NSW welcomes 16 brand new firefighters

Last published on 25 Oct 2019 

Sixteen new firefighters will enhance the safety of communities across NSW after graduating from the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Emergency Services Academy in Western Sydney today.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the recruits and welcomed them into the firefighting family.

“The 16 firefighters have signed up for one of the most demanding and important roles in our community and will soon take up positions at fire stations,” Mr Elliott said.

“They are a special group of men and women and they represent a new generation of firefighters who have started their journey and honed their lifesaving skills at the state of the art FRNSW Emergency Services Academy.”

These recruits bring diverse backgrounds to their new role which include a former chef, correctional officer, Army parachute rigger, police officer, carpenter, photographer, ski instructor and heavy plant operator.

“I thank them for putting their hands up to serve our community and I wish them all long, prosperous and safe careers as NSW firefighters,” Mr Elliott said.

FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the graduates had proven their abilities over months of intense training.

“These recruits have shown they have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work that our firefighters do – from educating the community about fire safety and providing emergency medical care to responding to natural disasters and rescue incidents,” Mr Baxter said.

This is the third FRNSW graduation in 2019 with another ceremony scheduled for later in the year to bolster frontlines across the State.

Download Media Release: NSW welcomes 16 brand new firefighters (PDF , 158.7 KB)