Emergency responders now eligible for free EV crash course
More than 65,000 emergency responders in NSW can now access electric vehicle incident response training, with a new collaboration between TAFE NSW and Fire and Rescue NSW putting the increasingly popular vehicles in the spotlight.
The number of battery electric vehicles (EVs) sold in 2023 was 87,217, an increase of 161% on 2022 figures.
The training, jointly developed by TAFE NSW and Fire and Rescue NSW, will be offered for free to employees and volunteers of Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW State Emergency Service, VRA Rescue NSW, and incident response teams on major road networks and tunnels.
All Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters, including on-call firefighters, must complete the training, and will have an opportunity to do so over coming months.
Participants will learn how to identify and mitigate hazards and risks at an EV incident, safe working practices during EV incidents, firefighting and rescue techniques involving EVs, and the safe transportation and storage of damaged EVs.
The training program consists of a series of short online modules that can also be facilitated in face-to-face environments.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to rebuilding TAFE and training in NSW, and the Emergency Responder Electric Vehicle Incident and Emergency Response course is one of 8 microskills courses that will be progressively released by TAFE NSW in response to the growing renewable energy sector.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“Electric vehicles are only going to become more common, and we want to encourage their uptake.
“The increasing presence of EVs on our roads means our emergency responders must adapt and expand their response capabilities, and this partnership between FRNSW and TAFE NSW means our emergency response personnel are learning from the best.
“This free microskill course is a great opportunity to learn how to handle electric vehicle incidents and the challenges unique to these.”
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
“This course is a great example of how TAFE NSW is partnering with industry and government to accelerate its training provision in renewable energy skills.
“This unique partnership ensures our emergency first responders are staying ahead of the curve of evolving technology and complex incidents.”