First Nations women in fire: a vital opportunity to boost the workforce and increase community safety

The report draws attention to Australia’s workforce of First Nations women in fire and land management, and highlights the profound positive impacts that culturally responsive professional development programs can have on this cohort. First Nations women are driving incredible initiatives to protect community and Country, but they are often doing it without adequate support. While some programs recruit young women into the fire sector, specific professional support for First Nations women already on the frontline is virtually non-existent. The report evaluated Australia's first Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (AUSWTREX), hosted by Queensland Fire Department and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in northern Queensland in 2025.

The evaluation found that the AUSWTREX program was highly valuable, providing a safe and supportive space for First Nations women — who are often the only woman or First Nations person in their workplaces — to build confidence, step into leadership roles, and exchange critical fire skills. By bridging the gap between western hazard reduction and cultural burning, the program allowed women to protect cultural heritage while fostering deep personal healing and lifelong professional networks rooted in shared lived experiences. The evaluation revealed that programs such as AUSWTREX deliver significant positive impacts for First Nations women, and offer culturally responsive professional development opportunities that are otherwise lacking across the fire and land management sector.