Inside the program getting more First Nations people into fire and rescue squads

Mother-of-four Abbee Bortkevitch-Smith is putting on her firefighting gear and holding the hose for the first time.

She is among a group gathered at the busy City of Sydney Fire Station and being put through their paces with a series of interviews and exercises to see if they have what it takes to become a firefighter.

"It's definitely not set in stone yet that I'm going to make it, but I will absolutely push myself as hard as I possibly can," the 32-year-old said.

Warning: The following contains the name and image of someone who has died

Forty out of more than 100 First Nations applicants were selected for the two-day workshop, but only around 20 will be offered a spot to progress to the Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy program — known as IFARES.

It is a job-readiness program designed to boost the number of Indigenous people in the sector.

Ms Bortkevitch-Smith, a Kamilaroi woman, was keen to take part in the program because it caters to the needs of First Nations people.

"I think that connection with other Aboriginal people is really important, creates safety and helps Aboriginal people go further not only in their career but feeling safe in the space to learn and grow."

The trainees simulate carrying heavy gear up staircases, putting up ladders, dragging hoses and crawling along the ground.

This will be part of a physical aptitude test they will need to pass.

Thirty-five-year-old Michael Lowcock from Dubbo was encouraged to sign up by other firefighters.

"I think it's probably pretty nerve-racking," the Ngemba man admitted.

"But at the same time that's never a really good reason to not do something."

The former police officer said he was keen to get back in uniform.

"I think it's a pretty special thing to be part of an emergency service," he said.

Ms Bortkevitch-Smith is another former police officer.

"I feel like with previous emergency services experience you have the drive and the want for the adrenaline, for running into that space and being able to make somebody's worst day better than what it is," she said.

Boosting Indigenous people in firefighting

Coordinator for the two-day program Brodee Mate reminds the participants to take the tasks at their own pace.

As a national hurdler she advises the group to visualise "five cookies" — taking some now, some a little later and then the rest.

Even if selected for the six-month course there are no guarantees they will become firefighters.

The course is designed to give job-ready skills and provide minimum qualifications for the general application. 

At the end they will leave with a TAFE Certificate III in Fitness, as well as advice on navigating the recruitment process.

"As First Nations people we learn different," Ms Mate said.

As of mid-2025, 5.63 per cent of full-time firefighting staff were Indigenous.

Over the past decade the IFARES program has helped more than 80 First Nations people to become firefighters.

Ms Mate, a Yuwaalaraay woman, knows what it takes. She was 19 when she applied for IFARES and has now been a firefighter for more than seven years.

"I think for Aboriginal people you can only be what you can see," she said.

"Having Aboriginal role models in community, it's going to be able to push, inspire and hopefully other people will pursue their dreams as well."

Ms Mate said seeing recognisable faces can make all the difference.

"When you have someone that is familiar, or you both share the same culture, or you're from the same mob or the same family, it makes someone's experience a lot calmer," she said.

"They're a lot more collected and I think we're able to provide what they need."

'My dream job'

In 2025, 11 IFARES graduates were offered a full-time position with Fire and Rescue NSW.

Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Bolt was one of them. He felt good about how the interview went.

"It's amazing. I mean, it has kind of been my dream job, to be honest," Mr Bolt said.

"I never thought I had a chance of getting in. I know how competitive it is and how hard it is."

Currently working in a hospital in the operating theatre, he said he was ready to run toward danger rather than from it.

"I'm so ready to learn all the skills to be the best firefighter I can be," Mr Bolt said.

The journey to this point had not been easy. He had to overcome tragedy when his brother Roy passed just before the TAFE component began.

Mr Bolt was determined to become a firefighter not only for himself, but for his family.

Like the other participants he wanted to inspire the younger generation.

"It's good for my family, for the younger boys, to look up to me. Hopefully I'll be a good role model for them," Mr Bolt said.

"Even if you're not successful it's a good lesson in self-discipline, I'd say, and just how to conduct yourself and be a professional and strong person."

Just days after the workshop Abbee Bortkevitch-Smith and Michael Lowcock were told they would be progressing to the next stage.

Ms Bortkevitch-Smith feels good about taking the step towards fulfilling her dream, but with a young family she knows it would not be easy.

Mr Lowcock is taking it one step at a time, with his end goal to be a qualified firefighter.