Firefighter
Use fire suppression techniques to protect public life and property from fire hazards.
Job opportunities
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Jobs on SEEK right now
Job growth
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Projected job growth in 5 years
Salary
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Typical salary
Job satisfaction
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What's it like to be a Firefighter?
Firefighters are trained emergency response specialists who serve to protect public life and property. They control and extinguish fires and respond to other emergency calls including search and rescue and high angle rescue, and motor or marine accidents. They are trained in first aid and have a high level of physical fitness combined with the ability to stay calm when working under extreme pressure.
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Tasks and duties
- Attending the scene of fires and other emergencies including motor, industrial and marine accidents.
- Rescuing and evacuating people in life-threatening situations.
- Operating pumps, spraying water, foam and chemicals from hoses, portable extinguishers and other appliances to extinguish fires and to disperse or neutralise dangerous substances.
- Cutting openings in buildings and crashed vehicles to free occupants.
- Administering first aid.
- Attending and participating in training activities, rescue classes, drills, demonstrations and courses in emergency and fire-fighting techniques.
- Ensuring all tools and equipment are in good working order through regular maintenance.
- Participating in search and rescue and high angle rescue operations.
- Assisting other agencies in emergencies
- Educating the community in matters of fire safety.
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Firefighters conduct fire hazard analysis, building and water supply inspections and educate the community in matters of fire prevention. They interact with members of the public daily and work in conjunction with other emergency response agencies including Police Officers and Paramedics. Firefighters work for fire response departments in metropolitan and rural areas all over Australia.
How to become a Firefighter
- Hold Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency.
- Hold a current Australian driver’s licence and have a good driving history. You may also be required to undergo a Police Check and gain a First Aid Certificate.
- Apply online and undergo the mandatory recruitment testing process including a personality test, physical aptitude test, selection interview and medical assessment.
- Undertake the recruit training course which could take between 13-21 weeks. On successful completion you will be offered a role as a Firefighter (a probationary period may apply in some states).
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Latest Firefighter jobs on SEEK
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Location
AustraliaTop skills and experience requested in recent job ads
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Fire FightingHLTAID006 Provide Advanced First AidHLTAID003 Provide First AidCommunication SystemsAustralian HR LicenceRadio CommunicationsNavigationEmergency Medical ResponseHR VehicleUsing Power ToolsSkills listed in your SEEK Profile
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Is Firefighter the right role for me?
How do Firefighters rate their role?
Average ratings calculated from 38 Firefighters surveyed on SEEK.
Work-life balance
4.6
Job satisfaction
4.7
Career progression opportunities
4.1
Job security
4.2
Pay / Salary
3.9
Variety of work
4.7
Job market trends for Firefighters
Location
AustraliaProjected job growth
National increase over next 5 years
2021
2026
Source: National Skills Commission. Fire and Emergency Workers
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews
Latest Firefighter reviews
Latest reviews from 35 Firefighters surveyed on SEEK.
All
Positive
Negative
Oct 2018
Firefighting can be tough at the best of times but is well worth it at the end of a day/job
Reviewer's Qualification
Certificate II in Firefighting (Operations)
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
On call firefighter
The good things
This is a good job for the fact it is very flexible for your lifestyle and great opportunities to better yourself
The challenges
There good deal of fun challenges in training and on the job to achieve with your team it makes you feel better as person/team when the job is done with a good/great outcome
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Nov 2018
Volunteer firefighting is amazing, I wouldn't volunteer elsewhere
Reviewer's Qualification
Certificate III in Ambulance Technician
Experience
10+ years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Firefighting
The good things
If your passionate about assisting the community, experiencing new and challenging opportunities, professional development, career advancement, qualification building, team work and mateship like no o...
The challenges
Some of the challenges you may face include trying and achieving new objectives you may not have thought otherwise possible, waking up early mornings, late nights too attend emergency incidents, and w...
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Source: SEEK role reviews
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data