Junior firefighters to put their skills on display

Twenty-one teams from across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia will compete at Douglas Park in the Southern Highlands region.

The event, jointly hosted by the RFS and the Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA), sees cadets participate in life-like scenarios designed to test their skills, initiative and safety procedures.

Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, said the Championships, established by the RFS in 2007, were an opportunity for the firefighters of tomorrow to showcase their technical talent, enthusiasm and leadership.

“Young people have a great deal they can offer their communities and it is tremendous to see fire services around Australia providing the opportunity for them to learn and develop their abilities,” he said.

“During the competition, cadets will need to draw on the range of skills they have developed in order to respond to a number of scenarios in the best possible way.

“I am inspired to see so many members of the next generation already putting in the work to become emergency service volunteers – a cohort of dedicated individuals on whom we so often rely here in NSW and around the nation.”

Commissioner of the RFS, Rob Rogers, said the RFS was committed to investing in the development of the firefighters and leaders of the future through its Secondary School Cadet Program.

“More than 11,000 young people have completed our Cadet program, learning essential fire safety techniques, examining fire behaviour and gaining an understanding of our members’ work,” he said.

“Just as importantly, they are experiencing first-hand the camaraderie and personal satisfaction that comes with volunteering,” he said.

“The Service is proud to pass on the ideals of community service, dedication and teamwork to the next generation. By investing in the cadets of today, we know the community will be in good hands in the decades to come.”

Spectators are welcome to take a glimpse of the future of volunteer firefighting, with free entry on both competition days.