FAQs

We’re recruiting on the North West Coast. Jobs are advertised at www.jobs.tas.gov.au.

There is no limit to how many times you can apply for the Tasmania Fire Service Trainee Firefighter Development Program.

You must be 18 years of age to apply.

You must hold a current manual driver’s licence with no restrictions.

You must also be eligible to apply for a medium rigid drivers licence by the commencement of the Firefighter Development Program.

The current licencing requirements state that you may apply for a medium rigid licence if you hold a manual drivers licence.

If you have a provisional licence, you must be 19 years of age and have held the licence for at least 12 months at the start of the Trainee Development Program or be able to gain an exemption from Service Tasmania.

A medium rigid licence is a desirable requirement, but not essential.

A criminal history check is conducted if you reach the interview stage.

This checks for:

• Arson and fire setting
• Sexual offences
• Crimes involving dishonesty (e.g. theft, burglary, breaking and entering, fraud)
• Crimes involving deception (e.g. obtaining an advantage by deception)
• Making false declarations
• Violent crimes and crimes against a person
• Malicious damage and destruction to property

If you have been convicted of any of these crimes, you will not be eligible for employment.

Vacancies are advertised at www.jobs.tas.gov.au. Visit the application process section of this website for further information.

You need to have the right to work in Australia to join the Tasmania Fire Service.

This is an entry level position and we’ll teach you what you need to know. You don’t need any formal qualifications to apply.

The psychological demands of firefighting can be very intense and firefighters perform duties that will sometimes involve highly stressful and dangerous situations. As this is the case, it is essential that you are free of any mental illness or psychological symptoms that would prevent you from being able to perform the duties of an operational firefighter.

As a starting point for you to consider for yourself, you may want to reflect on the factors or triggers that led to your psychological disorder and then consider your potential exposure to similar triggers whilst undertaking firefighting duties.

Firefighters from other jurisdictions are welcome to apply for the firefighter development program, or through the current lateral entry process.

On occassion, we can facilitate international exchanges.

A Medical Assessment is necessary to make sure you are medically able to work under the rigorous conditions, both physically and mentally, for firefighting.

Once you apply, you will be provided with medical assessment requirements and a list of doctors in Tasmania who are able to complete it for you. Interstate applicants will need to make an appointment with an Occupational Physician who has the ability to complete the tests including hearing, sight, and lung capacity.

There is a range of medical conditions which may indicate a person is not medically able to be a firefighter. It is not possible, however, to state that a person may not become a firefighter because the person has a specified medical condition.

A medical assessment is necessary to make sure you are medically able to work under the rigorous conditions, both physically and mentally, for firefighting.

The specific nature of any condition will need to be taken into consideration. A medical review by a specialist or specialists may be required if the medical assessment shows a person has a condition which may be of concern.

Currently it is stated in the Firefighter Statement of Duties that a person is to provide evidence that they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption when applying for these positions. However, this is currently under review and people who cannot meet this criteria are encouraged to submit their application in the event this mandate changes.

The recruit course is run from the Cambridge training complex in the south of the state, with parts of it also run in the North West and North depending on where firefighters are assigned. Consideration is currently being given to where the majority of the 2023 course will be run and it is likely the time will be split between Cambridge and Burnie.

The recruit course runs for 15 weeks. During this period you will be trained to be a “shift-ready firefighter”. Firefighters on probation for the first six months of their employment starting on the first day of the Program. Recruits graduate from the program as a firefighter, and much like an apprenticeship, will work through assessments and paypoint progressions over the four years to become a Senior Firefighter.

The recruit course is the beginning of career-long competency-based learning. During the course, Trainee Firefighters become competent in all facets of firefighting including the use of breathing apparatus, driving fire appliances, and fighting bush and structure fires. They are also trained in various rescue disciplines such as road crash rescue, hazardous materials incidents and first aid.

Qualified instructors assess each recruit’s performance throughout the course. If for some reason a recruit is not performing to the required level, the instructors will provide mentoring and guidance.

The operational needs of  TFS will determine where you are stationed. We do our best to assign firefighter recruits to their preferred region but this is not always possible.

