Dandenong Senior Station Officer Rick Owen was successfully nominated for the scholarship, which begins in America on August 26 for just over three weeks.
Rick Owen and CFA volunteer Fiona Sewell, from the Macclesfield brigade, were selected along with six other emergency workers from Victoria Police, MFB, Ambulance Victoria and Australian Volunteer Coastguard.
Each member chooses a topic relating to their emergency service that they have to study on the tour.
SSO Owen’s topic is ’Post Fire Atmospheric Monitoring in Structures for Public and Responder Safety’. He will work to develop a standard or protocol for when people can safely re-enter a building after there’s been a fire. He will also look into when it’s safe for firefighters to remove their Breathing Apparatus.
As part of the tour, he will be visiting eight fire departments and three subject matter experts on his topic.
Mr Owen said he was honoured to be chosen for a scholarship and was looking forward to the experience.
“I hope to learn and discover new methods to improve CFA’s firefighting capabilities. Once I return, I look forward to presenting my findings to my brigade, CFA and other emergency service organisations across the state,” he said.
“There’s always room for improvement with anything but being able to boost our knowledge and practices, will ultimately increase our ability to protect lives and property.”
Macclesfield brigade volunteer Fiona Sewell has chosen to undertake her study tour within Australia which will be funded by the Victorian Government. She begins her journey at the end of September in South Australia followed by New South Wales in October.
The Emergency Services Foundation was established following the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983. Initially it was formed to support those affected by the devastating bushfires but now also operates for educational purposes by providing scholarships to members in the emergency services industry.
For more information about the Emergency Services Foundation scholarships, including how to apply for a scholarship, please visit http://www.esf.com.au/scholarships.htm
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