Driver's Licence

When applying to become a Regional (Retained) Firefighter you must hold a current and valid C Class (Car) driver's licence. Probationary or provisional driver's licences will not be accepted.

A Medium Rigid (MR) driver's licence will be required, at your own expense, within 12 months of being offered employment.

A Heavy Rigid (HR) driver's licence may be required at selected Regional stations due to operational resources. You must obtain this, at your own expense, within 12 months of being offered employment.

For further information regarding licence classes and minimum requirements please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Driver History Report

You will be required, at your own expense, to provide details of all traffic infringements over the last 10 years via a Driver's Licence History Report, available from www.sa.gov.au.

Serious traffic offences within the past 10 years could result in a 10 year disqualification, taken from date of offence, from becoming an MFS Regional (Retained) Firefighter. A serious traffic offence can include, but is not limited to:

  • Exceeding Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08%.
  • Two or more offences of exceeding BAC over 0.05%
  • Refusing a breath test or drug test, including failing to remain or going elsewhere for testing
  • Driving under the influence of drugs
  • Found guilty and charged for a driving offence whilst your licence is suspended, cancelled or disqualified
  • Found guilty and charged for driving recklessly or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to any person
  • Refusing to stop when requested to do so by a Police Officer.

An applicant's overall driving record is taken into consideration when assessing attitude to road law compliance and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. A poor driving record may result in your application being found unsuitable.

National Criminal History Check (Police check)

A National Criminal History Check will be carried out, with your consent, before employment. An offence will not necessarily deny entry into the MFS; each case is considered on its merits.

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Applicants are required to obtain a Department of Human Services Working With Children Check (WWCC) (Employment) prior to offer of employment at their own expense.

Health and Fitness

You must have good physical fitness and, at your own expense, be prepared to undergo a medical examination. Firefighting requires quick and intense physical effort, which may be required to occur over a long and constant period of time.

You must be prepared to maintain a high level of physical fitness throughout your firefighting career.

For further information on health and fitness, please refer to MFS Regional (Retained) Firefighter Medical Conditions.

A non-smoking policy applies to all government worksites including the MFS.

References

Referee reports are designed to seek employment information on your work performance, competencies, abilities and potential. They also help to confirm information and validate your suitability for the job.

You will need to provide two (2) referee reports (supervisor and peer).

Birth Certificate and Residency

You must provide evidence of being able to work and reside in Australia permanently. Evidence includes your Birth Certificate (if born in Australia), Australian Passport, Certificate of Australian Citizenship or evidence of permanent residency issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

First Aid Certificates

Legislation requires employees who administer first aid in a workplace to possess 'Apply First Aid' (or an equivalent unit of competence) and 'Provide Advanced Resuscitation' from one of the approved providers listed by SafeWork SA.

As a Regional (Retained) Firefighter you will need, at your own expense, to obtain the required levels of certification within six months of a probation period. The required courses are:

Provide First Aid

  • HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support
  • HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy

  • HLTAID015 Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy

Proximity to Station

You must reside within ten (10) minutes from the MFS station for efficient response to incidents. The MFS will not cover any costs associated with fulfilling this requirement.

Availability to respond to emergency calls

To maintain adequate response times to emergency calls and to equally distribute the workload among Regional (Retained) Firefighters, everyone must attend the:

  • station in response to an emergency call within 10 minutes of being notified (usually via a pager message)
  • station for no less than 50% of the emergency calls
  • incident by riding the appliance to at least 50% of attendances at the MFS station.

For example, if a station averages 20 calls per month, then all firefighters must attend the station for at least 50% of those calls (10 calls). Of those 10 calls, firefighters must attend the actual incident on at least five occasions.

Training

Compulsory training is held one night per week. Regional (Retained) Firefighters are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the weekly training sessions over a calendar year.