Firefighter Recruitment 2026
Firefighter Recruitment Update – Australia & NZ (2026)
Hi guys! Brent here with a firefighter recruitment 2026 update for you. This recruitment update is a variable one as I’m writing this on the first day of the year and things always evolve in the recruitment space thus I’ll update this post accordingly as time progresses. It’s been a while since my last update and I am happy to announce that it looks like fire service recruitment is more active than ever this year especially with the major services ramping up. Hopefully, we’ll see stable roll outs of recruitment dates in the months ahead.
Firefighter recruitment across Australia and New Zealand is becoming more competitive, more technical, and less forgiving of poor preparation.
In 2026, multiple services are recruiting under new department names, updated aptitude testing platforms, and tightened selection standards. At the same time, applicant numbers continue to rise, meaning even strong candidates are being screened out early — often at the aptitude or interview stage.
This guide provides a clear, state-by-state breakdown of:
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Who is recruiting in 2026
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Which aptitude test providers each service uses
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Expected application windows
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Where candidates are most commonly being eliminated
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What to prioritise now if you want to stay competitive
Whether you’re applying for the first time or returning stronger after a previous attempt, understanding these differences — and preparing for the right test in the right way — is critical.
Below you’ll find the most up-to-date recruitment outlook for every major fire service in Australia and New Zealand.
QFD – Queensland Fire Department (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officially transitioned to Queensland Fire Department (QFD). This is more than cosmetic — incorrect naming on resumes or during interviews is an immediate professionalism red flag.
Aptitude Test Provider
Pearson VUE (supervised)
Although Pearson VUE is undergoing a brand refresh in 2026, the exam structure, supervision, and difficulty remain unchanged.
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Provisional recruitment calendar released December
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Expected opening delayed from early 2026
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Confirmed: recruitment will still occur in 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Queensland continues to attract large applicant volumes, particularly from interstate candidates. The aptitude test remains a major filtering stage, followed closely by the interview. Candidates who fail typically do so due to time pressure, poor reasoning accuracy, or unstructured interview responses.
Priority focus:
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Timed aptitude accuracy
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Behavioural interview structure (not just examples)
FRV – Fire Rescue Victoria (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
FRV has maintained a stable recruitment process over recent intakes, with only minor adjustments to timelines rather than assessment standards.
Aptitude Test Provider
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Last intake: 1–8 July 2024
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2026 calendar expected: April 2026
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Applications likely: June–July 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Victoria is now one of the most over-prepared applicant pools in the country. Many candidates sit the process more than once and return stronger. It just makes more sense to double our efforts and make sure we are truly equipped with the right knowledge for the assessment. For those of you who are preparing ahead particularly for the interview, you can check out the firefighter interview questions resource for some guidance.
Common failure points:
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Mechanical reasoning under time pressure
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Interview answers lacking leadership depth
Priority focus:
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High-difficulty mechanical reasoning
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Leadership and teamwork narratives aligned to FRV values
FRNSW – Fire and Rescue New South Wales (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
All applicants now sit the Criteria assessment suite following the retirement of Revelian. This has changed not just the look of the test, but how candidates are scored. I have prepared Criteria practice test as well as some information around the Work Safety, Work Reliability and Emotify test.
Aptitude Test Provider
Criteria
Assessment areas include:
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Cognitive reasoning
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Mechanical reasoning
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Emotify / situational judgement
- Video interviews
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Applications open: 9 March 2026
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Applications close: 20 March 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
NSW remains brutally competitive. Many capable candidates fail not due to intelligence, but because they prepare for the wrong test style or underestimate the behavioural components.
Priority focus:
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Criteria-style logic (not generic aptitude)
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Understanding how values-based scoring works
DFES – Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
DFES current applicants from the 2025 intake are still progressing through later stages. New applications remain closed at time of writing.
Aptitude Test Provider
Cognify
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Last campaign: November 2025
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Intake concluding: Q1 2026
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Next expected recruitment: October 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
WA applicants often underestimate the aptitude test, assuming physical ability is the main hurdle. Historically, Cognify removes a significant portion of candidates early.
Priority focus:
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Cognify-style pattern recognition
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Maintaining accuracy across long test blocks
I am happy to say that a lot of our members from the previous intake are reporting their success in the firefighter application journey which shows that the program is helpful to those who have yet to start theirs.
See this updated article inside of our Blog Page for Firefighter Interview FAQs recently. Be sure to check that out.
ARFF – Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
ARFF continues to recruit on a rolling, location-based basis, rather than a single national intake.
Aptitude Test Provider
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SHL contract ended October 2025
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New provider pending for 2026
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Confirmed: not the Air Traffic Controller exam
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
Recruitment currently prioritising:
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Western Sydney
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Broome
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Whitsunday Coast
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Mackay
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Alice Springs
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Sydney
Competition & Preparation Insight
ARFF candidates are often caught out by the hybrid expectations — structural firefighting skills combined with aviation-specific risk awareness.
