CFA’s Promotional Program Team is upskilling a record number of career firefighters, with 20 currently working to obtain their Leading Firefighter qualifications, via an at-capacity course at CFA’s VEMTC Bangholme.
CFA Assessor during a Leading Firefighter practice drill at VEMTC Bangholme.
Last month, 12 new Station Officers (SO) five Leading Firefighters (LFF) completed courses at CFA’s Bangholme Campus.
Upskilling more career firefighters than ever before increases our organisation’s overall capacity to support a growing workforce through the 350 Firefighter Program (P350), as part of the Growth Programs’ Promote, Create and Appoint sub-program.
Participants completed practical assessments such as Command & Control in the Urban & Bushfire Environment, Lesson Delivery and HR Scenarios, and theory components including Legislation, Bushfire Theory & In Tray Exercises.
Operations Officer, Promotional Programs and Assessments, Graham Kirk said additional leadership capacity these programs provide enhances service delivery across Victoria in line with P350.
“The skills, knowledge and operational leadership the candidates are equipped with ensures safe and effective incident management will remain their focus on promotion, along with being well positioned to lead and manage teams right across CFA,” Mr Kirk said.
“With the LFF course, the focus is to upskill firefighters to become Level 1 Incident Controllers and supervisors of small teams. They are required to assess an incident scene and delegate resources appropriately to efficiently and safely get the incident under control.
“Participants for both the LFF and SO courses do extensive preparation on station, in the lead-up to courses, which includes researching a range of topics relating to the various practical and theoretical assessments they will undertake to become qualified.” Watch interviews with LFF Course participants Sam Delany and Nick Sharp.