Page 1561 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2017
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MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question. The recruitment process for our urban firefighters is understandably a very thorough process which assesses the suitability of applicants against a wide range of skills, knowledge and abilities. ACT Fire & Rescue seeks intelligent, fit, community-minded people from all backgrounds who are looking for a unique challenge. ACT firefighters are ACT public sector employees, and the Emergency Services Agency seeks to employ people who reflect the required professionalism and values of the public service along with the diversity of our society.
I can advise the Assembly that the recruiting process is managed by a contract recruitment agency using the following staged process. In stage 1, applications are sought from individuals seeking employment as firefighters. Advertisement will be placed in the Canberra Times, on the ACT Fire & Rescue website and Jobs ACT. Following the closing date, all applications will be assessed against the general recruitment requirements and response to the selection criteria, with successful applicants proceeding to stage 2 of the process.
In stage 2, qualifying applicants will be invited to attend an aptitude test session. The session lasts three to four hours and includes tests of a range of skills, including verbal numerical, mechanical, abstract reasoning and spatial relations.
In stage 3 candidates who reach the required standard in the aptitude test will attend a cardiovascular challenge test known as the beep test. We all have strong memories of those. This test has a requisite level of attainment for the applicant to progress further into the recruitment process.
ACT Fire & Rescue—equipment
MRS JONES: My question is to the minister for emergency services. Minister, I understand that ACT Fire & Rescue attended a fire on 3 May this year and its sole ladder platform, the Bronto, had broken down, creating difficulties in fighting the fire. Can the minister advise the Assembly when the ACT government will ensure that crews have the necessary equipment to fight fires?
MR GENTLEMAN: I think the overt answer is: as soon as it is practicable and as soon as we have the finance to do so. We did commit, in the election campaign last year, to support our fire and rescue services across the territory, which includes providing a new aerial device. We are going through the process now of how we go about ordering that device and placing the necessary requirements in that tender process to get the best results in an infrastructure sense.
MRS JONES: Minister, what is the expected time line to deliver this Bronto?
MR GENTLEMAN: As I said, it will depend of course on budget cabinet, but there is a process regarding the ordering of it. I understand it is about 12 months to order the chassis for the firefighting equipment and then another probably eight to 12 months to actually install the components for the aerial firefighter.
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