Trainers unite at the Bushfire Centre of Excellence for a day dedicated to professional development

Collaboration, learning and professional growth was the goal when more than 50 trainer assessors from across Western Australia attended the Bushfire Centre of Excellence (BCoE) for the 2025 Bushfire Trainer Forum.

The Forum was created in direct response to feedback from trainer assessors who requested more opportunities to connect, share and shape the future of bushfire training.

Volunteer Trainer Assessors play a vital role in the BCoE hub-and-spoke delivery model, which supports consistent and accessible bushfire training across the State. In this model, a central hub serves as the core from which training resources, guidance and support are distributed to various regional spokes or local training locations. This structure ensures that even remote communities receive high-quality, standardised training. With over 400 trainer assessors in Western Australia, their expertise is crucial to ensuring the quality and reach of bushfire training.

The Forum’s agenda was designed to address the real-world needs and interests of those delivering training on the ground. Sessions explored a wide range of topics including:

• Updates on current and upcoming training product reviews and releases;
• Insights into the Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) process;
• Strategies for improving learner engagement and course delivery;
• Opportunities for blended learning and digital integration; and
• Open discussions on training challenges and solutions.

One of the Forum’s standout features was the opportunity for hands-on participation. Attendees shared experiences, insights and challenges, fostering a collaborative learning environment where everyone had something to gain.

In addition to professional development, the Forum strengthened relationships between BCoE staff and trainer assessors. Participants provided positive feedback, highlighting the value of networking and sharing experiences with like-minded professionals.

Manager of Training Development and Quality, Amy Teale said, “The Forum was a fantastic opportunity to bring together our trainer assessors in one space. It was developed using the feedback we received from the field, and its clear people valued the chance to collaborate and contribute to the future of bushfire training.”

Outcomes from the Forum are already shaping several training and development projects for the BCoE training team. The need for regular face-to-face meetings with trainer assessors has been reinforced as key to maintaining consistency in course delivery, providing support and resolving issues as they arise. Crucially, the Forum helped opened new lines of communication among the trainer assessor cohort while reaffirming their commitment to delivering high-quality bushfire training.

In 2024/2025, DFES delivered over 550 bushfire training courses using BCoE training products, reaching more than 7,500 participants across the state. Of these, 2,500 participants completed online bushfire training courses, highlighting the growing importance of flexible, blended delivery models.

To hear more about the forum, watch the video.

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