Ratings for NSW Rural Fire Service are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines
Reviews
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4.0
Mitigation/FireFighter
Jan 2026
Deniliquin NSW 2710Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
I’ve met some great people and hopeful for the future ahead
The good thingsNew relationships and new experiences
The challengescommunication and misleading
1 person found this helpful
4.0
District Coordinator
Nov 2025
Hornsby NSW 20778 to 9 years in the role, former employee
I believe I significantly contributed towards the protection of the community
The good thingsMaking meaningful impacts to protect the community and environment from devastating wildfires
The challengesThere are man challenges in maintaining a volunteer workforce
1.0
Opo
Sep 2025
Wagga Wagga & Riverina NSW1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
Don't bother -toxic leadership and work environment.
The good thingsBeing able to travel across NSW. Interacting with volunteer members
The challengesPoolr pay.Being on-call. Toxic leadership. Managers only interested in own career. Take a l-o-n-g time to implement decisions and change.
1.0
Operations Officer
Mar 2025
Cowra NSW 27943 to 4 years in the role, former employee
While the service try and promote a positive working culture this is spoiled by management who in this day and age are still stuck in the 1990s. The amount of toxic in fighting between staff members and area / district staff is staggering which spoils the opportunities for the staff that want to make a positive impact and make volunteers life better with positive outcomes for the community.
The good thingsAbility to travel to other locations. Some colleagues were nice and polite and tried to build a positive non judgmental atmosphere and environment.
The challengesToxic management culture within certain staff members. Lack of training opportunities. I witnessed multiple occasions of disrespect and agenda setting towards some staff members. When you try and highlight these issues it’s completely ignored by senior management. No emotional intelligence.
1 person found this helpful
1.0
Information Technology Support Role
Dec 2024
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
Great co workers - terrible atmosphere
The good thingsGreat team to work with
The challengesManagement - promoted past their level of competency. Clueless, selfish and no interest to improve the working environment. Over zealous disciplinary team who make people's lives a misery. The organisation needs a massive decapitation
1 person found this helpful
1.0
Administration Officer
Jul 2024
Tamworth & North West NSW
non supportive environment.
The good thingsThe volunteers are good, some are needy but overall good
The challengesLack of direction and leadership, Management and staff seem to be just in it for themselves to climb the ladder in the organization. Very little support from middle and upper management.
3 people found this helpful
2.0
State Mitigation Services
Mar 2020
1 to 2 years in the role
Has left a very sour taste in my mouth
The good thingsWorked with some very solid people and did some interesting things not offered to volunteers.
The challengesThe lack of leadership and poor management. Asking to do courses which are relevant and beneficial to your role, only to be told do it outside of work time or use your own leave for them.
Could go on sadly.
2 people found this helpful
1.0
Team Leader
Mar 2020
When you tell people you work for the rfs you feel proud but being on the inside the culture is very poor
The good thingsThe reward of working for an organisation with good community profile that does good things
The challengesLack of good leadership and characterised by poor management style
3 people found this helpful
5.0
Geographic Information System Analyst
Mar 2020
I have had a very good experience working at NSW Rural Fire Service.
The good thingsTreated equally and enhanced GIS skills.
The challengesWorking long hours and handling pressure.
2 people found this helpful
1.0
Management
Nov 2019
Devastating
The good thingsField workers and peers - great work ethic, good workers, honest, genuine
The challengesOut-of-control authoritarian management practices, appalling treatment of workers and peers, low morale, high staff turnover
1 person found this helpful
3.0
District officer
Nov 2019
9 to 10 years in the role
Taxing
The good thingsNo two days are the same
The challengesWork life balance is a challenge to say the least
1 person found this helpful
4.0
Supervisor
Nov 2019
You feel like you are contributing to the community
The good thingsWorking for communities
The challengesBalancing work and family
5.0
Test Manager
Sep 2019
1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
Old school but rapidly scaling up.
The good thingsFamily atmosphere. They watch your back
The challengesSilos. They have a way to come to integrate their systems.
1 person found this helpful
1.0
Volunteer Fire Fighter
May 2019
7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
Would still be there if the paid staffs management experience was decent
The good thingsTo be clear, I was a volunteer. Training and development was great.
