Posts: 1,040
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
1,912
Location: Southern ACT
25-10-2023, 05:32 PM
(This post was last modified: 25-10-2023, 05:32 PM by Grantus.)
I passed my annual fitness test, to be allowed again, to volunteer my time with the ACT Rural Fire Service, this season.
Still the only one of all the states and territories, that is mandatory to do so each year…..
88 Blue T3 CL Caravelle
91 Blue T3 Single Cab
Posts: 179
Threads: 6
Joined: Jul 2022
Reputation:
353
(25-10-2023, 05:32 PM)Grantus Wrote: I passed my annual fitness test, to be allowed again, to volunteer my time with the ACT Rural Fire Service, this season.
Still the only one of all the states and territories, that is mandatory to do so each year…..
How odd, so if there is a major fire somewhere I would have thought they would want as many volunteers as possible, fitness test or not to attend.
Posts: 1,040
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
1,912
Location: Southern ACT
(25-10-2023, 06:03 PM)Chris Taylor Wrote: How odd, so if there is a major fire somewhere I would have thought they would want as many volunteers as possible, fitness test or not to attend.
To be able to be in an ACT RFS vehicle, to attend a call out, you must be a financial paid member, have passed a fitness test, have a current “Working With Vulnerable People” card, and have completed an “Asbestos Awareness” course.
Without all of the above, you cannot legally be in an ACT RFS vehicle. But’s that’s just the ACT. Different states - different requirements for those volunteers…………
88 Blue T3 CL Caravelle
91 Blue T3 Single Cab
Posts: 179
Threads: 6
Joined: Jul 2022
Reputation:
353
(25-10-2023, 06:12 PM)Grantus Wrote: To be able to be in an ACT RFS vehicle, to attend a call out, you must be a financial paid member, have passed a fitness test, have a current “Working With Vulnerable People” card, and have completed an “Asbestos Awareness” course.
Without all of the above, you cannot legally be in an ACT RFS vehicle. But’s that’s just the ACT. Different states - different requirements for those volunteers………… Oh not was not aware of what the requirements are but I suppose in this day n age it makes sense .Pleased to see that you meet all these requirements, the work you guys n gal's do in an emergency really is amazing. 10 out 10 in my book.
Posts: 178
Threads: 6
Joined: Jul 2022
Reputation:
154
Location: near Ballarat
(25-10-2023, 05:32 PM)Grantus Wrote: I passed my annual fitness test, to be allowed again, to volunteer my time with the ACT Rural Fire Service, this season.
Still the only one of all the states and territories, that is mandatory to do so each year…..
Well done!
It is also a requirement of Forest Fire Management Victoria, but not CFA firefighters who also are never reassessed on their firefighting skills, unlike Prison Officers who are all reassessed on both firefighting and BA annually.
For Project Firefighters to successfully complete the pack hike test, they must walk 4.83 kilometres on a level track carrying a weight of 20.4 kilogram within 38 to 45 minutes. Participants who weigh 68 kilograms or less are eligible to carry a lesser weight of 15.4 kilograms.
Rappel crews must carry a weight of 20.4 kilograms and complete the pack hike within 38 to 42.5 minutes.
The circuit is a test that assesses a person’s ability to perform tasks specific to rappel operations. Rappel applicants must successfully complete the circuit to be considered for employment.
The circuit test involves two components, including:
• Lift and carry a 30 kilogram pack, five times over a distance of 15 metres
• Lift a 30 kilogram pack ten times to a height of 1.2 metres.
PR
Posts: 1,040
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
1,912
Location: Southern ACT
26-10-2023, 10:15 PM
(This post was last modified: 26-10-2023, 10:29 PM by Grantus.)
(26-10-2023, 08:24 AM)KIWI Wrote: Well done!
It is also a requirement of Forest Fire Management Victoria, but not CFA firefighters who also are never reassessed on their firefighting skills, unlike Prison Officers who are all reassessed on both firefighting and BA annually.
For Project Firefighters to successfully complete the pack hike test, they must walk 4.83 kilometres on a level track carrying a weight of 20.4 kilogram within 38 to 45 minutes. Participants who weigh 68 kilograms or less are eligible to carry a lesser weight of 15.4 kilograms.
Rappel crews must carry a weight of 20.4 kilograms and complete the pack hike within 38 to 42.5 minutes.
The circuit is a test that assesses a person’s ability to perform tasks specific to rappel operations. Rappel applicants must successfully complete the circuit to be considered for employment.
The circuit test involves two components, including:
• Lift and carry a 30 kilogram pack, five times over a distance of 15 metres
• Lift a 30 kilogram pack ten times to a height of 1.2 metres.
PR We have the choice of “Moderate” or “Arduous” fitness tests, to continue being a volunteer member.
The ACT Arduous one, is the same as the “Project Firefiighter” one you mention, and done by those volunteers that want to join a RAFT team, (Remote Area Firefighting Team), or want to be available for international deployments.
At my age, and with no desired commitment to be lowered from a chopper for an unknown period on a fire ground, with limited supplies and a rake hoe, on a RAFT team…… I just did the “moderate” test:
11kg weighted vest, to then cover 3.2kms, in less than 30 minutes. So an average walking pace of over 6.4km/p/h, required to pass.
Chatting to volunteer RFS members in NSW, Vic & Qld about the fitness test, and they all think it would wipe out around half their members, if it was an annual requirement in their teams.
88 Blue T3 CL Caravelle
91 Blue T3 Single Cab
Posts: 1,969
Threads: 136
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
2,090
Location: Avalon Beach NSW
Back on line after a two and a half day nbn outage…..
At least I could access emails via mobile phone…..KCA and other internet activities are managed on an iPad or desktop pc.
Doesn’t look as though I missed much
Cheers,
Mark
It’s not oil, it’s sweat from all the horsepower !
Pit crew for : The Tardis - a ‘76 Sopru Campmobile
& Herman - the ‘71 White Low Light
Posts: 1,040
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
1,912
Location: Southern ACT
Welcome back!
88 Blue T3 CL Caravelle
91 Blue T3 Single Cab
Posts: 572
Threads: 24
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
957
Location: Newcastle NSW
(27-10-2023, 06:55 PM)Oldman Wrote: Doesn’t look as though I missed much
Everyone was well behaved
1962 Splitty "Little Red". 1974 Deluxe Bay "Spotty". 1976 Sunliner Campmobile "Josie". 1997 Golf CL. 2005 R5 Touareg. 2007 Beetle "Mickey".
Posts: 1,040
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2022
Reputation:
1,912
Location: Southern ACT
(06-10-2023, 09:42 PM)Ninga Wrote: We’re having a couple of celebratory bevvies here after our ‘Rusty Bus’ Extra Virgin Olive Oil received gold medals in both categories entered at the 2023 Australian International Olive Awards.
Perhaps it was the blood, sweat and tears (lots of tears and sweat at times) that went into it… but we didn’t think we should add that to the ingredients list.
Most definitely made this little family happy today.
From the AIOA website:
88 Blue T3 CL Caravelle
91 Blue T3 Single Cab
|