Why Australia's fire safety future needs more women

As Australia’s population grows, our cities expand and fire safety standards continue to evolve, the responsibility placed on our industry continues to increase. Every residential development, commercial office, hospital, school, warehouse and industrial facility relies on compliant fire detection systems to help protect lives and property. Yet behind every smoke alarm, detector and fire panel is another critical component of life safety: people.

The professionals designing, manufacturing, specifying, supplying, installing, commissioning and maintaining fire protection systems are the foundation of our industry’s success. Without a skilled workforce, even the most advanced technology cannot achieve its purpose. One of the biggest challenges facing our industry isn’t technological: it’s human.

I’ve seen first-hand what a rewarding and meaningful career the fire protection industry can offer, yet it’s still an industry many women simply don’t consider because they don’t know it exists or they have outdated perceptions about the types of roles available.

I’ve worked in the fire protection industry for almost a decade, with a focus on helping deliver fire safety solutions that protect people, property and businesses. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with contractors, engineers, wholesalers and industry partners to improve fire safety outcomes. One of the things I value most about this industry is knowing that the work we do has a real impact. Every product, every installation and every project ultimately contributes to keeping Australians safe.

For me, it’s about leaving the industry stronger than we found it and ensuring the next generation has every opportunity to contribute. While women are making inroads, they remain significantly underrepresented across many fire protection and firefighting roles.

Attracting and supporting more women into the industry starts with changing the conversation. We need to do a better job of raising awareness about the breadth of careers available in fire protection, particularly among students, graduates and people considering a career change.

We also need visible role models, mentoring programs and clearer career pathways so women can see not only how to enter the industry, but how to progress into leadership roles.

Employers have an important role to play too. Inclusive recruitment practices, supportive workplace cultures, flexible career pathways where possible and ongoing professional development all contribute to attracting and retaining talented people.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about increasing female participation. It’s about ensuring the fire protection industry has the people, skills and perspectives needed to continue protecting Australian homes, workplaces and communities for generations to come.

An untapped workforce

Despite the breadth of opportunities available across fire protection, women remain significantly underrepresented throughout the industry — this isn’t simply a diversity statistic, it’s a workforce challenge.

Like many technical industries, we’re competing for skilled engineers, electricians, technicians, project managers, product specialists and compliance professionals at a time when demand for their expertise continues to grow. If we continue recruiting from the same traditional talent pool, we’ll continue facing the same workforce constraints.

According to the latest Productivity Commission data, women make up fewer than one in 10 firefighters nationally, accounting for around 9% of Australia’s firefighting workforce. Among volunteer firefighters, women represent around 23%.¹ [Editor’s note: Based on data from Powering Skills Organisation, women make up approximately 17% of the energy sector workforce, but only 4% of hands-on trade roles, such as electricians.]

Those figures highlight that there is still significant opportunity to broaden participation across the industry. Whether it’s engineering, manufacturing, product development, compliance, project management, technical support or leadership, increasing female representation will help build a stronger and more resilient workforce.

Fire protection is more than people think

One of the biggest barriers for women getting into the roles within the fire protection industry is also awareness. Many people still associate fire protection solely with frontline firefighting when, in reality, it’s a diverse industry with careers spanning engineering, electronics, manufacturing, software, compliance, technical support, project management, sales and leadership.

There’s also a legacy perception that it’s a male-dominated industry, which can discourage women from considering it as a career option. If you don’t see people like yourself represented, it’s harder to imagine yourself succeeding there.

Every smoke alarm installed in an Australian home represents the work of countless professionals long before it reaches the ceiling. For many women considering STEM, engineering or technical careers, these opportunities simply aren’t visible. That’s something our industry has the power, and responsibility, to change.

Broader perspectives, better businesses

As manufacturers, we understand that innovation comes from diverse thinking. Different experiences lead to different questions, different ideas and, ultimately, better solutions.

Whether we’re developing new smoke alarm technologies, improving installation processes, simplifying compliance or designing products that are easier for contractors to install and maintain, diverse teams help us better understand the needs of the people using our products every day. That benefits manufacturers, contractors and, most importantly, the communities we all serve.

The good news is that more organisations are actively showcasing female role models, investing in mentoring and creating workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. However, encouraging more women into fire protection requires more than recruitment campaigns.

It starts with changing the way we talk about our industry. We need to engage schools, universities and apprenticeship providers earlier. We need to showcase successful women already working across manufacturing, engineering, technical services and leadership.

We need mentoring, flexible career pathways and workplaces where people can see long-term futures — and we need every business, including manufacturers, distributors, contractors, consultants and industry associations, to recognise that attracting diverse talent is a shared responsibility.

A stronger industry protects more Australians

The fire protection industry has always adapted. Technology, regulations and buildings have all evolved. Now our workforce must evolve too.

The conversation about bringing more women into fire protection isn’t about meeting quotas. It’s about ensuring our industry has the people, skills and perspectives needed to continue protecting Australians in an increasingly complex built environment.

Every compliant installation, every correctly specified system and every functioning smoke alarm starts with skilled professionals. The future of fire protection depends not only on the products we manufacture, but on the people who stand behind them. If we’re serious about building a stronger, more resilient industry, we can’t afford to overlook a large segment of the available talent.

_{1. Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2026}

Top image credit: iStock.com/LOUISE BEAUMONT