Practical Area Drill (PAD) Operator
- Central Highlands

Location:
CFA Training Campus
- Central Highlands Employment type: Casual

Salary:
$52.62 per hour, plus 25% casual loading

About the Role
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) is seeking Casual Practical Area Drill (PAD) Operators to support the delivery of practical training for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) at field training grounds across Victoria. In this hands-on role, you will help ensure training facilities, equipment and activities are operated safely and effectively to support the development of firefighting skills and capabilities.

Key responsibilities
include:
- Operating Field Training Ground (FTG) resources to support the safe and effective delivery of practical training.
- Maintaining training equipment and facilities in a "Training Ready" condition.
- Supervising practical training activities for volunteers, career personnel and community members, in accordance with their skills and competencies.
- Operating and regulating training props, including hot fire, and preparing training scenarios, equipment and facilities.
- Applying risk management practices to ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S;) legislation and standard operating procedures. Working conditions The role requires flexibility to work nights and weekends, including opening and securing the facility as required. Applicants may also be required to:
- Work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, in accordance with FRV/CFA policies and procedures.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including breathing apparatus, in accordance with FRV/CFA requirements.
- Travel and work at other locations for specified training sessions. What You Will Need to Succeed To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
- Ability to plan, organise and deliver work against objectives.




- Ability and willingness to make decisions in a complex service delivery environment.
- Technical expertise in firefighting operations, standard operating procedures and practices.
- Experience in risk control, assessment and mitigation.
- Sound knowledge of OH&S; legislation, policies and procedures.
- A current driver's licence. Mandatory Competencies Applicants must hold the following current or superseded competencies:
- PUAFIR207 – Operate breathing apparatus (Internal – Respond to Urban preferably)
- PUAOHS002B – Maintain safety at an incident scene
- PUAFIR201B – Prevent Injury
- PUATEA001 – Work in a team
- PUAFIR309 – Operate pumps
- HLTAID011 – Provide first aid Evidence of these competencies must be provided with your application. What's on Offer At FRV, we are committed to providing a high-quality working environment and supporting the wellbeing and professional development of our employees. Benefits include:
- Rewarding work serving the Victorian community.
- Support for education, career and professional development.
- Enterprise Agreement.
- Comprehensive physical and mental health and wellbeing support services.
- Discounted health insurance.
- Superannuation salary sacrifice options. About Fire Rescue Victoria Fire Rescue Victoria is a contemporary fire and rescue service dedicated to meeting the needs of twenty-first-century Victoria. With approximately 4,500 employees, FRV serves and protects communities across Melbourne and Victoria's major regional centres. Our core values are serving the community, teamwork, integrity, respect and accountability.



We seek people who demonstrate these values through their work and behaviours. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, religious beliefs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people of diverse genders and sexualities. Eligibility and Pre-Employment Requirements To be eligible for employment, applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or hold an eligible work permit. The successful applicant must comply with CFA's Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, including its commitment to:
- Maintaining a child-safe environment with zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse and harm.
- Promoting equity, inclusion and cultural safety for children and young people.
- Reporting child safety incidents or concerns to the CFA Child Safety Officer and/or relevant authorities. A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) must be obtained before commencing employment. FRV will reimburse the cost upon successful appointment. Selection process 1. Application review 2. Panel interview Pre-employment checks
- Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
- Working with Children Check
- Driving History Check
- Reference Checks

How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following via SEEK:
- Resume
- Cover letter addressing the required qualifications and work experience
- Evidence of mandatory competencies, such as certificates or statements of attainment Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and suitable applicants will be contacted for an interview. Early applications are encouraged. Applications close: 11:59 pm, Thursday, 26 November 2026. If you require assistance or reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please contact Maria Gelvez, Recruitment Business Partner, at Promotions @frv.vic.gov.au.

📌 Practical Area Drill Operator (Ballarat)
🏢 Fire Rescue Victoria
📍 Ballarat