On Thursday 12th March as part of my Gateway Careers investigation I visited the St Kilda Fire Station.

We discussed the workers daily routines, what qualifications are needed for entering the job and how they got to be where they are now. I learned about their support to other services, their involvement with medical emergencies, motor vehicle incidents, search and rescue, civil defence and natural disaster response.

I learnt the importance of developing a range of useful skills, such as:

• Life experience

• Mental strength and physical fitness

• Effective communication skills and team building

• Strong morals and ethics

• Physical fitness and can do attitude

The visit was a real insight into the dedication of the fire crew, their commitment to supporting our community and their drive and energy. This has allowed me to consider firefighting as a potential career opportunity and I would recommend it to others.

Holly Brodie