Bushfire Centre of Excellence launches its event and training season for 2026

The Bushfire Centre of Excellence (BCoE), committed to strengthening Western Australia’s bushfire sector, has kicked off its events and training season for 2026.

The BCoE, in partnership with DFES Regions has developed a calendar of events and training to provide high-quality education and training programs to support and empower key stakeholders across the State.

The training team launched the calendar in May with an online forum for Trainer Assessors to provide opportunities for professional development, networking and knowledge sharing.

This was followed by the Incident Leadership course, a five-day, immersive program delivered at the BCoE. Participants took on leadership roles in simulated, escalating all-hazards incidents, designed to mirror the pressures and complexities of real-world emergencies. The course provided an opportunity to build practical experience, strengthen decision-making and develop leadership behaviours that are transferable to a bushfire context.

Also scheduled in May was the Intent into Action training course, a specialised program focused on improving leadership and decision-making during major emergencies. Well established in North America and increasingly adopted across Australia, the program helped develop senior incident management personnel by equipping them with practical skills to lead effectively and make decisions under pressure.

In June, the BCoE hosted an online session for Chief Bush Fire Control Officers from across WA. The session follows the biannual forum and aims to keep this key cohort connected and informed, providing a platform to share knowledge, discuss challenges and exchange lessons learned to support their roles.

The Karla Katitjin Fire Knowledge Forum will take place in August, bringing together planned burn practitioners from across WA and beyond. The forum will focus on sharing experiences, research and expertise in bushfire mitigation, while also encouraging collaboration across the sector. Topics will include risk management, operational planning, capability development, Cultural Fire programs, strategies for managing diverse landscapes and building social licence for planned burning.

Not forgetting the annual Bushfire Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, 17 October at Honeywood Oval in Wandi. Delivered in partnership with the City of Kwinana, the event will provide an opportunity for the community to engage with emergency services, learn about bushfire preparedness and access practical safety information.

Also in October, the Brigade Officer Development Program will be delivered as a live-in course designed to support current volunteer leaders. The program focuses on strengthening leadership capability in a rural operational setting, covering areas such as personnel management, conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations in a brigade context.

Through its 2026 training and events calendar, the BCoE continues to prioritise building capability, strengthening leadership and fostering collaboration across the State’s bushfire sector.

To view the full BCoE 2026 Training Calendar, please visit the BCoE website.

For any enquires or further information please email bushfirecoe@dfes.wa.gov.au.

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