When most people think of firefighters they think WOMEN IN of sirens, smoke and pulling people from a burning building, but being a firefighter involves FIREFIGHTING so much more than this. Our firefighters not only manage major emergencies, but they often work Working as a firefighter can be a in specialist fields and have a strong presence in challenging journey, but if you ask the community, talking to residents about fire Peta Doyle, one of the NSW Fire prevention and making communities safer. Brigades up-and-coming firefighters, With more than 92 full-time female firefighters plenty of women have what it takes and 168 part time female firefighters in its ranks, to have long and rewarding careers the NSW Fire Brigades strongly encourages with the NSWFB. women to consider a career with the NSWFB. Three years ago, Firefighter Peta Doyle, who iiss currently stationed at the busiest ffireire station in Australia,Australia, City of Sydney Fire Station, steeredsteered hherer life in a new direction, when she successfullysuccessfully appliedapplied for a role as a full-time firefighter afterafter years ofof training as a proprofessionalfessional athlete.
Peta competed at state, national and OlympicOlympic trials over the papastst 12 yeyears,ars, and rrepresentedepresented AAustraliaustralia at various World CCupup SSwimmingwimming CChampionshipshampionships during her swim career. Peta aappliedpplied forfor a firefightingfirefighting role with the NSWFBNSWFB because she was attracted to the challenge ooff workinworkingg as ppartart ooff one ooff the leadinleadingg firefire and rescue organisations in Australia.
““II needed a new challenge in my lifelife and I was craving job satisfaction.satisfaction. Many people told me it was really difficultdifficult to gegett a popositionsition with the NNSWSW Fire Brigades, so I saw this as anotheanotherr challenge. I wasnwasn’t’t sure what I wanted to do withwith mmyy lilifefe at that point, but knew I had to be workinworkingg ooutdoors,utdoors, working as part of a team, and helping pepeople.”ople.” I needed a new challenge in my life and I was craving job satisfaction.
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Aim high and specialise Recruitment and testing The NSWFB prides itself on being one of the Before her career change, Firefighter Doyle was leading fire and rescue services in the world and a qualified personal trainer and worked at her the career opportunities it offers to its employees local swimming pool. Once the firefighting are extensive. recruitment drive was announced, she took steps to tackle aspects of the recruitment process to While many people join the NSWFB and have increase her chances of success. long and rewarding careers as firefighters, others choose to go on and specialise in areas across “Initially, I browsed the NSWFB website and education, risk management, training and learned about the series of tests that I needed to development, communication, rescue, breathing complete, including the physical aptitude test apparatus management, hazard materials and (PAT). I investigated the test more and found out fire research and investigation. I needed a 9.6 on the shuttle run. I remember getting over 11 at school so I wasn’t too worried, “As a fully qualified firefighter I can specialise in but I made sure I gave it a go before the actual other fields and I am keen to develop my rescue testing began,” she says. qualifications and to operate a Bronto (a 37 metre high ladder platform for high-rise rescues The shuttle run, also known as the Beep Test, is and firefighting) so I can help respond to major a test of speed, fitness, and agility. It requires a emergencies. In the future I’d also like to train person to sprint between two parallel lines at an new firefighting recruits and I think working as a increasing pace and after each interval is station officer (who leads a team of firefighters achieved, a new level is announced and the aim and coordinates the crew at an incident) could is to reach the highest level possible. also be rewarding,” Firefighter Doyle says. “With a couple of friends I simulated the test and What is really important discovered after achieving a score of 8.2, I was exhausted. However I practiced a couple of is an ability to think outside times a week over a month and found that a the box, learn quickly and score of 9.6 wasn’t too hard to achieve after all.” take a very proactive approach to your work.
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Qualities of a firefighter Firefighting is a career which requires strength of body and character. It’s a job where you get to make use of many Firefighting is a skills, not just one. While physical strength and endurance are necessary attributes to do the job, a balance of very satisfying career. additional qualities are equally as important to ensure your success as a firefighter. It feels good to be
Supporting your team and fellow firefighters is considered working with the to be one of the hallmarks of firefighting and qualities such community, helping as leadership and compassion are also very important. Striking a balance of these qualities leads to a more people, making life effective and efficient team. long friends, saving While Firefighter Doyle was fit when she joined the NSWFB, she says you don’t need to be a superhero to get property and helping your foot in the door. to protect the “A reasonable amount of fitness and strength are environment. necessary, but what is really important is an ability to think outside the box, learn quickly and take a very proactive approach to your work.”
Female firefighters
The NSWFB is committed to ensuring equality in Speaking from her own personal experience, the workplace across gender, race and age. As Firefighter Doyle says fire officers work in a an equal opportunity employer, the NSWFB positive environment where women can flourish. treats everyone who works for them with fairness and respect. “Any woman who wants to become a firefighter must like working with people and have good While the majority of the NSWFB’s 3500 full-time interpersonal skills. It is very important you can firefighters are male, it is important to know there relate to others and work well as part of a team. is no distinction between men and women If you have these qualities, you’d be mad not to throughout the firefighting recruitment process or give it a go.” while ‘on the job’. www.fire.nsw.gov.au WOMEN IN FIREFIGHTING
Rewards of the job
One of the best things about a career as a Firefighters play a crucial role in protecting the firefighter is you never know what’s going to community. Whether attending a motor vehicle happen when you arrive for work and it is often accident, fighting a factory blaze or giving an the diversity of firefighting that keeps people in information session on fire prevention and safety the job for years. – in working for the NSWFB you are serving and protecting your community. Firefighters are constantly testing themselves and the skills they learn in training and there are “Firefighting is a very satisfying career. Every plenty of opportunities to continue learning and duty we perform has the potential to generate development throughout your career. instant results. It feels good to be working with the community, helping people, making life long The NSWFB attracts people who are drawn to friends, saving property and helping to protect the idea of responding to an emergency, but the the environment,” Firefighter Doyle says. realities of firefighting involve much more in terms of mental and physical challenges. “The most amazing times can be when you Teamwork is vital to the safety of individual actually help someone and have a positive firefighters on the job, and Firefighter Doyle says impact on their life. You can be rescuing one of the most rewarding aspects of being a someone from a fire or presenting a fire firefighter is forging new friendships with the education course to the community but you know people you work alongside. within yourself, you are really making a difference to people’s lives.” “One of the most rewarding aspects of the job is the relationships you build with your crew. They become your extended family and you build this relationship where you trust them with your life and vice versa. If you think you have tons of friends, just wait until you join the NSWFB,” Firefighter Doyle says.
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