20 new recruits are set to join ACT Fire & Rescue as Recruit College 44 kickstarts the first class of 2021. The cohort will be the first of two classes to join the service this year.
The ACT Government has committed to investing in more firefighters with 99 additional places being added over the next five years.
The recruits bring a vast range of experience into ACT Fire & Rescue. There are members who have previous firefighting experience with Fire and Rescue NSW, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, through to experience in landscaping, health, accounting and defence.
Among the cohort are four women who, upon graduation, will join the 18 female firefighters currently in service across the territory.
The class will go through 20 weeks of rigorous training, both theoretical and practical applications before their final assessments and graduation in June 2021.