Airservices Australia will provide new training opportunities for indigenous Australians living in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to be trained as firefighters.
A Traineeship Hosting Agreement signed with LNG company Woodside will give Aborignal and Torres Strait Islanders the opportunity to complete a Certificate II in Public Safety (Fire Fighting and Emergency Operations), which will lead to them being trained as fire fighters in the aviation rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) service.
Airservices' Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Clark, said that the successful ARFF recruits would initially service Broome and Karratha Airports.
“Air traffic in Western Australia, particularly in the far north west, has grown exponentially over the last five years,” he noted. “This has seen us re-establish air traffic control and aviation fire services at Broome and Karratha, and we are now also looking at providing services again in Port Hedland, which will provide additional job opportunities for those living in the region.”
“This agreement will enhance opportunities for Indigenous Australians seeking an entry path into a career in aviation to become a fire fighter with one of the largest aviation fire services in the world.”
Through their Reconciliation Action Plan, Airservices plans to boost the number of indigenous employees to at least 3% of its workforce through a range of programs.