As a Fire Communications Officer (FCO), you'll offer that support on a much wider scale, as the community's first point of contact in an emergency.
Fire Communications Officers are an integral part of Queensland's emergency response, and work in the control room at our Communication Centres around the state.
They respond to calls for information and advice in emergency situations and coordinate the dispatch of emergency service resources and personnel. In the course of a day, you may receive calls about
- Structural and environmental fires
- Motor vehicle entrapment
- Swift water and technical rescue
- Hazardous condition incidents
- Storms and natural disasters
In this role, the support you provide on a daily basis will make a huge impact on the lives of everyday Queenslanders.
ALL IN. ALL FRONTS.
FIRE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER - LAUREN
Have you got what it takes?
- Responding to emergency triple zero (000) calls, a Fire Communications Officer needs to be the ultimate multi-tasker, able to quickly coordinate multiple streams of information with the appropriate responses when lives are on the line.
- Managing high stress, high stakes situations, you'll need excellent communication skills and the ability to keep yourself and others calm under pressure.
- You'll also need to be able to type and input data at speed, and with a high degree of accuracy.
Prerequisites
Mandatory
- Minimum two (2) years full time paid general work experience, or equivalent
- Successful completion of Year 10 or equivalent
- Australian/New Zealand Citizen or Australian Resident Status
Highly Desirable
- Current, valid Working with Children Blue Card* from Blue Card Services Queensland
Due to possible delays and lengthy application process associated with obtaining a Blue Card, it is highly recommended applicants apply for a Blue Card as soon as possible or at time of application for the role of fire communications officer, to ensure requirements of the State Panel Interview can be met.
PRIOR TO MAKING AN APPLICATION: Please note that an email address and internet access will be required to submit your application and receive ongoing communication throughout the selection process. You will not be able to change your email address or update your personal details once you have submitted your application. The typing test and online testing will require access to a personal computer - it cannot be performed on a mobile phone, tablet or work computer.
Fire Communications Officers must also contend with the potential disruption the role may have on their personal lives.
- Most often work 4 days on 4 days off with 2x10hr day shifts followed by 2x14hr night shifts
- Regularly work weekends, public holidays, including Christmas, and are called for duty during major emergencies
Note:
Fire Communications Officer roles are offered on a Permanent Part-Time basis only, with the exception of Central Region – Rockhampton, where roles are offered as Permanent Full-Time.
Permanent Part-Time FCO roles would include a minimum of 0.25 of full-time hours (i.e. 20 hours of 80 hours/fortnight); percentage of agreed hours is negotiated with the regional centre; increased hours may be offered subject to operational activities.
Casual FCO hours may vary week to week; there are no set amount of hours or days
The Selection Process
1 - Submit your application
Your application must be submitted before the advertised closing date. There will be no allowance for late applications. Falsifying any information on your application will result in a termination of your application.
2 - Complete Typing Test
Accepted applicants will be emailed information regarding the completion of the typing test.
Accurate and efficient typing skills are extremely valuable as a Fire Communication Officer in a 000 call centre. Fire Communication Officers are required to quickly and accurately communicate during 000 emergency calls, typing and logging jobs efficiently while using multiple systems.
Given the importance of this skill, applicants need to be assessed on their typing ability during the recruitment and selection process.
Ideally, you should be able to demonstrate typing skills at the speed of 45 word per minutes (wpm) with minimum errors (approx. 95% accuracy).
As per role description – 95%
3 - Complete Online Assessments
If selected to progress, applicants will be required to complete the online work related and suitability psychometric assessments.
The online assessments are designed to measure an individual’s ability to learn, critically analyse written facts, make valid judgments, to perceive and understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and access and generate emotions to assist thought.
Applicants will be emailed the links to complete these assessments, covering the areas of Verbal Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Emotional Intelligence.
At this stage of the process it is suggested to visit a local Fire Communications Centre ahead of the State Panel Interviews.
4 - Interview
The State Panel Interview is a critical part of the fire communications officer selection process. You will be required to speak in front of an interview panel, which will include our operational staff and an independent staff member.
The interview enables the applicant to provide information regarding specific capabilities required for the position. You will be expected to articulate your motivation for becoming a fire communications officer and the attributes and qualities you would bring to the role. You will also be required to demonstrate a sound understanding of the role and the requirements associated.
Be prepared to answer behavioural and scenario-based questions. We recommend that you perform outside research into the role, such as visiting a communications center or speaking with current fire communications officers about their experiences.
At this time, you will be required to provide evidence of having obtained a paid Working With Children Blue Card from Blue Card Services Queensland.
We take the safety of children extremely seriously and having a workforce of blue card holders demonstrates to our communities that we will always strive to uphold our values and conduct ourselves at the highest standard possible. All staff employed under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 are required to hold a blue card.
*If you are a disqualified person or a negative notice holder, you are not eligible to apply for a blue card. Contact Blue Card Services on 1800 113 611 to discuss your eligibility options.
Who cannot apply for or hold a blue card?
You will receive an 'acknowledgement of receipt' email from our Talent Acquisition Team once your application has been successfully submitted.
