SAMFS Recruitment 2018

[Optimistic]

Hi Everyone,

So i know there is a thread already that has started to talk about recruitment for 2018 but I thought I might start an official 2018 one. I'll get the discussion started with a few questions and if you have any info please share it. Supporting evidence would be great as well, but not necessary as there is usually some truth in a rumour.

•Has anybody heard any news of a 2018 recruitment drive?

•When can we expect applications to open up/what time of year has recruitment usually started?

•How many people/squads did the 2017 recruitment drive produce?

•Who has been through the process and what was your experience?

And a personal question from me is:
How long between each assessment did you have to wait? (I.e. did you do your PAT1 and 2 together, separate, the day after your interview?)
I ask this because I grew up in South Australia and travelled around Aus a bit for work and now im looking to come home but i will be applying from interstate. I want to know how many times I need to travel so i can budget for it haha.

Anyway I hope this kicks of a good discussion and i wish everyone good luck with their application.

[phoenix]

Hey Optimistic, welcome first of all!

Admittedly I do not check this website much at all, but logging on and seeing your post - I thought I would do my best to answer your questions. Most of these can be answered through their (SAMFS) website, and searching through the forum.

•Has anybody heard any news of a 2018 recruitment drive?
There is only scattered information about a recruitment campaign for this year. If you went to the SAMFS Open Day in November, they had a stall about recruitment. They only said 'opening soon'.

•When can we expect applications to open up/what time of year has recruitment usually started?
There isn't any real set formula... Recruitment depends on many factors. The past two drives have opened in the second half of the year.

•How many people/squads did the 2017 recruitment drive produce?
Firstly, there was no recruitment held in 2017, all squads that went through were from the campaign that opened in September 2016.
Each squad is 18 people, the fourth squad from the Sept '16 campaign is commencing 22/1/18 (according to the other forum board). Speculation going around that a fifth squad will be selected to proceed.

•Who has been through the process and what was your experience?
Stacks of people here have been through, each getting to different stages. As it says on the website, it's quite competitive.

And a personal question from me is:
How long between each assessment did you have to wait? (I.e. did you do your PAT1 and 2 together, separate, the day after your interview?)

This is a factor that can't really be calculated, sorry. Jump on the website and you can read the process in greater detail. The PAT1 and 2 are not run on the same day. In short the process is: online app> psych/aptitude test > pat1 > interview > pat2 >criminal history check > medical. So you may have to budget for up to 5 trips, should you make it through.  :-)

Advice is to get to know the process well, what is expected, and prepare.

Cheers.

[beater]

I am in current recruit squad. Big rumour that the Mfs will be taking a 6th squad from this application process

[tempcitz]

Is the rumour a 6th squad from the 2016 intake, or 6 squads from the 2018 intake?

[Jack23]

I am in current recruit squad. Big rumour that the Mfs will be taking a 6th squad from this application process

So you got in even after

[beater]

I am in current recruit squad. Big rumour that the Mfs will be taking a 6th squad from this application process

So you got in even after

[beater]

Is the rumour a 6th squad from the 2016 intake, or 6 squads from the 2018 intake?

6 from 2016

[Optimistic]

Thanks Phoenix for taking the time to reply. Yea i had speculated a lot of what you said but i wanted to know for sure. Good to know how much i could possibly be up for in airline tickets.... Congrats Beater and to everyone else who made it through. What is the dynamic of your squad? what backgrounds and previous experience does everyone have?... i think its pretty crazy thou that the MFS will have taken 6 squads from a recruitment drive in 2016.

[Gfoss]

What happened to personality tests being valid for 12 months only?

[Optimistic]

Yea Gfoss thats what i was thinking. Makes you wonder if its a cost thing or if the requirements/standards and procedures for recruitment are changing next time around. they might want to take as many people as possible from that drive.

[Cobra1]

Is anybody going to hedge their bets and apply in vic? Opens next week.

[tempcitz]

Absolutey, at worst its more experience in the recruitment process, at best I'll end up with a firefighting job!

[tempcitz]

Never mind, they closed their application window under 6 hours later.

[FF GAZZ]

Retains getting pretested again this year?

[FF GAZZ]

Possibly shortly?

[tempcitz]

Has anyone heard anything else on the grapevine?

[phoenix]

Haven't heard much on the grapevine. Some say March. Others say differently.

But retained being tested yes, as stated by FFGazz. Renmark did their PAT1 today according to the paging system.
So wheels in motion I guess. Not sure how long between retained folk being tested and the public recruitment being opened.

Keep your heads down friends. Prepare and go your hardest! :)

[Lukeyv]

Hey guys,

I have heard some rumors that the SAMFS will open a recruitment drive either June or July. Has anyone heard anything similar to this?

Just seeking out some information from people that have progressed through the Personality Profile. From my understanding, this process is definitely the most efficient way to cull the amount of applicants that progress. Has anyone on here not progressed past the personality profile in one drive, but then applied again with success?

Thanks guys.
Good luck to all trying.

[tempcitz]

I had heard lots about early 2018, that turned into march, that turned into soon, but I got an email the other day saying that the 2016 drive had finally concluded, and feedback from the interviews would be in June, so all signs point to july intake.

[Lukeyv]

Yeah I was hearing the same info.. Did you make it to the interview stage?

[tempcitz]

Yeah I did last intake

[Velvet]

Tempcitz, have you received your interview feedback yet? I registered in late May but have not heard anything further....

[tempcitz]

No I haven't, they did say it would happen in June, so it might be a busy couple of days for them!

[sj000]

I noticed the website now says "The MFS will be recruiting fireifghters soon"
Good news!

[Lukeyv]

Great news!!
Exciting times.