EMILY Hayes traded in the office chair for a seat in the fire truck and has not looked back.
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Seven years after leaving a career in marketing, Ms Hayes has now fights fires, rescues people and brings calm to the chaos on a daily basis.
“I would never have thought of the role until a friend mentioned I would be a good fire fighter,” she said.
“I’m a team player and fairly fit and active and I get to give back to my community.”
Ms Hayes is one of two female firefighters at Ballarat City Fire Station and joined the CFA in 2007.
Apart from a desire to be a full time mum she hasn’t looked back since joining the CFA ranks.
“It gives me life balance,” Emily said.
“It’s rewarding to arrive at an incident where things aren’t going well and leaving after restoring order.”
CFA is looking for fit, enthusiastic women like Emily to join the ranks of its 686 full-time, career firefighters who work alongside 56,000 volunteers across Victoria.
Just five per cent of CFA career firefighters are women and 20 per cent of volunteer firefighters.
“CFA gave me more ability to connect with a regional area than MFB,” Ms Hayes said.
“I’m a big believer in living in a community that I work.
“The positive and professionalism of staff at the time seemed to fit my personality and the best part is working with great guys and girls.”
For more information on a career at CFA, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer-careers/career-firefighting