CFA is accelerating driver training innovation with the arrival of the first of five new mobile driving simulators.
Breaking new ground across Victoria's emergency services, this project reflects CFA's ongoing commitment to strengthening volunteer driving capability.
The cutting-edge simulators have been made by Motum Simulation in partnership with CFA to develop scenarios, environment and hazards that make this simulation not only realistic, but immersive with the aim to see improvements to the safety of our crews.
CFA Deputy Chief Officer for Operational Doctrine and Training Rohan Luke said the mobile simulators play a vital role in preparing volunteers for high-risk driving scenarios in a safe, controlled environment, including scenarios that are challenging to replicate in real life.
"These include emergency response driving (with lights and sirens), navigating firegrounds and managing potential rollovers in challenging off-road conditions," Rohan said.
Equipped with virtual reality (VR) headsets and eye-tracking technology, the simulators will provide an immersive and realistic driving experience, helping drivers sharpen critical skills like spatial awareness, mirror checking and hazard perception.
The 6 Degrees of Freedom motion technology allows the driver to move forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right and pitch, yaw and roll.
Rohan said the first completed simulator is currently being showcased at the AFAC26 conference and will then be placed at CFA's Central Highlands training campus for testing.
"The second simulator will be delivered to CFA by the end of September which will be utilised for training across the state," Rohan said.
"The final three simulators are scheduled for delivery by the end of this year. Once delivered, the simulators will be fully mobile and travel across the state, providing access to volunteers in both urban and rural locations.
"These simulators, along with ongoing licensing and driving training efforts, will help ensure our members are well-equipped to drive safely and effectively, both now and into the future."
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it's great to see this innovative project come to fruition.
"CFA is always looking at new technologies and ways to improve our volunteer training and experience," Jason said.
"These state-of-the-art driving simulators will be an incredible asset to CFA and will further boost our driver training capability."
The $1.29m project is part of the Upskilling and Protecting our Firefighters Program, funded by the Victorian Government.
