The Tasmania Fire Service has welcomed 24 new firefighters to its ranks following completion of a gruelling 15-week training program.
Seven women were among the graduates celebrated at Thursday’s ceremony, the largest female intake in the service’s history.
Acting Deputy Chief Operations Officer Simon Pilkington said the milestone brings the total number of female firefighters across the state to 30 and male 329.
“We’ve had the most females that we’ve had in any recruit course … and that’s really impressive to see that our active recruitment in that area is working,” he said.
The intensive program covered urban and wildfire suppression, hazardous materials response and road crash rescue, with scenarios designed to push recruits to their limits.
Graduate Adam Jones, who previously worked in real estate and defence, described the training as tough but rewarding.
“Being able to train with a really good group of people and build those bonds is really important in a role like this,” Jones said.
Fellow graduate Angus Price, a former carpenter, was inspired to join the service after volunteering with Disaster Relief Australia two years ago.
“They told me that I’d get the same satisfaction out of this job as I did from volunteering with that organisation,” Price said.
“And since then it’s just been something that I’ve given everything to pursue.”
Pilkington said the demanding training creates lasting bonds between team members.
“There’s no surer thing in forming a strong team than putting people in a pressure situation and that’s what [the] training firefighter development program does,” he said.
“They go through a number of different tests and scenarios throughout the program. It’s not easy, it’s difficult and they form strong bonds and friendships that will last for their entire service history.”
The new firefighters will undergo brigade-specific orientation at Hobart and Launceston fire brigades before joining active response crews. 12 firefighters will be stationed at each.
