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Joining the RFS as a volunteerThe Rural Fire Service is made up of volunteers from all walks of life. Rural fire brigades are a reflection of every local community. Becoming a volunteer firefighter is easier than most people think. Brigades offer training ranging from basic firefighting, village firefighting and first aid to chainsaw operation and rural fire driving. We don’t just offer firefighting roles, we have a multitude of areas that require volunteers. Communications, catering, logistics, planning and brigade support are critical – there is a job for nearly everyone in the RFS. Once you have made the decision to join, there are several steps to becoming a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). First you must fill out an application form which you can get through your nearest brigade or Fire Control Centre (FCC). Alternatively, you can also fill out a Membership Enquiry Form on this website (link at the bottom of this page) which will go to your nearest FCC, who will then contact you. Senior membership is for those 16 years and older. The Senior Membership Application is split into two sections: Section 1 of the Membership Application form needs to be signed by both yourself (+ parents if under 18) and the Captain of your selected brigade and then forwarded to the Fire Control Centre for processing; and Section 2 of the application needs to be sent direct to the Service Membership Unit using the reply paid address listed in that section. Next, senior membership applicants are invited in to the Fire Control Centre for an interview/100 point ID check as soon as is practical. The RFS must carry out a criminal history check (your privacy will be protected when dealing with this information) which is processed using information you submit to the Service Membership Unit in Section 2 of the Membership Application form. After the interview, an application takes approximately 21 days to process and the RFS checks your application against its central database of brigade information. You will then receive a letter advising you whether your application has been successful or not. If you are successful, you will be accepted as a probationary member for 6 months. You must undertake the first (basic) level of training before being able to attend fire calls. Once your training is complete and at the end of 6 months, the brigade votes to accept or reject you as a member. You will receive internal notification from your brigade that you are now an ordinary member of the brigade and able to undertake duties as an active member. If you are unsure of which brigade you should join or have queries regarding the process, simply contact your Fire Control Centre for advice, we’re happy to help! Next Steps:
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The views expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the views or the policies of the NSW Rural Fire Service |