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Rethinking recruitment through the lens of opportunity: FFMVic's Manual Drivers Licences Initiative
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) identified that a long-standing requirement—a mandatory manual driver’s licence for field-based roles—had become an unnecessary and gendered barrier to employment. While once operationally justified, the requirement no longer reflects current practice: more than 70% of FFMVic’s firefighting fleet is now automatic, and manual licence ownership is declining. Women, in particular, are less likely to hold a manual licence, meaning capable, motivated candidates were being excluded before their potential could even be assessed. For many, especially those without access to manual vehicles, gaining the licence independently is simply not feasible.
To address this inequity, the Manual Drivers Licences initiative modernises recruitment by allowing suitable applicants to be appointed without a manual licence and supported to obtain one during early employment. Piloted by DEECA Gippsland in 2024–25, the initiative provided structured assistance including paid practice time, access to manual vehicles, mentoring from experienced colleagues, and coverage of associated costs. Comprehensive SOPs and SWPs ensured training was safe, consistent, and operationally sound.
The pilot demonstrated strong outcomes: a seasonal firefighter successfully obtained their licence within the required timeframe; training occurred safely and without disruption; a clear gendered barrier was removed; and the workcentre gained a capable firefighter who would previously have been ineligible. The success of the trial has enabled statewide expansion, with all regions now invited to participate.
The initiative was developed collaboratively across leadership, workforce planning, recruitment, D&I specialists, frontline firefighters, and health and safety advisors. It has been promoted through leadership briefings, workcentre engagement, shared learnings, and alignment with broader recruitment reforms, reinforcing that inclusion often requires re examining inherited assumptions.
Entering its third year, the initiative remains evidence led, scalable, and focused on continuous improvement—representing a practical, high impact step toward fairer, more inclusive recruitment across the sector.
To address this inequity, the Manual Drivers Licences initiative modernises recruitment by allowing suitable applicants to be appointed without a manual licence and supported to obtain one during early employment. Piloted by DEECA Gippsland in 2024–25, the initiative provided structured assistance including paid practice time, access to manual vehicles, mentoring from experienced colleagues, and coverage of associated costs. Comprehensive SOPs and SWPs ensured training was safe, consistent, and operationally sound.
The pilot demonstrated strong outcomes: a seasonal firefighter successfully obtained their licence within the required timeframe; training occurred safely and without disruption; a clear gendered barrier was removed; and the workcentre gained a capable firefighter who would previously have been ineligible. The success of the trial has enabled statewide expansion, with all regions now invited to participate.
The initiative was developed collaboratively across leadership, workforce planning, recruitment, D&I specialists, frontline firefighters, and health and safety advisors. It has been promoted through leadership briefings, workcentre engagement, shared learnings, and alignment with broader recruitment reforms, reinforcing that inclusion often requires re examining inherited assumptions.
Entering its third year, the initiative remains evidence led, scalable, and focused on continuous improvement—representing a practical, high impact step toward fairer, more inclusive recruitment across the sector.
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