Overview

The research began in 2014 with an initial small study to assess the proposed approach for the major research project that commenced in 2017. Following completion of the research project, the operational introduction of the National SES Physical Fitness for Role program started in 2023, with a national launch in August 2023 at the AFAC Conference in Brisbane.

When the program was launched, it was the first time that state- and territory-based emergency services across Australia had collectively developed and implemented a single national approach to the minimum levels of physical fitness required for first responders to safely undertake their roles.

Based on almost a decade of research and translation, the program is being implemented across all Australian SES agencies to improve the health and wellbeing of their SES members, and to maximise safety as their members perform operational tasks.

Nationally, the Physical Fitness for Role Program established the minimum physical fitness assessments for the following set of 13 national skill sets.

Latest update

In June 2025, the AFAC SES Operations Group (SESOG) reaffirmed the national implementation date of 1 July 2025 for this program. To support this, SESOG agreed to a transition period that will be in place until 30 June 2026. This transition period acknowledges that not all jurisdictions may be fully prepared to support interstate deployment requirements for the coming high-risk weather season/s.

During this transition period:

• members who meet the minimum fitness requirements should be prioritised for national deployments, however it will not be made mandatory until 1 July 2026
• where jurisdictions do not yet have sufficient members meeting these requirements, other members may still be deployed if the agency is confident they are fit to undertake the required roles and activities.

This will allow for a structured transition toward embedding Fit for Role in each jurisdiction, without compromising the essential work of our SES agencies and the support we provide to each other.

Our focus remains on building a sustainable, nationally deployable workforce, while respecting the unique needs and capacities of each jurisdiction.

A copy of the SESOG update can be found here (PDF 5.8MB)

The research project

The research project was undertaken by Australia’s SES agencies in partnership with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre and Natural Hazards Research Australia and was jointly funded with the Australian Council of State Emergency Services. This national research was supported by AFAC, the National SES Volunteer Association, and staff and volunteers from State Emergency Service (SES) agencies across Australia. The research developed an evidence-based physical fitness program that:

• defined the minimum physical fitness required to undertake a set of defined SES tasks
• developed and validated a set of physical fitness assessments that are now being used by SES units and groups to ensure that individual members and teams have the minimum physical fitness levels to safely undertake the work that they do.

Research methodology and findings

This project employed a robust scientific methodology, that was delivered by Human Performance Science in 4 stages. The stages outlined below and available in more detail in the final report (see FAQ's: Where can I find more information?):

Stage 1: Job task analysis

The job task analysis identified and measured the physical demands of tasks undertaken by SES members and involved more than 1,050 SES members in a series of:

• subjective techniques, including focus groups, panel discussions and questionnaires
• objective techniques, including the quantification of physiological (e.g. heart rate, force output) and physical (e.g. equipment mass, height of lifts, distance equipment is carried) job parameters.

The research identified 209 tasks that were mapped to capture which of the 13 skill sets in scope for the project incorporated each of those tasks. Following consultation with subject matter experts from all SES agencies, the 209 tasks were condensed into 67 criterion tasks. These criterion tasks were those tasks that are:

• the most physically demanding
• frequently occurring
• operationally important.

Stage 2: Development of physical assessment prototypes

To understand the similarities and differences of the criterion tasks across all the skills sets, the research focused on 3 key inputs:

• core job physicality: the fundamental physicality required to be demonstrated to meet job demands
• performance features of the criterion tasks: for example, lifting and carrying, pulling or dragging, prolonged walking
• organisational desires and limitations.

From the criterion tasks, the research team grouped tasks with similar characteristics to develop at a battery of 9 new SES assessments that captured all movement types and physiological demands across each of the skill sets.

Each assessment was conceptualised, developed and evaluated by subject matter experts, to be confident that the evidence-based measures that mimics the functional demands of SES roles, using equipment and facilities available to SES units where feasible. The 9 assessments are summarised in the table below.

Assessment activity	Linked operational activity
Carry	Stretcher carry and One-handed carry of a heavy object
Drag	Dragging something behind you
Haul	Pulling a rope or object towards you
Hike	Walking wearing a backpack
Hold	Static hold (chainsaw or rescue tool)
Ladder climb and lift	Climb a ladder and re-stow in vehicle
Lift and shift	Movement of equipment and stores
In-water safety	Water safety and self-rescue
Power swim and rescue	Sprint swim and tow rescue

Stage 3: Validation of physical assessments

Using the earlier results, 9 assessments were formally validated through trials, surveys and validation socialisation with a diverse group of SES participants (each qualified in the relevant skill sets) and subject matter experts. Feedback and performance data from this validation was used to further refine and validate the assessments, including verifying that the assessment activities closely replicated the relevant operational tasks and that the level of effort required to meet these minimum physical fitness levels was appropriate for the work that SES members undertake and the environments in which SES members operate. This process produced robust assessments, suitable and ready for inclusion in the SES Fitness for Role program.

Stage 4: Implementation

This project’s evidence-based assessments were used to develop the new SES Physical Fitness for Role program, launched at the AFAC23 Conference in August 2023 and ready for implementation across all Australian SES agencies. Using this evidence-based program, the SES can now measure the minimum physical fitness that SES members need to have so that they can complete tasks safely and effectively during operational responses and training.

Implementation through the SES Fitness for Role program is expected to take up to 24 months in each state and territory. Through successful implementation, SES agencies can be confident in a program that identifies injury risk from physical activities and prevents or minimises hazards or injuries before they occur.

Each of these assessments:

• are gender and age-neutral
• represent minimum physical standards
• are designed to improve the health and safety of all volunteers by demonstrating that they can meet the inherent demands of the role.

Not all volunteers need to complete all 9 assessments – only those assessments that are required for their existing skill set, or where they intend to apply for training in new skill sets. Inclusivity is an important principle within the program, so that if a volunteer cannot meet one or more of the assessments, there will be opportunities provided for them to take on alternative roles within their agency.

The assessments have been endorsed by the AFAC SES Operations Group and there have been 2 national training workshops to support the development and evaluation of the program resources.

The program is also supported by a National Implementation Framework, facilitator training materials and candidate information and guides. An e-learning resource is currently being developed that will be available for training program facilitators and SES members who want to understand more about the program and its development. SES members wanting more information about the program should contact their agency directly.

This information will also be made available to health professionals who work with the SES agencies to undertake medical assessment for entry into the organisation, or during return-to-work from an injury to better understand the physical fitness required for members undertaking operational roles.