The Girls Fire and Resilience Program hit the Southern Highlands and Tablelands with two big days of fun, teamwork and emergency skills. Each location brought its own vibe, challenges and highlights, but the energy and curiosity of the young people and volunteers were the same from start to finish.
Here's how the Southern Highlands and Tablelands brought the heat to the Girls on Fire experience!
Day One – Mittagong, 19 November 2025
Our first stop was the RFS Fire Control Centre in Mittagong, a huge space with everything we needed and some very keen hosts. Thirteen participants joined us alongside 22 volunteers, including the Catering Support Brigade. The group included young people from Caucasian and Asian backgrounds. Agencies involved were RFS, SES, National Parks and Wildlife and Ventia. Girls on Fire Board Chair Carlene York also pitched in and helped out on the ground.
The aim of the day was simple. We wanted participants to try hands-on emergency service skills, build confidence and work together. With so many experienced agency volunteers, it was a great chance to dive into teamwork, hose work, radio use and land management activities.
Mittagong had everything working in its favour. There was plenty of agency support, loads of space, a strong water supply, shaded breaks, and nearby grass and bush areas for activities. Everything ran on time and the group was ready to have fun. The RFS response scenario and hose work were clear favourites and NPWS radios got a lot of attention.
Participants gained confidence through the relay, hose work and radio tasks. Morale rated 5 out of 5 and everyone left curious and eager for more. One improvement for next time would be a handout summarising all the emergency learning.
Day Two – Goulburn, 20 November 2025
The next day we headed to the brand-new Goulburn SES facility, a huge venue with lots of room and capabilities. Twelve participants joined us with 18 volunteers, including Girls on Fire Board Chair Carlene York and Nicole Hogan, Assistant Commissioner Emergency Management at NSW State Emergency Service!
The group included young people from South American and First Nations backgrounds. Agencies involved were RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW, SES and National Parks and Wildlife. The SES presence was strong and two of the RFS volunteers had previously participated in Girls on Fire themselves.
The goal was the same as Mittagong: hands-on skills, confidence building and teamwork. The venue also allowed for some extra SES activities to give participants a broader experience.
The site offered plenty of positives: strong water supply, shaded breaks, grass and bushland for activities, and highly engaged agency teams. The challenge was that activities were spread out, which made it harder to keep everyone connected. The BBQ helped bring the group together. Participants dived into SES flood rescue and NPWS remote access work. All planned activities were completed, plus some extra SES additions.
Feedback from participants highlighted the emergency preparedness lessons, including the Emergency Plus app, as the biggest confidence boosters. A simple handout with outcomes and home safety tips would improve future sessions.
Thank you Mittagong and Goulburn!
Mittagong delivered a smooth, high-energy day with well-known volunteers and a tight schedule. Goulburn offered a huge, impressive venue and fresh activities that kept everyone moving and learning. Both days showed the curiosity, energy and teamwork that make the Girls Fire and Resilience Program so special.
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