Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has celebrated a decade of its Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy (IFARES) with a cultural ceremony at the Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills, in Sydney’s west.
The pathway program, jointly run by TAFE NSW and FRNSW, offers Indigenous participants the opportunity to ready themselves for a career in firefighting.
At today’s ceremony, held at the Academy’s dedicated Yarning Circle, past graduates put on an Aboriginal performance reflecting this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud.”
Comments from Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell
Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell, said the program is giving participants access to opportunities that they may otherwise not have had.
“IFARES is a great platform that gives graduates relevant qualifications and skills that increase their chances of success when it comes to the FRNSW recruitment process,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.
“For FRNSW to truly represent the community it serves, we need to build on our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” he said, “The IFARES program is one way that we’re doing this."
“Through this pathway, we’ve welcomed more than 80 firefighters into our ranks who are committed to keeping our communities safe."
“At the end of the six-month program, participants walk away with a Certificate III in Fitness, practical experience in simulated emergencies and insight into the FRNSW recruitment process."
“While the IFARES program doesn’t guarantee anyone a job as a firefighter, it does provide the foundational experience and skills needed to pursue it as a career.”
Words from Senior Firefighter
Senior Firefighter Jye Doyle, a proud Dunghutti man and 2015 IFARES graduate, says it offers First Nations people the opportunity to give back to their communities.
"As First Nations firefighters, not only do we perform our roles as first responders, we also have meaningful engagement with our community,” Senior Firefighter Doyle said.
“The IFARES program was designed to build relationships and understanding within our fire service, as well as strengthen community resilience and trust with emergency services.”
In 2022, Jye was part of an all-Indigenous deployment to Eugowra, sent to assist Indigenous communities that had slipped through the gap and were struggling to obtain resources.
“It was such a rewarding experience that will continue to shape me and my career as a First Nations firefighter and one that I’m thankful to FRNSW for providing me,” Senior Firefighter Doyle said.
Empowering Indigenous People
“One of the aims of IFARES is to empower Indigenous people to believe they can be firefighters - we want them to dream big and believe that it is possible to get there.”
“As the saying goes, “If you can see it, you can be it,” and that’s what we want the messaging and purpose of IFARES to be for our community – if you want to be a firefighter, then you can absolutely be one”.
“I encourage all who are passionate about making a difference and supporting their community, to consider a firefighting career with FRNSW. It’s an amazing workplace that honours and respects the contributions of First Nations people”.
