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FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT · WA

Western Australia firefighter recruitment, explained

DFES recruits through an Expression of Interest pathway that opens and closes without much notice. The assessment day combines interview and PAT into a single block, so recovery between events matters more than at most other services.

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The service in Western Australia

DFES · WA

Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA

DFES combines interview and PAT into a single assessment day — recovery matters.

Recruitment stages
  1. Application
  2. Aptitude & psychometric
  3. Group assessment
  4. Interview & PAT
  5. Medical & background
Published PAT minimums
  • Beep Test (level): 9.6 level
  • Push-ups in 1 min: 25 reps
  • Plank hold: 60 sec
  • Grip strength: 40 kg
Domain weighting
  • PAT (physical): 35%
  • Cognitive / aptitude: 25%
  • Interview: 15%
  • Psychometric: 15%
  • Group assessment: 10%

Aptitude format: Aptitude & psychometric battery

Latest verified updates
  • eligibility COVID-19 vaccination requirement for applicants updated.

Requirements last checked June 2026. Always confirm with the service before applying.

Full DFES recruitment guide →

Further reading

WA recruitment FAQ

How does the DFES Expression of Interest work?

DFES opens an Expression of Interest window rather than a continuous application form. Submit your EOI in the window; from there DFES draws candidates into the aptitude battery and assessment day as places open. Missing the EOI window means waiting for the next one — there is no late submission.

What's the DFES PAT minimum?

DFES uses a PAT close to the national fallback — beep test in the 9.6 range, push-ups, plank and grip strength. The catch is that the PAT and interview are run on the same assessment day, so candidates who barely scrape the PAT often interview poorly because they're cooked.

Does DFES recruit every year?

Not on a fixed annual schedule. DFES opens EOI rounds when recruit-course capacity is available, sometimes more than once a year and sometimes with longer gaps. Subscribe to DFES recruitment notifications directly so the EOI window doesn't close before you see it.

Where is the DFES training college?

DFES runs recruit training at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy in Forrestfield, in metropolitan Perth. Course is full-time and in-residence — plan to relocate from regional WA for the duration if you're not already in the Perth area.

Find out where you actually stand

Fifteen minutes, free, no card — just a quick signup. FirePrep benchmarks you against the same domain weights and PAT minimums as the WA services above, names your limiting factor — the one area most likely to drop you out — and points your training there first. As your numbers move, the focus moves with you. That's the adaptive loop.

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