DFES Boosts Volunteer Firefighter Leadership Skills

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in Western Australia recently conducted its third Bushfire Officer Development program. The initiative aims to strengthen the leadership and operational skills of experienced volunteer firefighters across the state.

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A Hands-On Leadership Program

The live-in program, hosted in October 2024 at the DFES Bushfire Centre of Excellence, welcomed 16 seasoned volunteers. Participants came from the Bush Fire Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, and Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service. Two officers from the Department of Justice also joined the training.

• Volunteers learned leadership, conflict resolution, and fire weather analysis.
• The program combined theory with practical exercises for real-world application.
• Participants engaged in bushfire simulations to improve decision-making under pressure.
• Peer mentoring played a key role in strengthening brigade operations statewide.

One volunteer mentioned that the course provided crucial insights into leadership in high-pressure environments.

Figure 1: BOD participants carrying out a field exercise. [DFES]

Building Leadership Through Self-Reflection

The program focused on self-awareness and leadership development. Volunteers completed the DiSC profile assessment, a tool that identifies personality traits:

• Dominance (D) – Leadership and decision-making under pressure.
• Influence (i) – Communication and teamwork skills.
• Steadiness (S) – Adaptability and consistency in emergency responses.
• Conscientiousness (C) – Attention to detail and adherence to protocols.

A participant shared that the self-reflection exercises helped them understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

Practical Firefighting Scenarios

The program included high-pressure field exercises to prepare volunteers for real emergencies. Participants handled simulated bushfire incidents, reinforcing skills in:

• Stress management during operations.
• Coordinating teams in challenging conditions.
• Making quick and effective decisions.

Robert Schmidt from Baldivis Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Brigade expressed how the exercises tested their ability to stay calm under stress. He said that managing tough conversations and leading a team during crises were valuable lessons from the training.

Networking and Peer Support

Beyond skill-building, the program created networking opportunities for firefighters across different brigades. Volunteers:

• Exchanged best practices with peers.
• Built connections to strengthen bushfire management strategies.
• Shared experiences to foster a resilient leadership community.

One participant noted that the ability to learn from others made the program even more valuable.

Looking Ahead

DFES will continue to offer the Bushfire Officer Development program to equip with essential leadership and firefighting skills. Volunteers interested in joining future sessions can find updates on the DFES Volunteer Hub.

This initiative highlights DFES’s commitment to enhancing bushfire response capabilities in Western Australia.

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