This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.
Overview
The PUA30719 Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) is designed for experienced firefighting professionals who respond to disasters or incidents endangering life, property and the environment. This includes the use of firefighting assets and making informed, timely and confident decisions at an incident as a member of a firefighting team.
The role of a firefighter is to suppress and extinguish fires, to protect lives and to prevent the destruction of property and the environment. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter’s duties may include conducting community education programs about fire safety and undertaking fire inspections of locations to verify adherence to local fire regulations.
This qualification includes the units of competency required by firefighters to suppress wildfires or urban fires and to perform a range of other related activities. It typically involves some discretion in selecting equipment, services and contingency measures.
The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
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Financial help
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Government funding is not available for this course.
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Cost
Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.
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VET Student Loans are not available
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You may need to pay for equipment or materials.
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On-the-job training
- Apprenticeships and traineeships are not available for this course.
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Entry requirements
This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.
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Duration
You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.
- Qualification only:
1–2 years
- Qualification only:
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Delivery options
You may be able to access this training in these ways:
Course content
This course is made up of units.
All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.
For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.
| Unit | Unit type |
|---|---|
| Maintain safety at an incident scene | Core |
| Operate pumps | Core |
| Work autonomously | Core |
| Collect basic surveying data | Elective |
| Conduct initial investigation at incident scene | Elective |
| Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment from a helicopter | Elective |
| Drive vehicles under operational conditions | Elective |
| Employ personal protection at a hazardous materials incident | Elective |
| Fell trees manually (advanced) | Elective |
| Fell trees manually (intermediate) | Elective |
| Foster a positive organisational image in the community | Elective |
| Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident | Elective |
| Lead a crew | Elective |
| Manage aviation support operations at air base | Elective |
| Navigate from an aircraft | Elective |
| Navigate to an incident | Elective |
| Operate aerial appliance | Elective |
| Operate aerial drip torch | Elective |
| Operate aerial ignition equipment in an aircraft | Elective |
| Operate and maintain chainsaws | Elective |
| Operate heavy plant in fire control operations | Elective |
| Operate small equipment to prepare and load product into aircraft | Elective |
| Operate specialist appliance | Elective |
| Operate state air desk | Elective |
| Perform complex four wheel drive operations | Elective |
| Plan and conduct a public awareness program | Elective |
| Produce basic maps | Elective |
| Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy | Elective |
| Provide First Aid | Elective |
| Provide First Aid in remote or isolated site | Elective |
| Provide work skill instruction | Elective |
| Push trees with machines in forest fire control operations | Elective |
| Render hazardous materials incidents safe | Elective |
| Respond to aviation incidents (general) | Elective |
| Respond to marine emergencies | Elective |
| Suppress urban fire | Elective |
| Suppress wildfire | Elective |
| Take local weather observations | Elective |
| Trim and cut felled trees | Elective |
| Undertake a complex transport rescue | Elective |
| Undertake an urban search and rescue Category 2 rescue technician | Elective |
| Undertake community safety activities | Elective |
| Undertake confined space rescue | Elective |
| Undertake industrial and domestic rescue | Elective |
| Undertake rescue from a partial structural collapse | Elective |
| Undertake road crash rescue | Elective |
| Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery | Elective |
| Undertake trench rescue | Elective |
| Undertake vertical rescue | Elective |
| Utilise installed fire safety systems | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Fire Fighter
ANZSCO 441212
Protect life and property by responding to fire alarms and emergency calls, putting out fires and administering first aid.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV
Training providers delivering Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations)
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
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Australasia Fire and Emergency Response College (RTO code 45251)
Contact this provider
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EMERGSG Pty Ltd (RTO code 46502)
Contact this provider
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FIREGROUND PTY LIMITED (RTO code 41245)
Contact this provider
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KGE MINES RESCUE (RTO code 91351)
Contact this provider
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LRM Consulting Services Pty Ltd (RTO code 32552)
Contact this provider
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NSW Rural Fire Service (RTO code 6970)
Contact this provider
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QUEENSLAND FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE (RTO code 1499)
Contact this provider
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RISK RESPONSE AND RESCUE (RTO code 90774)
Contact this provider
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South Australian Country Fire Service (RTO code 40022)
Contact this provider
How to enrol in this course
To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.
When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.
The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.
How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Apprenticeships and traineeships let you combine hands-on work experience with training. You’ll gain job-ready skills and earn an income while you complete a qualification.
As an apprentice or a trainee, you work with an employer while completing your training. Most of your time is spent learning on the job, with some classroom or online training to support the skills you're developing in the workplace.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
See more information about the apprenticeship or traineeship you’re interested in pursuing on the Queensland Training Information Service.
How long will this course take?
This course is competency-based training, which means you progress as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, rather than in a set amount of time.
The duration shown here is an estimate for full-time study based on how long most people take to complete the course. You may finish earlier than other people, or it may take you a bit longer.
If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get credits or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the time needed for training.
Duration for apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships take longer than doing the qualification on its own, but you learn valuable hands-on skills.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Learn about how courses are delivered
Different courses have different delivery options. Consider your needs when you’re researching courses. Some courses may be delivered entirely online or partially online. Others may be delivered in a classroom.
Some courses, like those delivered through apprenticeships and traineeships, are mostly based in the workplace but with some classroom or online study.
If a certain type of delivery is important to you, talk to your provider before you enrol to make sure they offer that delivery option.
How to reduce the cost of your course
There are lots of ways you can reduce the cost of your course.
- The government could partly or fully cover the cost of your course. See information about financial help and government funding on this page.
- The government also offers funding for some costs related to your course.
- If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get a cost credit or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the cost.
Learn about financial help and government funding
The main cost of training is usually the course fees, which vary depending on things like which course and training provider you choose.
You may be able to get your training for free or at a reduced cost, or you could get help with paying for training-related costs. You can also pay for some courses with a VET Student Loan.
Find out more about getting help paying for your training or check if you're eligible.
What are entry requirements?
Some courses have conditions you need to meet before you can enrol in the course. They help make sure you have the right background or skills for the training.
Entry requirements might include a certain education level, skills or knowledge, work status, or experience.