Volunteer recruitment FAQs

All operational roles require medicals. Brigade Support does not need a medical. The medical required depends on the role.

All medical forms can be downloaded at Completing medical checks.

When the applicant has completed the online application, the correct medical for the role will print out and a further copy will be emailed to the applicant. The applicant must book a double appointment with their regular GP or regular medical centre. The medical centre will send a copy of the medical and the invoice to NHQ for screening Screening@fireandemergency.nz

Any medical condition that could result in sudden incapacitation (collapse). Conditions such as epilepsy, a history of strokes, some heart conditions, insulin-dependent diabetes, some serious psychological conditions, poor mobility, or a combination of medical conditions that could place the applicant, crew or public at risk.

If an applicant is quick to get their medical completed, police vetting takes 20 working days. The most common factors for slow progression are applicants not getting to their doctor promptly or poor completion of the medical assessment by the medical centre. Extra testing like saline or requiring contact lenses can also cause delays.

Anyone with a history of asthma, including childhood asthma, who is applying for a BA wearing role, will require a saline test, volunteer recruiting will refer applicants to a saline provider for the test. The result of the saline test determines suitability for the role. The applicant can claim mileage for travel to and from the hospital.

All volunteers aged 18 or over are police vetted. The police vetting form is included in the online application.

Applicants for police vetting need to bring two forms of identification with them, when they sign up, one must include a photo. Any authorised Fire and Emergency member can verify the identification, just check identification, tick the boxes, and electronically sign the online application.

The volunteer recruitment team enters each applicant into the police vetting site when they receive the application. This triggers the 20 working days vetting process.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Applicants aged 16 or 17 must get their parent or guardian to sign a Parental consent form. This form will print out from the online application and is also available at Parental Consent Form New Volunteer Recruits(external link)

Volunteers wishing to transfer brigades, need to advise their current Brigade Leader and contact the Brigade Leader at their intended destination to see if the Brigade has any vacancies. The new brigade then completes the online transfer form. The brigade transfer job can be accessed at Volunteer Transfers and Role Changes(external link)

Volunteers wishing to change roles, need to apply through E-Recruit.  All volunteers moving from operational support or brigade support roles to firefighter or first medical responder roles must complete a full medical check with their GP. The role change job can be accessed at Volunteer Transfers and Role Changes(external link).

Yes, but they need to meet our medical and security requirements. This means they must complete the online application and medical and security requirements. 

Yes: some volunteers choose to join another brigade; for example, they work in one area but live in another. The applicant needs to complete a new online application for the new brigade. They will be allocated a master volunteer number with a suffix for each role. They don’t need to undergo medical or police checks unless they are changing roles.

Volunteers wishing to re-engage within 12 months of leaving can re-engage through the Re-Engagement Job on E-Recruit(external link). If they are returning to the same role, they don’t need to undergo any additional checks. If they are changing roles, for example, a volunteer previously was in an operational support role, wishing to become a firefighter they will need to undertake a full medical check.  If more than a year has lapsed, they must fill in a new application and repeat the medical screening and police vetting.

Yes, we can recognise a volunteers previous training and experience. Once the applicant is in the system, the Brigade Leader can contact their Regional Training Coordinator, who will complete a Training Needs Analysis and a Personal Induction Plan for the applicant to reinstate them to their previous rank.

Yes, if volunteering meets the conditions of the work visa, which it usually does. It is also worth checking how much time is left on the visa, to ensure the investment in training and uniform is worthwhile. We do not take volunteers on holiday visas.

IT issues logins for new volunteers and sends them to the Brigade Leader or the Business Services Coordinator (BSC), usually within two weeks of the volunteer number being issued. Contact IT support on ITSupport@fireandememergency.nz

The volunteer number is issued when the applicant has passed police and medical checks. The new volunteer is entered into the Fire and Emergency HRIS system and the volunteer is advised by email. Workwear receives a weekly update of new volunteers, and they enter the new volunteers into their system.

Induction packs for new volunteers will be delivered to the Brigade. Set up a time to go through the induction pack with your Brigade Leader.

A weekly report is sent out each Sunday night showing where applicants are in the recruiting progress. The report shows a ✔️ if a process is complete and a ❌ if the medical or police vetting is unsuccessful. The volunteer number shows when recruitment is complete. To receive the report, email the team at volly.applications@fireandemergency.nz