From fire response to DNA testing stranded whales

Taking a DNA sample from a stranded whale or dolphin, overseeing fuel (vegetation) management mulching work on Arthur’s Seat and helping organise machinery for storm-affected roads and properties in the Dandenong Ranges have all been part of an evolving job for Kirsty Idczak.

Now the WorkCentre Operations Coordinator at Rosebud, Kirsty loves the variety of the work in Forest Fire Management Victoria.

Her interest in environmental work “started as a kid, wanting to be a ranger” and led to studies in Conservation and Land Management at TAFE and a university degree in Environmental Science, with fire science featuring in both.

A stint with Parks Victoria on coastal projects followed, until Kirsty made the step into the seasonal firefighter program (then known as the project firefighter program, or PFF).

Once the initial training had been completed, she recalls her early days in the program involved ‘lots of chainsawing every day, fuel break maintenance, track work, and being prepared to leave at the drop of a hat anywhere across the state'.

The best part? 'That sense of achievement, when you get to the end of the day, you’re tired and filthy, everyone’s worked really hard but you can see the results and see how it benefits the community and the park area.'

While her job more than 15 years later involves responsibility for work centre staff, budgets and a pipeline of projects, those early years provided lessons that are still useful.

"A lot of my experiences in that PFF role taught me leadership, adaptability and coping skills and now I want my team to learn and grow from that."

"Having a team that’s really strong and supportive of each other is something that I really strive for and that’s developed out of the experiences I had as a PFF."

Based out of an office (almost) a stone’s throw from Rosebud pier, Kirsty has had the chance to see cetacean (whale and dolphin) strandings firsthand and recently received training from Melbourne Museum and Agriculture Victoria on DNA sampling and testing for avian influenza.

“We get asked what kind of species the cetaceans are, so we’re learning to take samples, photos and measurements to aid in identification.”

She’s had people making comments like ‘You were out with dolphins, you’re a firefighter, that doesn’t make sense

“It’s all stuff that most people don’t think is in DEECA’s remit. When I started the role was a lot more fire focused work, less so on other emergencies.; now it’s a lot more versatile.”

“One of the things that we get pulled into frequently is storm response, which is happening annually now, and situations where there is isolation of communities, where we need to help open up roads.”

Kirsty was brought into the incident control centre at Dandenong as a situation officer after Emerald and Gembrook were impacted by severe storms in February 2024, reporting on damaged buildings, resident’s requiring generators and water supply issues in those areas.

“Working in an incident control centre is very different from firefighting in the field, it’s a different part of the role and you are seeing and helping manage the widespread impact to communities from these devastating events.”

Interested in a career like Kirsty's? Come and work with us.