The Investing in Women Program provides annual funding totalling $1 million to projects across NSW designed to advance the role, status and contribution of women and girls in our communities.
In 2024, one of seven projects awarded multi-year funding was allocated to Girls on Fire, Incorporated for a program aiming to address the under-representation of women and girls in traditionally male-dominated fields by providing qualifications, confidence and clear pathways for teenage girls in regional and remote areas to join the fire and emergency services sector. The multi-agency collaboration model involving the Department of Education and emergency services agencies will empower the teenage participants to contribute to community resilience and provide options for paid or volunteer work.
This project not only challenges gendered roles in the emergency services sector but will also create role models and leaders amongst young women. The project also aims to strengthen connections within regional communities, particularly those which have suffered from or are at high risk of natural disasters by increasing community awareness of and preparedness for climate change.
Every step we take to build courage, capability, and leadership in our young people, particularly in vulnerable communities, is a step toward a more resilient future. At Girls on Fire, we are committed to empowering young women to be the change-makers their communities need.
Bronnie Mackintosh, Founder and Chair of Girls on Fire, Incorporated.