5 - Satisfy a Criminal History Check
We will undertake a check on your criminal history. Note that past offences will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may or may not affect the success of your application.
6 - Complete Psychological Assessments
This is designed to evaluate whether you have the necessary characteristics to perform the role of a fire communications officer including the mental and emotional demands. There are a number of assessments required including online assessments, group assessments and one on one assessments.
If you have completed the fire communications officer psychological assessments within the last 12 months you may not be required to complete these assessments.
Our Talent Acquisition Team will advise you at the appropriate time in the process whether or not you are required to complete them.
7 - Medical Assessment
Candidate's must satisfy all our medical requirements to progress. Some medical conditions have been identified to as significant risk for the role fire communications officers, however each candidate will be assessed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of our Medical Advisor and furthermore, against the inherent requirements associated with the role which is being applied for; final determination on a candidate's medical suitability is made by our Medical Advisor.
All applicants should ensure that information from treating doctors/specialists relating to any pre-existing medical conditions is available at the time of their medical assessment. This will allow for a timely assessment and avoid delays in the processing of their applications.
If you are unable to attend or do not successfully complete an assessment, you will not be provided with an opportunity to re-attempt. There is no flexibility with regard to assessment dates and our Talent Acquisition Team is unable to consider any requests for such.
It's important to note that successful completion of an assessment does not guarantee progression through the recruitment process. Selection may need to be made at any stage in the process and will be done by the selection panel.
Fire Communications Centre Contacts
There are seven (7) Fire Communications Centres across Queensland that you can attend to gain a greater understanding of the role. Please select your preferred Fire Communications Centre from the list below to request an onsite visit.
South Eastern Region - Southport
South Western Region - Toowoomba
Note: We continue to maintain Pandemic Preparedness and all Fire Communications Centres will follow the direction and advice as issued by the Queensland Government Health Officials \ Public Health Directions. Please be aware that some centres may not be available for site visits during heightened periods.
If you are successful
Recruit Course
If you are one of the successful applicants who are selected for offer of employment, your role will be secured on the completion of our Fire Communications Officer 13 week Recruit Course.
The Recruit Course takes place at the School of Fire and Emergency Services Training (SFEST) in Brisbane. You will be fully remunerated for this full-time program at the recruit pay rate.
The course is comprised of practical and theoretical instruction, with assignments and tests to assess your competency throughout. To graduate, you must attain the required standard for each competency.
Probation
A 12 month probationary period applies upon commencement of the Recruit Course. If you are not employed on a full-time basis, your pay will revert to either part-time or casual rates following graduation and upon placement in your region and finalisation of the required training program.
Communications Officers as from 1st July 2024
| Classification | Base Rate | Weekend Shift | Night Shift | 38 Hour Week Allowance | Total Per Fortnight |
| Recruit FCO (Casual) | $27.89 Per Hour | Plus shift and weekend penalties and 23% loading | |||
| FCO1-1 (Part time at pro rata) | $2183.12 | $467.96 | $140.83 | $146.96 | $2,939.12 |
For enquiries please email Talent.Acquisition@fire.qld.gov.au
Please note: our Talent Acquisition Team is committed to ensuring that security, integrity and privacy is not compromised at any stage of the recruitment process and will carry out systematic ID checks and online test verification.
FAQ's
If I have previously applied, do I have to apply again?
Yes. Previous applications are not considered in the current recruitment campaign. All assessments will need to be completed again regardless of which stage you progressed to previously.
How many times can I apply?
You are only permitted to submit ONE application in each recruitment campaign. However, if you have been unsuccessful previously you may apply again.
When do applications open?
When dates are confirmed for future recruitment campaigns, applications will be available on the website for a certain time period. Ensure you have completed an Expression of Interest to keep yourself up to date information regarding our next campaign and upcoming events.
What do I need to add to the Statement of Suitability in my Candidate Profile?
The Statement of Suitability is a non-mandatory field which is not relevant to every role with us. Recruit Firefighter, Fire Communications, and Auxiliary roles do not require the applicant to complete a statement of suitability. Please leave this section blank if you have applied for one of these positions.
What does minimum 2 years full-time equivalent general paid work experience mean?
As a requirement to apply for the role of Fire Communications Officer you need to have worked for a minimum of 2 years full-time in any field of work or equivalent general paid work experience.
If you do not have 2 years full-time general paid work experience, you may apply with 4 years part-time general paid work experience. Casual general paid work experience may be accepted provided you have worked an accumulation of hours that equate to those that would be worked in the 2 years full-time.
What are the permanent part time hours that I will work if I get the job?
Permanent Part-Time Fire Communications Officer roles would include a minimum of 0.25 of full-time hours (i.e. 20 hours of 80 hours/fortnight), percentage of agreed hours is negotiated with the regional centre, increased hours may be offered subject to operational activities.
During the Fire Communications Officer recruit course, you would be employed in a full time capacity.
Upon successful completion of the Fire Communications Officer recruit course, confirmation of shift pattern will be provided in consultation with the appropriate Fire Communications Manager. Additional hours of up to 80 hours a fortnight may apply.