Priority focus:
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Strong safety judgement
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Clear motivation for aviation firefighting (not “any fire job”)
SAMFS – South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
SAMFS now runs fully online aptitude testing, allowing for larger applicant volumes and more aggressive early filtering.
Aptitude Test Provider
SHL (online, unsupervised)
Aptitude components:
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General abilities (numerical & deductive)
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Mechanical reasoning
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Randomised question sets
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Applications rumoured: mid-2026
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Forecast intake window: Q2–Q3 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Because testing is unsupervised, cut scores tend to be higher. Candidates often fail due to complacency rather than difficulty.
Priority focus:
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SHL-style mechanics
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Practising under strict self-timing
ACTFR – ACT Fire and Rescue (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
ACTFR has historically recruited smaller numbers, making each intake highly competitive despite lower applicant volume. Keep your eyes peeled for recruitment updates. If you’re really serious about ACT fire and rescue recruitment this is the biggest opportunity I have seen for a while. If you want help let’s have a chat and see if we can help you.
Aptitude Test Provider
TestGorilla (by SolPeople)
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Expected application window: April–May 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
ACTFR places strong emphasis on judgement, teamwork, and communication, not just raw aptitude scores.
Priority focus:
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Situational judgement accuracy
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Interview responses that demonstrate community-focused decision making
NTFRS – Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
The NT process remains relatively unchanged, but the aptitude test continues to be the largest elimination point.
Aptitude Test Provider
Podium365
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Applications rumoured: Q2 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Applicant numbers are lower than eastern states, but standards are not. Candidates often fail by underestimating the test.
Priority focus:
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Podium365-style reasoning
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Mental endurance across testing stages
TFS – Tasmania Fire Service (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
TFS recruitment cycles are less frequent, making timing and readiness critical.
Aptitude Test Provider
Cognify
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Applications expected: Q2–Q3 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Tasmania attracts candidates who miss other states’ intakes, raising competition unexpectedly.
Priority focus:
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Cognify familiarity
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Clear motivation for relocating and long-term service
Sample exercises and mini-course analysis are available inside of Membership.
FENZ – Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Firefighter Recruitment 2026)
Service Update
FENZ recruitment remains highly values-driven, with strong emphasis on teamwork and community service.
Aptitude Test Provider
SHL
Recruitment Dates & Outlook
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Applications expected: Q2 2026
Competition & Preparation Insight
Candidates often pass aptitude but fail later stages due to poor behavioural alignment.
Priority focus:
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SHL reasoning accuracy
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Behavioural interview depth
<!–b>Recruitment outlook 2023
There won’t be another intake this year as they might need 6-8 months to complete the current one.
10 Ways Fire Recruitment Australia Can Help You Get the Edge
1. Comprehensive Aptitude Test Training by Test Provider
Fire Recruitment Australia offers targeted preparation materials for all major test providers across Australia, including Criteria, Cognify, SHL, Calliper, and TestGorilla. You won’t waste time on generic resources — everything is structured to mirror the exact exams used in your application.
2. Firefighter Personality & Emotional Intelligence Coaching
Psychometric profiling is becoming standard. We provide step-by-step preparation for personality tests, Emotify, and Work Safety exams, so you don’t get caught off guard by behavioural traps or inconsistent answers.
3. Realistic Practice Exams & Performance Feedback
Our test simulations are timed and structured to replicate real test conditions. After each session, you’ll receive personalised feedback to pinpoint areas for improvement and monitor your performance against other applicants.
4. Physical Aptitude Test Programs
FRA breaks the Physical Aptitude Test (PAT) into a “minimum effective dose” training system. That means every rep you do is intentional, with nothing wasted, ensuring you build the strength and endurance needed to pass.
5. Structured Interview Training & Mock Panels
Our industry-backed behavioural interview training prepares you for panel and speed interview formats. You’ll learn to craft answers that reflect the ideal firefighter profile and confidently handle tough questions.
6. Application Writing Support
From cover letters to key selection criteria responses, we guide you through what fire services look for in an application, helping you avoid the standard formatting, tone, and content mistakes that lead to automatic knockouts.
7. Custom Study Plans for Busy Schedules
Whether you’re a full-time worker, shift worker, or parent, our coaching team helps build realistic, flexible study schedules that prioritise your weak spots and maximise limited time.
8. Exclusive Access to Up-to-Date Recruitment Intel
Our team monitors recruitment activity across every Australian and New Zealand fire service. You’ll get accurate updates, insider timelines, and state-specific advice — no more relying on outdated rumours.
9. Personal Mentoring from Firefighter Coaches
You’ll get access to real coaches — including current and former firefighters — who have walked your path. They’ll provide encouragement, accountability, and the truth you need to stay on track.
10. Supportive Membership Community
Through our private Facebook group and member hub, you’ll connect with other applicants, exchange tips, share experiences, and get your questions answered in real time. You’ll never have to prepare in isolation again.
