A desk job isn’t for everyone and is certainly not what Natalie Brindle wanted for her career.
Her calling was firefighting.
Natalie moved to Portland from Caroline Springs two years ago and hasn’t looked back.
Working in Portland, in the state’s far south west, comes with its unique challenges - and working on your own is one.
“I came to Portland for one month, filling in and I really liked the place, so I decided to stay on,” she said.
“I’ve got a bit more responsibility being the only career firefighter at the station.”
Natalie started as a volunteer with the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, before moving to Victoria around 10 years ago.
Her first posting since graduating at Fiskville was to Shepparton Fire Station. She then moved to Caroline Springs where she stayed for around seven years, filling in at Sunbury, Craigieburn, Greenvale and Hoppers Crossing.
Without knowing anyone else in town, she took the plunge and moved to Portland.
Natalie hopes to become qualified as a fire investigator, but wants to continue to put out fires, staying hands-on on the front line.
“There’s so much unpredictability. You don’t know what you’re doing day-to-day. I would get bored if I was doing the same thing hour after hour,” she said.
“Helping the community is important; the job is exciting and has the unknown element.
“It’s also one of the very few careers which has a clearly defined career path of progression and security, which is something not a lot of people have.”
CFA is now recruiting career firefighters, and is calling on fit, active men and women, from all cultural backgrounds to apply.
For more information, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/career
Author: CFA Media