If you are assigned to the south or north, you will initially be stationed at Hobart and Launceston stations. If you are assigned to the North West, you will be stationed at Burnie or Devonport.

It is unlikely TFS will facilitate permanent transfers to other regions.

Applications will open in the last week of October to fill vacant firefighter positions on the North West.

These jobs are specifically for Burnie and Devonport and a commitment to staying in the region will be required.

Most of our Firefighters work a roster of four shifts on (two days, two night), and then four off. Due to the operational requirements, the rostering does not currently accommodate part-time arrangements.

Shift swaps with firefighters on other shifts can be arranged. This is managed by agreement with all involved, and approved by the shift manager.

Accommodation areas on station are shared but everyone has the privacy of their own bedroom for resting on night shift.

Fire stations have unisex bathrooms and toilets with individual cubicles. Some career fire stations are also shared with Ambulance Tasmania who also use these facilities.

Absolutely! The role of a firefighter is diverse and challenging and requires personal qualities that are not related to gender.

As a firefighter you are required to do shift work. Once you reach the rank of Leading Firefighter and above, there are opportunities to move to day work positions.

Shift work does allow time for TFS employees to gain secondary or supplementary employment. It must not be in conflict with your role as an employee of TFS, and you must allow time to rest appropriately between shifts.

Tasmania Fire Service covers the cost of all items of uniform and personal protective equipment.

Firefighters are expected to maintain a high level of fitness, but there is currently no annual fitness test. Gym facilities are available at each career station, as well as health and wellbeing programs offered by the department.

Relocation costs are at the expense of the employee.

Firefighting is commonly considered to be a dangerous job, and it does come with some risk. TFS requires its people to be highly trained in safe work practices and contemporary firefighting methods to create the safest work environment possible.

TFS will consider applications from firefighters from the following agencies:

• • Queensland Fire and Rescue
  • New South Wales Fire and Rescue
  • Fire Rescue Victoria
  • South Australia Country Fire Service
  • SA Metropolitan Fire Service
  • WA Fire and Rescue Service
  • ACT Fire and Rescue
  • NT Fire and Rescue Service
  • Air Services Australia
  • Fire Emergency New Zealand

To be considered for lateral entry as an experienced firefighter you must satisfy the following:

• Hold a Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations); and
• Minimum of four* years’ experience as a career firefighter; and
• Been employed by a recognised career firefighting agency within the last 2-3 years

All current applicants will be applying for a position on the North West Coast. The region has two career brigades in Devonport and Burnie and regional management will determine which station successful candidates will be allocated to.

Your salary/rank will be determined by the assessment of your qualifications and experience. You will be advised early in the process so you can determine whether you would like your application to proceed.

Details of TFS firefighter salaries are available in the Worklife section.

You will find the rank structure in Tasmania Fire Service is slightly different to other firefighting agencies.

Your rank will be determined after the completion of your qualifications assessment is completed, which is quite early in the process.

Firefighters within the TFS rank structure must have all units of competence determined by TFS as required for that rank.

Although you may hold Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations), the make up of the units of competence may vary from the units of competence required by TFS. If you’re successful in your application, a training plan will be put in developed so you can gain the units of competence you have not attained.

The training plan will be varied and customised to you and your requirements. You will receive a combination of training in a Contextualisation Course at the start of your employment, courses run by TFS Training and Education, and brigade training on station. You will be given priority for any pre-organised courses that will assist you attaining the competencies you require.

A contextualisation course allows experienced firefighters to gain an understanding of TFS doctrine, policies, procedures and equipment – all of which vary between agencies. Basically it covers “how we do things around here”.  If there are common competency gaps for all participants, these may also be covered in this course.

The duration and location of the contextualisation course will vary depending on the skillsets of participants and the training required.

If you hold Cert IV in Public Safety (Firefighting Supervision), you are qualified for the rank of Station Officer with TFS (gap analysis dependent). Station Officer positions are promotion points in TFS and are advertised externally – this would be the most appropriate way for you to gain employment as a Station Officer in TFS.

Lateral entry is only available up to the rank of Leading Firefighter (TFS Station Officer qualified). If you’re a current Station Officer, the only way to join laterally is to demote from that rank.