting fires includes high-angle rescues, hazmat incidents, gas leaks, explosions and road accidents.

Mr Murphy said the general public was largely unaware of the scope of incidents FRV had carriage over.

“A big chunk of the community don’t have any idea what we do outside of putting out fires but there is a lot more to it,” he said.

“There is a misconception that all firefighters are volunteers and the CFA is the only fire service out there in Victoria.

“We applaud the CFA for what they do but they don’t have the extensive training, highly skilled equipment and knowledge that our people do. We get called to really complex incidents.”