2025 Flashcards
Why do you want to be a firefighter?
Since I was young - always had an ability to remain calm under pressure
At the age of 16, witnessed a fatal accident which set me on a path to emergency services.
Standing feeling useless and never wanting to feel that way again.
Initially had a desire to be a firefighter, however due to my age and only being recently licensed, I was unable to apply straight away.
Given the opportunity to study at VU with a scholarship; so I refocused my sights on a paramedic career.
I was able to create a career & achieve the things I wanted to as a paramedic, including FIFO & remote work.
Now the appropriate time to apply for a career as a firefighter.
What skills do you bring to the role?
Teamwork - working with various teams both large & small, I’ve developed an ability to work effectively with anyone under any situation. With AV as a 2 person team, similar to BA team with FRV, and also larger teams with ffmvic. I have a good understanding of the importance of teamwork & working with individual strengths in order to develop a stronger overall team.
Communication - strong belief that open honest communication is the most effective way to ensure understanding within teams. No one can read minds, so openly communicating rather than assuming, I’ve seen can prevent majority of problems! E.g snowy with Erin
Critical thinking - the time I’ve spent in emergency services has provided me with a unique ability to react to any situation and to utilise the resources available at that time. Transferring this to FRV gives me a basis on which to build on and continue to strengthen this skill in a different role.
Other than emergencies what do firefighter do?
Day in the life
Similar in nature to that of an AV paramedic. Start the day with muster - allocations of roles & general information for the shift
Equipment and vehicle checks, check BAs and EMR equipment. Most important, as one will save you, the other will save someone else.
Tasks for the day may include key checks, training drills, hydrant indicating, cleaning, education programs such as fire ed or flames. Maintain physical fitness with a workout, skills passport in first year as a recruit.
Of course respond to emergencies in between those tasks when dispatched.
What is EMR?
Providing emergency medical response to an unconscious, pulseless, non breathing patient. Aim to improve survival rates by reducing response times and following the basic concepts of early defib, early cpr, early intervention resulting in better outcomes.
Firefighters have been trained in emr since 2001 and rolled out into stations across vic in 2011. Since been very successful with FRV being first on scene to 50% of dispatched emr cases.
These specialist skills allow early intervention to occur including airway management, advanced cpr, defib, and first aid. The roll out of tourniquets, salbutamol nebs, EpiPens, narcan are also in the process of being released as firefighter are trained in their use.
Mental health services offered by frv
EMR calls can be the most traumatic and difficult regardless of how much exposure or experience you have. Continued exposure slowly fills your bucket up, until it overflows and you can no longer cope effectively.
Similarly to AV, frv have multiple services accessible to firefighters including speaking with crews or so, peer support services, internal counselling, chaplain and psych services as well as external psych services that are also available to families. Cases can be flagged by so as a signal 27, indicating a request for peer support or psych services to make contact with the crew post job.
In my experience, it is not always a traumatic job that results in poor mental health, but that build up overtime.
To prevent the bucket from filling up, utilising these services as a maintenance tool, as well as the SEEDS habits (sleep, education, exercise, diet and social connections). By implementing these habits from the mhfa program, mental health and resilience will be stronger leaving a better ability to cope with traumatic situations. When stressed, more likely to fall back into those habits rather than into unhealthy ones.
Never experienced this is a firefighter, however the experiences as a paramedic have put me in a good position to manage my expectations and mental health when presented with EMR cases.
Example of resilience and how you cope with stress
I’ve found the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” to be extremely accurate.
Long shifts, high stress environment, night shifts, running a business, very quickly take a toll on the body.
To manage this I’ve developed a routine and healthy coping mechanisms that help to alleviate that stress.
Physical health as well as mental health, regular workouts, meals, rest.
E.g equipment to Mildura - great lists and step back. Reassess, dynamic risk assessment.
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity of race, gender, age, culture, religion - understand and reflect communities served. Similar to sales role, must understand your target market. Service roles also have to understand the people they are serving. By reflecting the community via diversity and inclusion, better able to relate to the people of the community and serve it better.
Diversity of skills, experience, knowledge and qualifications. Allows for stronger teams, as you are able to utilise strengths from each individual background and skill set, creating uncapped potential within your team.
E.g as seen within ffmvic, people from various backgrounds that bring those skills to the role. Plumber and a chippy, able to utilise those skills in building a creating. Loggers know the bush back to front, able to direct and provide insight that cannot be gained from maps or office intel.
Conflict resolution
I believe communication is the key to preventing conflict within teams in the first place. In my experience with both small and larger teams, majority of issues stem from miscommunication and hence misunderstanding.
