JINDABYNE High School students, a Snowy Mountains Grammar student and a home-school student participated in the Girls on Fire camp in Jindabyne last week.

Girls on Fire, an incorporated not-for-profit association teaching firefighting and disaster management skills to teenage girls, conducted one of their many camps in Jindabyne on Thursday November 21.

Students gathered at the Jindabyne Fire and Rescue Station along with local staff from Forestry corporation of NSW, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Jindabyne Fire and Rescue Station, NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Ambulance and worked in teams to build communication skills in an emergency.

Founder Bronnie Mackintosh said the camp is about giving teenage girls the experience of fire and emergency services and giving them a hands-on day to be able to wear the clothing, operate the equipment, carry the tools and work in teams to solve problems based on the emergency services work.

“The feedback has been really supportive and glowing, a lot of people have wanted to participate in this camp within their hometowns,” Ms Mackintosh said.

“We change the camp and modify according to the risks and hazards in their area because we want these young women to step into their community response rolls and be more prepared for the different emergencies that happen in their communities.”

With only five to seven percent of Australia’s firefighting workforce comprised of women, Girls on Fire is on a mission to increase diversity and build resilience.

These camps promote volunteering and vocational pathways in emergency services while fostering teamwork, resilience and community connection.

Made possible through the NSW Government, the camp is designed to connect local industry with school communities, the Girls on Fire camps aim to provide practical experience and insight into life with emergency services.

All while developing skills that can transform each individual girl’s perspective on their community, working in a team and their own personal capability and contribution to society.

Tegan Molloy, a retained firefighter in Jindabyne, participated in the 2022 camp and after two years was excited to be a part of the day’s activities for a second time.

“Having this camp return to Jindabyne really enforces the need and how good it is to get women and young females into emergency services,” Ms Molloy said.

“It gives them a good insight in what’s involved and what potential careers could be out there.

“It is so good to see these girls get involved in the day’s activities and they are giving 100 percent of their energy in completing tasks and just giving it a go.”

JHS students Charli Bell, Rose Murray-Herlihy and Lucy Quinlan agreed the camp has opened their eyes to the possibility of a career in emergency services as well as pushing their physical ability with training exercises.

Ms Bell said when JHS Year Advisor, Ms Green, told her about the Girls on Fire camp she thought it sounded like fun and wanted to learn more.

Ms Quinlan echoed her views by saying she wanted to learn more about what it’s like to be a part of her local emergency services.

A lot of fun, opportunity for team bonding, meeting new people and learning new skills is only a few experiences mentioned regarding the camp.

“We find the participants in Jindabyne have a can-do attitude and really roll their sleeves up and make the most of this camp, we are stoked to be back,” Ms Mackintosh said.

To end the camp the Forestry Corporation of NSW brought a helicopter in to land at the John Connors Oval to show the participants how helicopter operations such as aerial firefighting and how to hot refuel an aircraft happen, which is a first for the Jindabyne camp.