Qualification details

Release 3.  Updated superseded HLT units.

Release 2.  This is the second release of this qualification in the PUA – Public Safety Training Package.

Editorial adjustments and upgrade to electives.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this qualification in the PUA - Public Safety Training Package.

The PUA30619 Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations) is designed for experienced firefighting and emergency response professionals who respond to disasters and/or incidents that endanger life, property and the environment.

The role of a firefighter is to suppresses and extinguish fires, undertake rescues, respond to hazardous materials incidents, protect lives and to prevent the destruction of property and the environment. At this level, firefighters are expected to make informed, timely and confident decisions working as a member of a firefighting team under limited supervision.

To prevent fires from starting and to improve community safety a firefighter’s duties may include conducting community education programs about fire safety and undertaking fire inspections of locations to verify adherence to local fire regulations.

This qualification includes the units of competency required by firefighters to suppress urban fires and respond to hazardous materials and to perform a range of other related activities. It typically involves some discretion in selecting equipment and determining tactics.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

A total of 11 units of competency comprising

• 7 core units  listed below; plus
• 4 elective units  from the general elective units listed

Choose a minimum of 2 elective units the elective list below.

Choose the remaining 2 elective units from the elective unit list below or elsewhere within this training package or another endorsed training package, or accredited course.

All elective units selected from outside this qualification must contribute to the vocational outcome of the qualification. Where imported units are selected, care must be taken to ensure that all prerequisite units specified are complied with. Prerequisites attached to any of the units must be obtained and are additional to the number of units required for this qualification.

Where a prerequisite is attached to a unit it is identified by the symbol ∟.

Note: 

Refer to the PUA Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide for information on fire prerequisites.

Core units  

HLTAID015

Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy

∟ HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

PUAFIR302

Suppress urban fire

∟HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

∟PUAFIR203 Respond to urban fire

PUAFIR308

Employ personal protection at a hazardous materials incident

∟ PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit

PUAFIR309

Operate pumps

∟ PUAEQU001 Prepare, maintain and test response equipment

*and one of the following:

∟ PUAFIR203 Respond to urban fire

∟ PUAFIR204 Respond to wildfire

∟ PUAFIR205 Respond to aviation incident (specialist)

∟ PUAFIR220 Respond to isolated structure fire

PUAFIR324

Render hazardous materials incidents safe

∟ PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit

PUAVEH001

Drive vehicles under operational conditions

PUAWHS002

Maintain safety at an incident scene

∟ PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

Elective units 

BSBCMM411

Make presentations

HLTAID011

Provide First Aid

HLTAID014

Provide Advanced First Aid

PUACOM005

Foster a positive organisational image in the community

∟ PUATEA004 Work effectively in a public safety organisation

PUACOM006

Plan and conduct a public awareness program

∟ PUACOM005 Foster a positive organisational image in the community

PUAFIR007

Operate aerial drip torch

∟PUAFIR013 Supervise incendiary operations during aerial ignition

PUAFIR008

Operate aerial ignition equipment in an aircraft

∟ PUAFIR017 Work safely around aircraft

PUAFIR010

Operate small equipment to prepare and load product into aircraft

∟PUAFIR017 Work safely around aircraft

PUAFIR011

Operate state air desk

∟PUAOPE013 Operate communications systems and equipment

PUAFIR301

Undertake community safety activities

PUAFIR303

Suppress wildfire

∟ PUAFIR204 Respond to wildfire

PUAFIR304

Respond to marine emergencies

∟ PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit

PUAFIR305

Respond to aviation incidents (general)

*one of the following:

∟ PUAFIR203 Respond to urban fire

∟ PUAFIR220 Respond to isolated structure fire

PUAFIR306

Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident

∟ PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit

PUAFIR307

Operate aerial appliance

∟ PUAEQU001 Prepare, maintain and test response equipment

∟ PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

∟ PUAVEH001 Drive vehicles under operational conditions

PUAFIR310

Operate specialist appliance

PUAFIR311

Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment from a helicopter

∟ PUAFIR212 Rappel from helicopter

PUAFIR314

Utilise installed fire safety systems

∟ PUAFIR206 Check installed fire safety systems

PUALAW002

Conduct initial investigation at incident scene

PUAOPE014

Navigate to an incident

PUAOPE020

Lead a crew

PUASAR002

Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

∟ PUASAR001 Perform land based swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

PUASAR018

Select and maintain canines to be part of a canine search team for USAR incidents

PUASAR019

Train canines to work in a USAR environment

PUASAR020

Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents

∟ PUASAR018 Select and maintain canines to be part of a canine search team for USAR incidents

∟ PUASAR019 Train canines to work in a USAR environment

∟ PUASAR023 Participate in a first response urban search and rescue Category 1

PUASAR021

Search as part of a canine search team at USAR incidents

∟ PUASAR020 Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents

PUASAR024

Undertake road crash rescue

∟ HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

∟ PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation

PUASAR025

Undertake confined space rescue

∟ PUAFIR306 Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident

∟ PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation

PUASAR026

Undertake industrial and domestic rescue

PUASAR027

Undertake land search rescue

∟ PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

PUASAR028

Undertake rescue from a partial structural collapse

∟ PUASAR023 Participate in a first response urban search and rescue Category 1

PUASAR029

Undertake a complex transport rescue

∟ HLTAID0011 Provide First Aid

PUASAR030

Undertake trench rescue

∟ PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation

PUASAR031

Undertake an urban search and rescue Category 2 rescue technician

∟ PUASAR023 Participate in a first response urban search and rescue Category 1

PUASAR032

Undertake vertical rescue

∟ PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation

PUATEA002

Work autonomously

∟ PUATEA001 Work in a team

TAEDEL301

Provide work skill instruction

This qualification replaces and is equivalent to PUA30613 Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations)