NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib will today welcome 286 new firefighters to the ranks of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) at a graduation ceremony in western Sydney.
The new intake includes 61 permanent firefighters and 225 paid on-call firefighters, with graduates hailing from diverse backgrounds including skydiving, carpentry, architecture, teaching and defence.
The graduation will take place at the Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills.
The new recruits have spent up to 12 weeks learning to deal with fire emergencies, as well as training in search and rescue, first aid, heavy vehicle driving and dealing with hazardous materials (HAZMAT).
In the past year, FRNSW has responded to 140,000 emergency incidents, conducted more than 24,000 safety visits and provided fire safety education to more than 40,000 children.
The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding Fire and Rescue NSW. The 2024-25 NSW Budget saved the jobs of almost 300 firefighters left unfunded by the former Coalition government. The Government is also building new fire stations in Byron Bay, Charlestown and Badgerys Creek.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build stronger, safer communities across the state.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:
“I congratulate the graduating recruits and welcome them into the emergency services family.
“It takes a special kind of person to put the safety of others ahead of their own and to help those in need.
“That is the very best definition of public service.
“Our recruits will now put their training into action, joining metropolitan and regional fire crews across the state.”
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“I thank this group of recruits for making the commitment today to protect lives in communities across the state by joining Fire and Rescue NSW.
“Having been trained to prepare for anything, I am certain these new recruits will have a positive impact on the people of NSW for many years to come.
“It’s a special day for our newest recruits and their families, and I wish them all long and safe careers as NSW firefighters.”
Commissioner of FRNSW Jeremy Fewtrell said:
“FRNSW is leading the way when it comes to equipping and training firefighters.
“While today’s graduates come from diverse backgrounds, they have one thing in common – a drive to protect the irreplaceable.
“From today they are part of an organisation where the safety and trust of the community is at the heart of everything we do.”
Firefighter profiles
Firefighter Charly Rusconi
Former skydiving instructor, Charly Rusconi, who has over 9,000 jumps under his belt. He completed his training in September and is now stationed at Silverwater Fire Station.
In his first months, Firefighter Rusconi and his crew responded to variety of incidents including structure fires, motor vehicle accidents and an animal rescue.
Firefighter Charly Rusconi said:
“The training we received was so interesting yet intense.
“Given my skydiving experience, I was comfortable with the ‘working at heights’ and ‘ropes’ components, but everything else was brand new.
“Since being stationed at Silverwater, I’ve completed 14 shifts and attended 10 structure fires.
“It’s unfortunate that often we come across people during times of distress, but I love that we can make their day a little better.
“Most of my crew are parents, so we love being able to engage with kids in the local community, whether that’s talking to them on the street or visiting schools for fire safety education sessions.”
Firefighter Atanesi Tia
On-call Firefighter Atanesi Tia, from Griffith, juggles her new role alongside a busy family life.
Firefighter Atanesi Tia said:
“I was looking for a career change that let me balance caring for my three children.
“A family friend invited us to a drill night at Griffith Fire Station last year as my husband was initially interested in joining, but I ended up signing up instead.
“My background is Samoan, so family and community are extremely important to me, and the flexibility of being an on-call firefighter allows me to spend more time with my son before he starts kindergarten next year.
“This job can be challenging, but it gives me a great sense of purpose and I love that I can be there for my local community during their time of need.”
