News

Representative from Australia Fire Service Visits NVFC Office

Published Date: 10.25.2011

Angela Seach (left) of the Country Fire Authority of Australia met with NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer (right) on October 20.

Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), met with Angela Seach of the Country Fire Authority of Australia at the NVFC office in Greenbelt, MD, on October 20. The Country Fire Authority is made up of 60,000 firefighters in Australia, 58,000 of which are volunteer.

Australia faces many of the same challenges as the U.S. fire service, including an aging firefighter population, time constraints for busy volunteers, and how to recruit new members. Topics discussed included behavioral health, recruitment and retention, and junior firefighter programs.

Seach was in the U.S. to talk with various organizations about the psychological impact of the fire service on firefighters and how to promote behavioral health. Her research is part of study that will be released next year.

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