Growing up on a small farm at Upotipotpon, near Benalla, Georgia, applied for the seasonal firefighting role after working in several office-based roles.
“I really wanted to work outdoors. I’m a very hands-on type of person, so when I saw the ad for the project firefighter role online, I thought yep, I’ll give this a go.”
After successfully passing an interview, medical and task-based assessment, Georgia joined the crew at Benalla.
“I was a bit nervous leading up to my first day on the job, but as soon as I arrived and met the team I was made to feel really welcome”
“There’s a really strong culture of supporting the new firefighters, learning new skills and being safe.”
“It was different to anything I had done before, and for me that was part of the attraction. I wanted to learn new skills and meet new people, while also doing a job that helps the community.”
Georgia completed a week-long general firefighter camp at Nagambie before undertaking further learning including four-wheel drive training, chainsaw operation, and safety of the fireground.
“The Benalla crew are great. They have given me an incredible amount of support. I was comfortable to ask questions and always felt that someone was looking out for me,” she said.
Georgia was deployed to her first fire at the Warby Ovens National Park near Wangaratta in February.
“Even though I had done all the training, it was still a bit nerve-wracking to be deployed.”
“I was matched up with some experienced firefighters which helped me feel more confident and safer. Our job was to rake around the fire edge to contain it before it spread any further.”
Post the peak fire season, Georgia was involved in maintaining recreational sites, track and road clearing, storm response and helped deliver Goulburn Fire District’s planned burning program.
“It was a busy end to the season. Conditions were good for burning so we were able to get a lot done which will hopefully make it safer for communities in the future.”
Now finished her seasonal contract, Georgia hopes to return to the role this summer and would recommend the experience to others.
“For me, it was a great way to step outside my comfort zone, meet new people and try something new. It’s challenging, but at the same time very rewarding.”
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: 25/06/24