Queensland has 33 new firefighters, including seven women.

Many will be posted to country areas to help boost regional services.

Suraya Daly reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It takes 78 days to train each new firefighter.

Today these recruits were given their certificates as full members of the Queensland Fire and Emergency service.

Katarina Carroll, Acting Fire Commissioner: “It really is hard work at the academy as one could expect, and an extraordinarily important day for their families to live through this with them as well.”

The government says it is keen to promote more women into the service and increase the ratio of women to men.

Jo-Ann Miller, Fire and Emergency Services Minister: “We are just so proud of each and everyone of them as we are all the men who are joining us today.”

And the female graduates say they are more than up to the job.

Emily Walsh, Firefighter: “If you are physically and mentally able to do it, from what I can see and what I know thus far, it’s essentially the same thing. I’d encourage anybody naturally.”

All the new firefighters will now go on to two years of specialist training in things like swift water, traffic crash, and vertical rescue.

Doug Livingstone wants to be involved in crash rescue

Doug Livingstone, Firefighter: “Just get in, get the application in, have a go, I’m sure it’s a great job, I haven’t quite got there yet, but it’s really fun.”

Now it is straight to work for the firemen and women.

Today was a day to congratulate the new firefighting graduates, but there will not be much time to celebrate as they start their postings on Monday.

Suraya Daly, QUT News.