Indigenous Australia has some of the most intelligent and rich fire and disaster management, recovery, and relief strategies the world has ever seen. Girls on Fire works with the next generation of Indigenous firefighters and emergency personnel to keep this tradition going.
All our programs are designed with diversity and inclusion at the centre.
We take this commitment to diversity and inclusion further with our Cultural Inclusion Programs in diverse and remote communities.
Putting the action in reconciliation
Girls on Fire works alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in the fire and emergency services as facilitators and mentors at our programs. We integrate Indigenous fire and cultural practices into our curriculum as well as running specific Cultural Inclusion programs.
These programs includes oversight, input and practical activation of the rich scientific history of land care in preparedness, prevention, and recovery by First Nations People. May include activities such as:
|
Social & Wellbeing Activities |
Practical Fire & Emergency Activities |
|---|---|
|
Welcome to Country |
Cultural burning activities |
|
Introduction to local culture and storytelling |
Practical First Nations land care activities |
|
Explanation of cultural practices |
Science of First Nations land care practices |
|
Explanation of the ceremonial nature of fire |
Land stewardship |
|
Disaster prevention techniques |
|
|
Reading ecology as part of disaster preparedness |
See this case study by Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation for an example.

Past campers have learned Aboriginal culture, history and connection to country, toured a local Cultural Museum and visited local sites of Indigenous significance such as the 40,000-year-old Brewarrina Fish Traps.
This is in addition to learning fire, emergency and disaster management.
Elements of this included how to roll & bowl hose, get water onto a range of fires, wear breathing apparatus, use hand tools and radios for remote access firefighting and how to use fire extinguishers & fire blankets. The NSW SES facilitated a road crash rescue scenario and the girls also got to participate in simulated incident scenarios by each agency.
Check out the highlights reel of our Brewarrina Cultural Inclusion Program.