Inspired by his dad, who has been in the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (and its predecessors, DSE and DELWP) for over 20 years, Jackson Hannah joined one of its traineeship programs in 2011 when he was just 19 years old.
After 18 months as a trainee, Jackson became a Project Firefighter (PFF) - a role that he held for 6 years and that opened the door to becoming a Cultural Burn Officer.
Cultural burns across Victoria are nominated and led by Traditional Owners with the support of FFMVic and the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
As a Cultural Burn Officer, Jackson works with Traditional Owners to bring Cultural Burning back into the landscape. He loves getting involved from the planning stage to the engagement and delivery of the Cultural Burning program in Loddon Mallee.
"Being a PFF gave me the skills and confidence to be able to take on any roles within the department," said Jackson, who has done several secondments since working with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic).
One of the most crucial elements in DEECA and FFMVic is their people, he says.
"We help each other out when needed, and everyone is happy to pick up the pieces when we are short, it's been like that in everything."
Supporting the community during emergencies across Victoria, making great connections with people around the state, seeing places he'd never thought he'd visit, flying in a Chinook helicopter to other regions to support the teams during bushfires and travelling interstate are some of the highlights Jackson lists when asked about his time with the department.
"If you are planning to join as a PFF, give it a crack, you will learn great skills, you will see good bits of the Country, and you might travel all over Victoria and sometimes interstate.
You will be supported by a great team."
Join our ranks as Project Firefighters for the 2024/25 season
Forest Fire Management Victoria is recruiting Project Firefighters for the 2024/25 season from 4-28 July 2024.
This is your chance to make a profound impact, protect our communities, and preserve the beauty of our natural landscapes.
Recruitment window
4 to 28 July 2024
Opportunity
Open to all, with designated positions available for Aboriginal applicants, affirming our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
For more information on the roles and responsibilities, and to join this fulfilling journey, please visit Firefighting & employment.
More Our People, Their Stories
Discover more about the inspiring journeys and tales of our team who 'down tools' to play an important role in bushfire suppression and prevention activities, including planned burning.
Our People, Their Stories invites you to explore these impactful stories and the dynamic nature of firefighting.
Page last updated: 16/06/24