CDU students train to fight bushfires

A group of Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management students from the greater Darwin region is the first Charles Darwin University cohort to participate in bushfire fighting training.

As part of the practical component of their studies, the class participated in a controlled burn at the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve to protect property, manage fuel loads and safeguard conservation areas.
 
CDU student Georgina Davies said the fire behaviour and safety procedure training delivered by CDU lecturers, Bushfires NT staff and volunteers and Parks and Wildlife rangers, ensured the class was well-prepared for their first practical lesson in fire fighting.

“We were taught how to use fire fighting equipment such as water pumps, hoses and “firebugs”, as well as  how to ensure the safety of team members,” Georgina said.

The course is nationally accredited through Bushfires NT and its register training organisation, the South Australian Country Fire Service, and is the first of several planned courses with CDU.

With the successful completion of the course, CDU students will be awarded with a certificate from Bushfires NT, which is a requirement for personnel participating in bushfire activities in the Northern Territory.

Students also learn about the theory behind planning a property or park burn, creating firebreaks, as well as implementing and managing a prescribed burn.

The qualification also ensures CDU graduates pursuing careers as rangers are work-ready.

CDU lecturers used the activity to trial video cameras which will be used by students in remote areas to collect and submit video evidence of coursework when lecturers are unable to assess the student in person.