Firefighter

I want to find out more about working for the emergency services in Australia. I have been a firefighter since I left the Army (many years ago) and before this I was at school?
I have read the services websites but I wanted to hear from anyone actually working in the emergency service in Australia now. What are your experiences, are you happy? Do you earn enough to servive?
Thinking about applying to the ambulance service, not sure where to settle, so many questions and so much uncertainty!
Thanks
FF

Pollyana

well, I work for them, but I'm office based, not operational, so can't give you much info I'm afraid! From my point of view - working for the Counter Disaster Service in Brisbane - its a good job, and i'm as content with it as I was as a support worker for the UK police.

moneypenny20

Hya FF. Hubby is a firefighter here (UK) and after a lot of internet exploring and help from Poll, we have decided that he is going for a complete change of career. Having been in the job 20 years, he feels he is getting too old for it! It seems to be very difficult to get in. Whatever experience you have counts for very little. You would have to take your chances with all the 18 year olds coming in.

I think all the states work vaguely the same, but Queensland only recruit about once a year and only take on a limited number. They don't even take from other states. Obviously happy to spend thousands training from scratch as opposed to taking trained personnel.

Don't know much about the ambulance service except that it is a fairly basic service compared to the UK - no paramedics as we have them. Friend is a paramedic here and they were amazed by what she was allowed to do.

renth

You ought to check the St John ambulance site, I think you need to do their paramedic degree course as part of the training and it's WELL oversubscribed.

Here is the info about becoming a paramedic in WA

http://www.ambulance.net.au/html/Abo...e/careers.html

I'm in the process of joining the volunteer bush fire brigade, but as the name suggests, it's not paid, just voluntary.

Firefighter

thanks everyone, moneypenny, is your husband leaving the brigade - just handing in his notice?
FF

Badge

The current VIC Country Fire Authority actually appears to like real experience many 18 years olds get rejected and the full time jobs are going to men in their 30s with truck licenses.

I say full time as 90pc are volunteers like myself.

badge

moneypenny20

Yup - when the piggin house sells Can't wait. Has had enough anyway of white shirts shuffling papers and making c*ck ups