The challengesUpper management at a district level. I was consistently birated and made example of by a certain superintendent because I raised questions.
3.0
Operations Officer
Mar 2018
Pays well, good work/life balance, lack of leadership.
The good thingsWork/life balance and pay were good.
Modern facilities.
The challengesManagement are just place holders. Zero care or attempt to manage their teams. Managers are just looking out for themselves firstly, before looking out for their team.
1 person found this helpful
4.0
Quality and compliance supervisor
Feb 2018
Stretches your capabilities to the limit but always something new
The good thingsGood setting for development easy access to new challenges. High levels of autonomy
The challengesLoads of work to do always emerging issues highly dynamic.
5.0
District administration officer
Nov 2017
Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
Would go back in a heart beat of an admin position came up.
The good thingsWorking with volunteers
The challengesFire season is very hectic dealing with fire bugs constantly .
5.0
Communications Officer
Nov 2017
3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
A great career starter
The good things12 Hour shifts- Mostly 4 on 5 off. Flexible when taking leave. Professional emergency service which you feel proud to be a part of.
The challengesExpanding department with new challenges every day moving forward. IT system advancements are a challenge in its infancy.
3.0
Regional Services
Nov 2017
An organisation that expects over and above with no additional remuneration
The good thingsFlexible work hours arrangement
The challengesMore work to do than can be completed in the 35 hour week
1.0
Field officer
Sep 2017
3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
Couldn't pay me enough to go back
The good thingsThe people you work with
The challengesThe management building their own little empires
1.0
Coordinator
Sep 2017
An organisation that has no respect or care for its staff.
The good thingsIt is the highest paid organisation of its type.
The challengesDealing with Management
3.0
Administration Officer
Aug 2017
Less than 1 year in the role
Would only ever go back there if it was a permanent position.
The good thingsMost of the staff were approachable.
The challengesthe politics of the environment.
5.0
NSW Rural Fire Service - Admin Officer
Aug 2017
3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
Best position ever held, the diversity and overall experience was exceptional
The good thingsEvery day differs great all round experience
The challengesEvery day is different
5.0
Project Manager, NSW RFS Dispatch Sytem Project
Feb 2016
3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
It was one of the most rewarding roles I have had and would love to do it again. I am still a 37 year volunteer in the RFS
The good thingsThe friendship, camaraderie and genuine belief that we provide a professional and valuable service to our community drives everyone to do our best and pull together as a team.
The challengesAt times the work load and diversity of job requirements, including the amount of travel and effort required to change the way things have been done in the past can require considerable determination.
4.0
Executive Personal Assistant
Feb 2016
The best boss I've ever had and a Service I was proud to work for.
The good thingsMy boss who has now retired.
The challengesManagement challenged
4.0
District Services Coordinator
Feb 2016
A variety of work within a volunteer based emergency service.
The good thingsGovernment security of employment, good organisation with a positive contribution to the safety of the community
The challengesDealing with government bureaucracy and processes.
5.0
GIS Officer
Sep 2015
Great working environment, good cause, good opportunities.
The good thingsProfessional organization that uses state of the art technology to achieve a worthwhile mission. Good opportunities for development, good IT management, central location.
The challengesGovernment employees.
5.0
Volunteer. Firefighter
Sep 2015
3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
A fun and exciting role that everyone should try.
The good thingsBeing able to meet new people, gain life experience, the challenges and tasks you have to overcome and giving back to the community is a great and satisfying feeling.
The challengesSome people aren't as like minded as you and try and hold you back or don't want to participate which makes it a real struggle.
5.0
Firefighter
Sep 2015
Awesome
The good thingsProtecting and assisting the community when they need it most from fires to search and rescue to accidents being a volunteer is so rewarding it's like a huge family also
The challengesIf we're going to be able to come home safely
4.0
Mitigation team member
Sep 2015
3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
This was the best job I have had in my whole life
The good thingsI love being outdoors and that is what my jmitigation ob was all about. I got to travel and meet heaps of great people.
The challengesThe hardest part of the job was having to cope with poor management. That has all changed now and it has made a definite improvement to work Enviroment
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