Regional fire commanders share experience in Ballina
Published: 19th August 2010
Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan said fire commanders from 20 NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) stations across the state’s north-east would attend their annual conference in Ballina this weekend. Mr Whan said the conference was an opportunity for station commanders from across the region, from Grafton to Tweed Heads, to share their experiences and develop their leadership skills. "These station commanders are the frontline officers who manage fire stations and firefighters, respond to emergencies and understand the issues and challenges in their local communities," Mr Whan said.
"Retained firefighters, together with their full-time colleagues, are vital to NSWFB operations across regional NSW. Their commitment is crucial to ensuring the safety of residents in hundreds of communities throughout the state. "Conferences like these ensure officers have the skills and knowledge they need to continue providing outstanding fire and rescue services to their local communities." NSWFB Assistant Commissioner Jim Hamilton said discussions would cover topics such as training in new workplace policies and procedures to provide better support for firefighters.
"The station commanders will be updated with the latest information on NSWFB initiatives from across our organisation," Assistant Commissioner Hamilton said. "The event also is an important forum for the zone management team to hear first-hand about local issues and challenges facing firefighters across the region." Mr Whan thanked the region's firefighters for their commitment and hard work.
"Many of the officers who will be in Ballina this weekend are on-call firefighters who devote many hours outside their regular jobs and family responsibilities to protect their local communities," he said. For information about becoming a retained firefighter in the north-east visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au