- Nominations open for annual WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards
- 15 awards in three categories to recognise remarkable achievements from WA's emergency services volunteers and staff
- Nominations close on 17 March
Western Australians are being urged to reward the exceptional feats of emergency services volunteers and staff throughout the State by nominating them for gongs in the 2025 Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) Awards.
The annual WAFES Awards celebrate the achievements of emergency services personnel who have made a significant contribution and demonstrated a high level of commitment in the past 12 months.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was important to recognise the selflessness of WA's emergency services volunteers and staff who work hard to keep their communities safe.
Fifteen awards are up for grabs in three categories - individual, team and young person - covering Marine Rescue, State Emergency Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services, Bush Fire Brigade, career firefighters and Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) corporate staff and operational personnel.
Eligibility for the Young Person Awards, previously known as the Youth Awards, has changed to volunteers aged 18 to 28.
Last year's winners included gongs for successful ocean rescues in pitch darkness and after a boat was damaged by a shark, strenuous outback rescues at Karijini National Park navigating cliffs and a death adder, and volunteers responding to life-threatening bushfires.
DFES volunteer and career personnel responded to 33,949 incidents in 2024 including 5,489 bushfires, 1,344 structure fires, 3,000 road crashes, 1,112 hazardous materials incidents, 2,371 rescues and 296 searches.
To nominate a DFES volunteer or staff member visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/wafesawards .
Nominations close on 17 March. Finalists will be announcedon 19 May with the winners named at the WAFES Awards gala dinner later this year.
People who nominate a finalist will receive an invitation to the WAFES Awards gala dinner.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Over the past year our volunteers, career firefighters and DFES staff have once again faced incredible challenges, responding day and night to a range of incidents including bushfires, storms, cyclones, floods and land and sea search rescue operations.
"They do this without hesitation, selflessly putting themselves at risk to serve their community. These awards are about bringing their stories to light.
"These are the people who help us prepare for and withstand disasters and they are the people we turn to when rebuilding our communities.
"Nominating a local emergency services superstar in your area is another way to say thanks to the 26,000 volunteers and around 1,800 DFES staff who consistently step up when they're needed most."
2025 WAFES Awards Categories:
Young Person Awards
- Firefighting Young Person of the Year
- Marine Rescue Young Person of the Year
- State Emergency Service Young Person of the Year
Individual awards
- Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award
- Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award
- Peter Keillor Award
- Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Individual Achievement Award
- Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services Individual Achievement Award
- Career Fire and Rescue Service Individual Achievement Award
- DFES Operational Staff Individual Achievement Award
- DFES Corporate Staff Individual Achievement Award
Team awards
- Firefighting Team Achievement Award
- Marine Rescue Team Achievement Award
- SES Team Achievement Award
- DFES Staff Team Achievement Award
