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| Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers
The Honourable Ann Leahy |
21 May 2026
MEDIA STATEMENT: Crisafulli Government launches long-term plan to strengthen Queensland fire volunteers
- Crisafulli Government launches the Queensland Fire Department Volunteerism Strategy to strengthen and support volunteers over the next five years.
- Strategy focuses on removing barriers to volunteering, improving support, and strengthening recruitment and retention after thousands of volunteers left during the former Labor Government’s decade of decline.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future and a long-term framework to grow and sustain volunteer firefighting in Queensland.
The Crisafulli Government has marked National Volunteers Week with the launch of the Queensland Fire Department’s Volunteerism Strategy 2026-2030, to strengthen participation, rebuild confidence and ensure volunteers are properly supported.
Under the former Labor Government’s decade of decline, Queensland’s firefighting volunteers were neglected, resulting in a loss of more than 7,800 volunteers across the State.
The strategy provides a structure to best support more than 27,000 volunteers who proudly serve Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) and various support functions within the Queensland Fire Department (QFD).
The five-year plan comes in response to themes identified in the Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering in Queensland.
The strategy delivers improvements to volunteering in the Queensland Fire Department through better communication, enhanced safety training, upgraded equipment, stronger recognition, and a focus on recruiting and retaining volunteers.
In addition to more than 27,000 Rural Fire Service Queensland volunteers across more than 1,400 brigades, the Queensland Fire Department boasts another diverse and skilled volunteer workforce of more than 270 people who support its Queensland Fire and Rescue operations and corporate services across the state.
Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy said the strategy sets a clear direction to grow volunteering across Queensland Fire Department, retain experienced members and encourage more Queenslanders to serve their communities.
“Queensland’s firefighting volunteers are the backbone of our communities, and this strategy delivers the long-term support they deserve after years of neglect under the former Labor Government,” Minister Leahy said.
“The Crisafulli Government is strengthening our firefighting volunteers by removing barriers to participation, improving safety and training, and ensuring volunteers have the support they need to continue serving their communities.”
Queensland Fire Department Acting Commissioner John Cawcutt said volunteers were fundamental to the department, making a difference every day.
“Our volunteers are putting their hand up to do amazing things – sometimes life-saving things – so it’s imperative that we ensure we continue to look after our volunteers into the future,” Mr Cawcutt said.
“This strategy ensures an adaptive and modern working environment so that volunteers can continue doing what they love – serving their communities.”
Chief Officer Kaylene Jones said Rural Fire Service Queensland volunteer firefighters and support members have protected their communities time and again during emergencies and it was up to Queensland Fire Department to provide the best possible environment for them to do so.
“Rural Fire Service Queensland volunteers are part of the glue that keeps their communities together, in addition to standing up whether there’s bushfire, floods or cyclones happening in Queensland, interstate or overseas,” Ms Jones said.
“It is critical to the future of Queensland that we act now to ensure Queensland Fire Department continues to be a place where volunteers feel valued, have their voices heard and achievements recognised.”
ENDS