Meet Daniel Curle

What inspired you to join FSA as a trainer?
I had previously worked for Fire and Safety Australia for seven years before re-joining in June 2019. When I first joined I was inspired after seeing a job interview on SEEK with FSA’s core values which I was attracted to and then during the interview the passion that Steve McLeod (founder) had for the organisation, which was very young at that stage.

What inspired me to re-apply was the company being a great organisation to work for and I enjoy coming to work as I get to do some unreal things and visit some great places.

What do you love most about your role?
Firstly, the various clients that we are exposed to which in some instances are in some remote locations both in Australia and abroad, that very little people get exposed to.

Secondly, I get to pass on my knowledge and experiences to better educate the public and fellow emergency service/defence services that I have been exposed to over a career both as a professional and volunteer fire fighter within the Fire Services in NSW spanning 27 years.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role?
The most challenging aspect of my role I find is that when we conduct training for the first time to a client or an organisation and the previous provider has given the customer the incorrect information/ advice, sold equipment that they will never use or oversold what they actually need.

This is when the challenging aspect arises as they question everything that you inform them during the consult so then you have to grab such documents as the Legislation, Codes of Practices or Standards to back up what you have passed on which slows the training down but also highlights why they have chosen to use Fire and Safety Australia.

What is your proudest career achievement?
My proudest career achievement, which I have a few, is firstly the initial setup of the Royal Australian Navy training, as well as the Initial equipment supply and ongoing equipment supply assistance which was quite significant to Fire and Safety Australia.

My second proudest career achievement, which is outside of Fire and Safety Australia, is being promoted to Group Officer Rank in the NSWRFS, which is the highest rank a volunteer can achieve. I have been involved in several major operations and of recent an air attack supervisor for aerial firefighting operations in Northern NSW Fires, which have been going for the last three months.

Do you have any safety tips for people?
Whenever possible and if offered to undertake training please do so as I have been the injured worker, I have been the supervisor of an injured staff member, I have been the rescuer, I have been the relative of a worker that had been fatally injured while on the job so I see the importance of training.

More recently on a flight back home after working interstate myself, a doctor and a nurse all assisted with an ill passenger on the plane by administering oxygen therapy & CPR with a good outcome. This shows that the skills that you learn can be used at any time and anywhere.

What do you wish you knew when you were younger?
Nothing, I would not change the journey I have been on as I have gathered a lot of knowledge and life experiences which I am grateful for. I am also grateful for the large family I have, which is 7 children in total, which when I mention this people are shocked with the eldest being 19 and the youngest being 18 months, the makeup is 4 boys and 3 girls.