Make a real impact in your community
The tough stuff
The role demands incredible physical, mental and emotional strength. To be a firefighter you need to be prepared to:
- work in confined spaces, with poor visibility
- work through periods of intense and sustained physical activity
- work in hot and humid environments
- react and respond to fire calls at any time, day and night
- wear breathing apparatus, protective clothing and equipment
- face challenging situations, including traumatic incidents (e.g., accidents, fatalities).
All in a days work
You'll need to be able to respond when required, and possess the ability to deal with intense and sometimes confronting situations - as you negotiate a variety of emergency and non-urgent situations, including:
- firefighting: structural, landscape and vehicle fire
- road crash rescue
- management of hazardous materials
- station and equipment maintenance
- community education
- breathing apparatus and hazardous materials
- working with partner agencies such as Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police Service, State Emergency Service etc.
In addition to attendance at these events, you will be required to participate in ongoing skills acquisition and maintenance programs, including first aid/emergency care.
Prerequisites
Before you apply to become an Auxiliary Firefighter, you MUST meet the following criteria:
Mandatory
- Minimum of 18-years of age at commencement of paid employment.
- Manual C class driver licence with ability to acquire manual MR (Medium Rigid) licence (at own expense) within 12 months of employment.
- Eligible to apply for, or hold a current Working with Children Blue Card.
- Australian citizen or reside in Australia and have permission, under a law of the Commonwealth, to work in Australia.
- Successful completion of Year 10.
- Live or work within a reasonable distance of the home station to ensure compliance with response time targets.
- Where applicable, written consent from the applicant’s primary employer acknowledging the applicant’s proposed casual employment as an Auxiliary Firefighter and their availability to attend incidents and emergencies.
- Physically, mentally and medically fit.
Auxiliary stations can be located at different locations to Urban Fire Stations, and Auxiliary positions are limited.
Click here to find you nearest Auxiliary station.
Please contact your local Auxiliary Station for information about current vacancies, applications are submitted online – See Next Steps below.
The selection process
To become an auxiliary firefighter, you will be required to successfully complete all requirements of the auxiliary firefighter recruitment and selection process. The assessments required of the recruitment process have minimum standards that applicants must meet in order to progress through each phase; these standards specifically reflect the occupational requirements associated with the role of an auxiliary firefighter. Only applicants who successfully complete all requirements of the recruitment and selection process may be eligible for an offer of employment as an auxiliary firefighter.
Auxiliary Firefighter recruitment process | |
| 1. Submit application | 6. Panel Interview |
| 2. Criminal History Check / Integrity Check | 7. Physical assessment |
| 3. Psychological assessment | 8. Reference check |
| 4. Blue Card | 9. Medical assessment |
| 5. Online assessments | 10. Auxiliary firefighter pre-course requirements |
If you are successful
Should you be successful in completing all the assessment tasks and deemed suitable for the role of an auxiliary firefighter at your home station, you will be issued an employment offer. Offers of Employment are made with consideration of organisational and operational requirements and capabilities of QFD, to meet service delivery and community expectations.
Upon accepting an offer of employment, you are expected to commit to:
- Completion of the Auxiliary Firefighters Training Program (AFTP) including participation in the Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Survey (LLND), First Aid and Advanced Resuscitation qualifications and QFD Mandatory Training.
- 50% attendance at emergency incidents
- 75% of Core Skills Training Package activities
- Acquirement of an MR (Medium Rigid) class drivers’ licence (at own expense), within 12 months of employment.
- Participation in ongoing skills acquisition and maintenance programs, including first aid, advanced resuscitation and other emergency care
- Compliance with QFD Policies and Procedures including workplace behaviour, code of conduct, safety and personal presentation standards.
If you are successful
Auxiliary Rates of Pay – Auxiliary Firefighters' Award – State 2016. Effective 1 September 2026 (all rates detailed below are inclusive of 25% casual loading)
- Recruit: $38.21
- Auxiliary Firefighter - Grade 1: $40.22
- Auxiliary Firefighter - Grade 2: $41.30
- Lieutenant - PP1: $44.14
- Lieutenant - PP2: $44.99
- Captain - PP1: $48.77
- Captain - PP2: $50.31