After 19 weeks of intense training including theory and practice, 30 new recruits graduated on Monday 26 June as full-time career firefighters.
Their official graduation was held at a ceremony at the Victorian Emergency Management Training Campus in Craigieburn.
Recruits will take up positions at 20 fire stations covering outer Melbourne suburbs and regional Victoria.
CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington said the recruits’ intense preparation would enable them to hit the ground running when they started on station next week.
“From next week, our new firefighters will combine their on-the-job training with regular firefighting duties and the community will be all the better for that,” he said.
“They are the product of CFA excellence – an excellence on display on countless occasions during emergencies throughout the state, the country and indeed the world.
“This is the start of a new life for these recruits and, for many, the culmination of a dream they have worked towards for many years.
“It is particularly pleasing to see the diversity of backgrounds and life experience among our recruits which reflects the evolving community in which these recruits will serve.
Four recruits have moved from interstate, including South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales to begin their new careers as Victorian firefighters.
“Today these recruits join the ranks of one of the most dynamic, resilient emergency service organisations in one of the most bushfire prone areas of the world.
“All 30 recruits should be very proud of their efforts as we are of them.”
The latest recruits will serve communities in Ballarat City, Belmont, Craigieburn, Dandenong, Eltham, Geelong City, Hallam, Mildura, Ocean Grove, Rosebud, Shepparton, Sunbury, Traralgon, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.
Photos by Blair Dellemijn, Uniform Photography
Author: CFA Media