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NSW RFS Young Members Forum - Building the volunteer workforce through young member engagement
Fire and emergency services are operating in an environment of increasing complexity, shaped by demographic change, decentralised workforces, and growing service demands. At the same time, organisations face ongoing fiscal pressures and heightened expectations around inclusion, connection, and workforce sustainability. The NSW Young Members Forum, organised and delivered by the NSW RFS Young Members Group supported by the NSW RFS, was designed to address these challenges by creating a dedicated platform for emerging members to connect, contribute, and shape the future of the service.
The Forum brought together young members from across New South Wales and Victoria to explore workforce planning, volunteer retention, leadership development, career pathways and organisational culture in a changing operational landscape. Through facilitated discussions, interactive workshops, and peer‑led sessions, participants examined how fire and emergency services can better harness innovation, build trust within a decentralised workforce, and foster a culture of belonging across generations.
Opening the forum for inter-agency attendance, saw the beginning of a Youth Network to be established across NSW RFS, NSW VRA and CFA. Key outcomes of the Forum included strengthened cross‑regional connections, increased organisational engagement among young members, and the identification of practical strategies to support operational effectiveness and service delivery. The event also highlighted the value of structured youth engagement in workforce planning, providing leaders with insights into the expectations, motivations, and capabilities of the next generation of volunteers and employees.
The NSW Young Members Forum demonstrates how intentional investment in young members can enhance volunteerism, build sustained trust, and support a resilient, adaptable workforce ready to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
The Forum brought together young members from across New South Wales and Victoria to explore workforce planning, volunteer retention, leadership development, career pathways and organisational culture in a changing operational landscape. Through facilitated discussions, interactive workshops, and peer‑led sessions, participants examined how fire and emergency services can better harness innovation, build trust within a decentralised workforce, and foster a culture of belonging across generations.
Opening the forum for inter-agency attendance, saw the beginning of a Youth Network to be established across NSW RFS, NSW VRA and CFA. Key outcomes of the Forum included strengthened cross‑regional connections, increased organisational engagement among young members, and the identification of practical strategies to support operational effectiveness and service delivery. The event also highlighted the value of structured youth engagement in workforce planning, providing leaders with insights into the expectations, motivations, and capabilities of the next generation of volunteers and employees.
The NSW Young Members Forum demonstrates how intentional investment in young members can enhance volunteerism, build sustained trust, and support a resilient, adaptable workforce ready to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
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