- Further $4.6 million allocated to State's firefighter training
- Part of the Cook Government's pledge to deliver an extra 60 firefighters to build safe communities by supporting our emergency services
Western Australia's fire and emergency services will receive a significant funding boost to help meet the growth in the State's career firefighter training program.
In 2024, the Cook Government promised an extra 60 firefighters to protect communities across the State. It was part of the government's commitment to fire and emergency services which has included the delivery of an extra 132 career firefighters - the biggest boost to WA's frontline operations in more than 50 years.
The increase in trainees progressing through the twice-a-year firefighter schools has warranted more funding for the program, which is based at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy in Forrestfield.
The Cook Government's $3.1 million funding to the training school includes the increased costs of the new training model operating at full capacity, personal protective equipment, training fleet maintenance, road crash rescue vehicles and course management.
The program can deliver up to 96 firefighters each year - up from the 60 graduates previously.
An additional $1.5 million has been committed to continue site selection, planning and design for a new State Emergency Management Training Centre - a key Cook Labor Government election commitment.
The State Government has also committed to a new Career Fire and Rescue Station in Yanchep bolstering services in Perth's northern suburbs.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My government's priority is to build safe communities by supporting our emergency services to protect Western Australians.
"Already, my government has overseen the biggest boost to frontline emergency services personnel in WA for more than 50 years including 132 extra career firefighters in the last term.
"We have committed to an extra 60 career firefighters and have boosted the training school funding to help their pathway to stations across the State.
"I look forward to the next batch of firefighter school graduates, knowing they will quickly start helping to protect communities before, during and after emergencies."
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia:
"Our fire and emergency services personnel confront challenges every day so we need to ensure our future firefighters have the best training possible to be prepared for what's ahead.
"On completing the demanding training school they will have proven they have the courage and skills to stay safe while keeping their communities safe too.
"More firefighters will graduate as part of the Cook Government's investment in the trainee school and their progress will be a major boost for WA's fire and emergency services."