E.g snowy hydro small team. A passing comment was taken out of context and reported to management and a co worker was very upset. I managed this by speaking directly to the coworker and explaining the context behind the comment & assured her that there was no malicious intent to the comment. I apologised for how she was feeling, and that I never intended to cause such angst. I also assured her that any issues that did arise for her would be communicated directly to her, not through management.
The result of this was we were able to continue a professional working relationship which actually stemmed into a friendship following our conversation.
I’ve learned that honesty is the best policy and we cannot ever assume another persons thoughts or feelings.
Rank structure - why is it important
A rank structure is importantly in establishing a clear line of command and communication which enables a safe work environment in a high risk role. Clear reporting structure removes confusion of who to report or take orders from. Under high stress it is essential that this line of command is clear.
I’ve witnessed the importance of this on a fire line with ffmvic, the transfer of information down the chain of command but also transferring information back up that chain if a safety issue or hazard is identified. E.g working under hazardous trees on fire line, notified crew leader who passed up the chain that we were unable to complete our tasking due to safety issue. This meant the plan was changed & we were all kept safe.
FRV’sine of command is similar to that of ffmvic, with the added identification of ranks or roles with coloured hats. Particular on a fireground this would be so beneficial should comms be unreliable. Able to find s.o quickly for reporting or safety issues.
Reduces risk of hazards, ensures safety of all crew members and reduces any confusion.
Safety & ignoring protocols
In place for a reason to ensure everyone’s safety, particularly when working in a high risk environment.
Keeping crews safe protects not only them, but the impact it has on the team. E.g if someone is injured, they need to be replaced. It affects family as they help with medical appointments and transport. Ripple effect, so it’s in everyone’s best interests to ensure safety at work.
E.g attend case without police, refuse due to what we could see on scene.
Teamwork - best teams and their accomplishments
Comes back to honest open communication. The best teams utilise each individual person’s strengths, and work with them to create a strong team.
E.g unconscious not breathing pt. Myself senior treating paramedic. Student hx in crit care nursing. I utilised that experience and skill to cannulate the patient. This was successful and less stress on the patient.
Clear communication, respecting others experience and skills. This ability to collaboratively work with others in small or large teams is something I can transfer to FRV seamlessly.
Name a time you’ve failed & what did you learn?
Situation: applied for AV straight out of uni. That application was rejected.
Task: decide what to do with my life. Give up & move on or keep trying?
Action: decided to get a job in patient transport until I could reapply 12 months later
Result: success! I received a job offer the second time around and had a 5 year career with AV.
FRV Values
integrity
accountability
serve community
respect - inclusive, supportive, diversity, caring, empathy, understanding
teamwork - team spirit, connection, safety, friendship
FRV education programs
FLAMES - EAL
Fire ed - schools
Road safety yr 11 students
FRV ranks
recruit
level 1 FF
level 2
level 3
Qualified FF
Senior
Leading
Senior Leading FF
Station Officer
Senior station officer
Commander
Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Deputy commissioner
Commissioner
a time you failed
rejected from AV initial interview
What challenges a firefighter will face?
Unpredictable, challenging but rewarding role that is both physically and mentally demanding.
Face challenges such as long hours, shifts, night shift, minimal breaks. Chemical and biohazards, heavy PPE, high temp noise and poor visiblity, slippery or unstable surfaces.
Mental challenges of highly stressful and demanding role having to perform optimally at all times. Faced with language barriers, and grief.
High level of responsibility.
What do you know of FRV?
Fire and rescue service est. on 1 july 2020 when MFB and career firefighters from CFA merged under Victorias Fire Services Reforms.
Now 85 stations across Vic, 38 regional with CFA.
Operate under values of serving the community, accountability, respect, integrity and teamwork.
Aim to preserve life and property that are under threat by calls such as household/property fire, road accidents, search and rescue, high angle rescue, EMR, waterway and marine response, bushfires and grassfires, comple rescues, hazards chemicals and industrial accidents, fire investigation analysis.
Also focuses on prevention via edution programs within the community.
Time you were asked to do something but refused
Mick and drugs
Conflict resolution
snowy hydro
Conflict with apprentices
Example of working with someone different from you to achieve a common goal
Snowy - nurse vs paramedic treatment
Teamwork definition
work together as one, in unity, incorporating fundamentals of team spirit, connection, safety, frindship.
Involves utilising all people’s skills, knowledge and qualities in order to keep people safe.
Involves collaborating and connecting with crews across FRV
A time you faced adversity and how you overcame it?
S: Back injury, off work for extended period, depressed and not coping well.
T: return to duties with prior health and no restrictions
A: created small goals to achieve each week, to remain motivated throughout the process
R: made a full recovery, with no further complications or setbacks. Mindset healthier and also placed a focus on my manual handling techniques when I returned to work to prevent further injury
