Mics and Sirens

Women on the frontline was once a rare sight, but they are now a rising force in emergency services. It’s a change DFES and other fire agencies have, and continue to, champion.
We sit down with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Allison Donovan and WA’s first female Level 3 Incident Controller who shares her insights about gender equality in firefighting and an initiative she’s working on to diversify the frontline. 
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Credits: 
Interviewer: Di Darmody 
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Allison Donovan, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4oAHTyO
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised. 
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

Volunteers are the heart of emergency services, but knowing everyone’s strengths can be difficult to identify…until now.
Meet Michael Tovine from Fire and Emergency New Zealand and volunteer firefighter who helped design a portal containing the superpowers of local volunteers to be used for special missions. 
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Find us on: 
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Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
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Credits: 
Interviewer: Di Darmody 
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Michael Tovine, Fire and Emergency New Zealand
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4pCy84h
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised. 
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

While there’s an increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads, it’s fortunate that not many of them have caught fire in Australia yet. 
But when electric vehicles ignite, their high-voltage lithium batteries release a toxic gas and take a long time to get under control. It’s important for our first responders to know what to do if they ever catch fire. 
This episode explores a new tool developed by AFAC and led by Deputy Director for Operations, Emma Conway for first responders to combat electric vehicle fires.
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Find us on: 
Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa
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Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia
Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
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Credits: 
Interviewer: Di Darmody 
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Emma Conway, Deputy Director Operations AFAC & EVEREST Program
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/4rjiiwX
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised. 
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

Drones aren’t a new technology, but emergency services are increasingly taking their eyes in the sky to expand their line of sight and improve incident response. 
Hear from Russell Turner from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, the agency that manages Australia’s largest Remotely Piloted Aircraft System on the swarms of drones flying directly into the frontline and keeping firefighters safe. 
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth.
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Find us on: 
Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa
Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa
Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa
TikTok             https://www.tiktok.com/@dfes_wa
LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services
Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia
Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
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Credits: 
Interviewer: Di Darmody 
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Russell Turner, Fire Rescue New South Wales 
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/43lHMj4
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised. 
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.

There’s a new game-changing fire-spotter in the sky, named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025.
Fires as small as five square metres can be detected in just minutes, which helps emergency services act faster, smarter and safer. 
Hear from the scientist and strategist Dr Karen O’Connor from the Earth Fire Alliance who is behind the first-of-its-kind technology changing the way we detect potential emergencies and protect people and property across the globe. 
*This series was recorded live at the AFAC25 Conference in Perth
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Find us on: 
Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa
Twitter (X)      https://x.com/dfes_wa
Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/dfes_wa
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LinkedIn         https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-fire-and-emergency-services
Youtube          https://www.youtube.com/dfeswesternaustralia
Website          https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
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Credits: 
Interviewer: Di Darmody 
Producers: Silvana Pulitano and Pippa Woolnough
Guest: Dr Karen O’Connor, Earth Fire Alliance 
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Transcript:
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: https://bit.ly/3JKGGXn
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This episode may contain reference to traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised. 
Visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/copyright for copyright information.