New recruits Ayesha Neeley, Archie Stewart and Kobe Taylor, with station officer Roger Dephoff, are excited to start volunteering with the fire brigade. Photo / Denise Piper
New recruits Ayesha Neeley, Archie Stewart and Kobe Taylor, with station officer Roger Dephoff, are excited to start volunteering with the fire brigade. Photo / Denise Piper
A new course teaching high school students about fire and emergency response has increased volunteers and encouraged teenagers to consider firefighting as a career.
Station officer Roger Dephoff said the lessons at nearby Bay of Islands College started in term four of 2023, with Year 10 students getting an introduction to the fundamentals of fire and emergency services.
But the course proved so popular, it was expanded this year as an option for students in Years 11, 12 and 13.
As well as teaching practical skills in fire safety and emergency services, the programme focuses on skills like leadership, communication and personal growth. The students learn NZQA-accredited modules which they can use as credits for their NCEA qualifications.
The programme has increased interest in people volunteering for Kawakawa Volunteer Fire Brigade, not only students but their family members as well, Dephoff said.
The station now has 10 recruits, including three students, who are awaiting a one-week intensive training course so they can become volunteer firefighters.
The recruits will give a much-needed boost in volunteers to the station, which has been struggling due to changes to the Kawakawa population, including an influx of residents who work elsewhere, he said.
For 16-year-old Kobe Taylor, the programme has opened his eyes to the world of firefighting and he now wants to be a career firefighter in Australia.
One highlight of the course was a trip to Auckland, where students could learn how different firefighting in the city is and see the different equipment at Auckland City Station, he said.
While Kobe is still a recruit, he is able to attend callouts and said he enjoyed attending a bush fire last week.
Bay of Islands College students Kobe Taylor, Ayesha Neeley and Archie Stewart say they loved learning about how to treat different emergency situations from station officer Roger Dephoff. Photo / Denise Piper
“It’s exciting; I just love learning how to treat different situations.”
Archie Stewart, 16, said the course sparked his interest in the fire brigade and helped show the different aspects of volunteer firefighting, including attending medical calls, car crashes and fires.
Archie wants to become a police officer and said there are plenty of similarities with firefighting.
“With the brigade, it’s community based - we’re helping our community. It’s similar to the police in a way.”
Ayesha Neeley, also 16, said she enjoyed learning the different skills firefighters need and she wanted to put it into action by becoming a volunteer firefighter.
The thought of helping people out was appealing, she said.
Ayesha said she is tossing up a career in firefighting with adventure tourism, but she plans to stay with Kawakawa brigade as long as she can.
Dephoff said it was an honour to be recognised with a highly commended award in the Te Hiku Ngā Tohu Raukura (Celebrating Success) Awards.
“It was cool, it just highlights our different way of doing things.”
Kawakawa Volunteer Fire Brigade will be back at Bay of Islands College next year, and other Northland brigades also want to follow suit.
Dephoff, a former police officer and mentor facilitator, admitted running the course put a lot of pressure on volunteers but he has already put his hand up for next year.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
