❓ Mr. Morton asks for an update on the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Aboriginal firefighter cadetship program. The Minister responds with program details, progress, and future goals for Aboriginal representation within DFES.
AnsweredQoN 79Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES —
ABORIGINAL FIREFIGHTER CADETSHIP PROGRAM
79. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
Last September, the minister informed this house of the
launch of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Aboriginal firefighter
cadetship program. Can he please update the house on that program?
ABORIGINAL FIREFIGHTER CADETSHIP PROGRAM
79. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
Last September, the minister informed this house of the
launch of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Aboriginal firefighter
cadetship program. Can he please update the house on that program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Forrestfield for his interest in this
area. I acknowledge that the Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services
Academy is in the member's electorate. Hopefully, a number of young
Aboriginal firefighters will enter that academy towards the end of the year.
The member is correct; on 8 September last year the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services launched the Aboriginal firefighter cadetship program. I
spoke about it in this house. I believe I emailed every member about it, along
with all the advertising that we were putting out that targeted media to
attract suitable candidates; I hope members will spread the word. I thank a number
of members from both sides—I got that feedback.
To put it into context, a year ago only 0.8 per cent—less
than one per cent—of the staff and employees at the Department of Fire
and Emergency Services were identified as either Aboriginals or Torres Strait
Islanders. That is clearly unacceptable when we have a population percentage in
the state of over three per cent. We are trying to address that issue. In the
last 12 months, along with other proactive issues, that number has risen to
about one and a half percent. I accept that we still have a long way to go, but
we want to create meaningful and rewarding jobs for young Aboriginal people. On
22 January, along with the shadow Minister for Emergency Services, I attended
the launch of the program. We welcomed the first 11 young Aboriginal cadets
into the program. It was a wonderful experience and it was great to see them so
motivated. I am sure we all wish them the best in getting ready for the
selection process to become firefighters. Obviously, some of them need to be brought
up to a different level of training or education, but we want to make sure that
we can create as many opportunities as possible for young Aboriginals to enter
the DFES workforce. If members still know people who are interested, please
spread the word. I think it will be a wonderful program to attract young
Aboriginal people. If we can attract some young females, that also would be
great. I noticed that all 11 of the cadets were males. We want to create as
many opportunities within the Department of Fire and Emergency Services as
possible to help promote young Aboriginal men and women into the DFES
workforce.
area. I acknowledge that the Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services
Academy is in the member's electorate. Hopefully, a number of young
Aboriginal firefighters will enter that academy towards the end of the year.
The member is correct; on 8 September last year the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services launched the Aboriginal firefighter cadetship program. I
spoke about it in this house. I believe I emailed every member about it, along
with all the advertising that we were putting out that targeted media to
attract suitable candidates; I hope members will spread the word. I thank a number
of members from both sides—I got that feedback.
To put it into context, a year ago only 0.8 per cent—less
than one per cent—of the staff and employees at the Department of Fire
and Emergency Services were identified as either Aboriginals or Torres Strait
Islanders. That is clearly unacceptable when we have a population percentage in
the state of over three per cent. We are trying to address that issue. In the
last 12 months, along with other proactive issues, that number has risen to
about one and a half percent. I accept that we still have a long way to go, but
we want to create meaningful and rewarding jobs for young Aboriginal people. On
22 January, along with the shadow Minister for Emergency Services, I attended
the launch of the program. We welcomed the first 11 young Aboriginal cadets
into the program. It was a wonderful experience and it was great to see them so
motivated. I am sure we all wish them the best in getting ready for the
selection process to become firefighters. Obviously, some of them need to be brought
up to a different level of training or education, but we want to make sure that
we can create as many opportunities as possible for young Aboriginals to enter
the DFES workforce. If members still know people who are interested, please
spread the word. I think it will be a wonderful program to attract young
Aboriginal people. If we can attract some young females, that also would be
great. I noticed that all 11 of the cadets were males. We want to create as
many opportunities within the Department of Fire and Emergency Services as
possible to help promote young Aboriginal men and women into the DFES
workforce.
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