Photo: Rob Gunstone

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino today congratulated thirty new career firefighters at a graduation ceremony at the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre in Craigieburn.

The awards ceremony is the culmination of an intensive 19-week course that began in February this year.

The graduates will use the broad range of skills they have learnt as they embark on their new careers.

With their training now complete they’ll begin their postings at stations around the state, including Ballarat, Belmont, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Eltham, Geelong, Hallam, Mildura, Ocean Grove, Rosebud, Shepparton, Sunbury, Traralgon, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.

The vast majority have switched to firefighting after working in other jobs, meaning Victoria’s emergency services are benefiting from their broad and varied life experience.

The new recruits have come from professional backgrounds including administration, business, defence, trades, health, education, retail and management.

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $56.2 million in a CFA Support Fund. The fund provides additional brigade and volunteer support, improved health and safety measures, internet connectivity in rural areas and more flexible, localised training.