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the australian farmer
Stronger brigades, stronger farms
Farmers are an important partner in managing the risk of fire across the landscape and a critical part of the firefighting effort, often providing a first response to fires. Many farmers are also volunteer firefighters.
part of the rural fire service, but because they need to. Farmers understand risk better than most; their judge- ment is central to how we prepare and respond. Across rural Australia, adaptation is already underway. Our farmers who volunteer want skills that make them safe and effective, without overdoing it. They want trucks and equipment matched to local risk. They want processes that are not overly bureaucratic or difficult to implement. They want access to the best of technology that is available, backed by train- ing that makes it meaningful and easy to use. I agree. We must keep challenging how we attract, train, and retain volunteers in different settings and in different communities. If we get this right, we build capability and capacity for changing climatic condi- tions, now and into the future. Resilience is a mindset as much as a plan. It defines how we think and act before, during, and after each fire season. The starting point is flexibility. Life on the land is seasonal and demanding. Volunteering should fit that rhythm. Some people can crew a truck. Others prefer logistics, planning, mapping, catering, or com- munity engagement. Many can commit to preseason preparation even if responding to fires is hard during harvest. When we keep roles open and flexible, more people can contribute and stay involved. Our training must be practical and portable. The core
Volunteerism is changing as our climate changes. In- volving everyone living and working in regional-rural Australia and keeping training practical lets simple technology and local knowledge protect our farms and country towns, now and into the future. Australia has always lived with fire. The Australian Climate Service advises that bush fires and grass fires are a natural essential and complex part of Australian ecosystems and have been for thousands of years. We also know that longer and more intense fire seasons are part of our nation’s future. Hotter, drier, more variable seasons are placing more weight on rural commun- ities, especially, and farmers carry much of that load. The 2019-20 fires are estimated to have cost Australian agriculture between $4 and $5 billion, with 1.57 million hectares of freehold land destroyed in NSW. Our prep- arations must be practical and people centred. Strong rural fire brigades, supported by quality training, ef- fective tools, and innovation, are the backbone of that future. When volunteerism is healthy, farms and their communities are safer and stronger. In my first few months as Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), I have been on the road, visit- ing local brigades and meeting with local leadership teams. Farmers are clear and consistent in what they say. They want simple, straightforward ways to volun- teer. Often, they volunteer not because they want to be
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