Welcoming the Bushfire Centre of Excellence’s Karla Katitjin Trainees

The Department Fire and Emergency Services’ Bushfire Centre of Excellence (BCoE) is pleased to welcome Biara Martin and Faith Youle as the newest participants in the Karla Katitjin Traineeship Program.

Biara and Faith began their traineeships in July and are the first Karla Katitjin trainees to be embedded within the BCoE's Cultural Fire Program team.

The transition represents a natural progression in the journey of Karla Katitjin (fire knowledge), creating more opportunities for trainees to learn directly through cultural fire practice, on-Country experiences and community-led approaches to land management.

Both trainees come from strong kinship connections throughout Western Australia. Biara is a Balluruk yorga from Boorloo with connections to the Bindjareb, Ballardong, Widi and Badimia peoples. Faith is a Whadjuk yorga living on Bindjareb boodja, with kinship ties to the Wadjari, Ballardong and Wagyl Kaip peoples.

Since joining the program, the trainees have embraced a diverse range of learning opportunities designed to build both practical skills and workplace knowledge.

The first part of the traineeship focused on workplace induction and developing an understanding of the BCoE including organisational systems, procedures and expectations.

Biara and Faith have embraced the hands-on learning experiences that are a key feature of the traineeship program including professional development, networking and field-based learning opportunities that have broadened their understanding of emergency management and cultural fire practices.

They attended a Local Emergency Management Committee meeting to gain insight into how local governments prepare for and coordinate emergency responses.

A visit to Hillview Bushland Reserve in Victoria Park provided insights on previous cultural burns at the site, with the trainees sitting in on key discussions with stakeholders on future planning and community partnerships.

The trainees also participated in practical cultural fire training and a planned burn at Bindjareb Reserve in Pinjarra.

Other learning opportunities included completing a Dieback Management Course alongside Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions staff and Aboriginal Rangers, earning their Green Cards.

They have also undertaken first-aid training and presented as part of the 2026 WA Fire and Emergency Services conference tour at the BCoE.

The traineeship will continue to provide opportunities for both personal and professional growth, with several training courses planned for the coming months.

Upcoming development opportunities include forklift training, bushfire safety awareness and firefighting skills training, commercial mowing accreditation, snake handling training and chainsaw accreditation.

DFES Cultural Fire Practitioner Allison Loo said the traineeship is helping build valuable skills and experience for the future.

"These qualifications will strengthen the trainees’ practical skills while supporting future career pathways in cultural fire management, conservation, land management and emergency services,” she said.

“Importantly, they will be learning in an environment where Aboriginal culture is prioritised and embedded in the way we go about our business.

“A core goal is to further enhance their cultural knowledge and understanding of cultural governance and protocols throughout the trainees’ learning journey."

Biara and Faith will also begin a Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management in 2027, further building on the practical experience gained through their traineeship.

By combining formal study with hands-on field experience, the trainees will continue developing the knowledge and skills needed to support sustainable land management and culturally informed fire practices.

The Bushfire Centre of Excellence looks forward to supporting Biara and Faith throughout their traineeship journey and seeing the valuable contributions they will make to the future of cultural fire management in Western Australia.

For more information, please contact bushfirecoe@dfes.wa.gov.au. 

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