Fire agencies building reconciliation through cultural burns
Victorian fire agencies are working with Traditional Owners to support cultural burn delivery and build knowledge in cultural fire practices and their significance to country.
CFA, alongside Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) have joined forces to deliver learning sessions on Cultural Burns led by Traditional Owners in the Port Phillip region.
The practical sessions aim to build confidence, cultural safety and clarity in delivering cultural fire operations alongside Traditional Owners, and complement the planned burns conducted for fuel management by both agencies.
Between 2023 and 2025, CFA conducted 12 cultural burns alongside seven different Traditional Owner groups, with more set to take place across 2026, only further reinforcing our commitment to reconciliation every single day.
Planned Burns Operations Officers (PBOO), Coordinators and Burns Controllers from both agencies joined Traditional Owners on site of previous cultural burns to learn about the cultural context of the burn and cultural considerations during planning and delivery.
CFA Planned Burns Operations Officer Darren Hardacre attended multiple sessions and said they were a brilliant opportunity to learn and develop relationships with Traditional Owners.
"It brings a different perspective to what we do and how we go about it," Darren said.
"It brings people together and the discussions and talks that we have had with the mob are really beneficial.
"I think that if we can help in healing land and rekindling those relationships we should.”
Darren hopes the sessions evolve over time with more people able to get involved.
"Most of the land we are looking at is public land, but there is the hope that by getting out and having more people learn about the benefits and the practices that we could get some private landholders on board,” Darren said.
“This would help in doing things like getting weeds out and bringing back native grasses.
"A lot of it centres around building trust from both sides and the more we can build upon that the better off we are going to be in the long term."
DEECA Port Phillip Region Cultural Fire Officer Liam Gallagher said the PBOO Learning Program was born from the lessons of the 2024-2025 cultural burn season.
“These learnings shaped a program that strengthens how we walk together on Country. It gives our people the confidence to operate safely, uphold cultural authority, and better integrate cultural objectives with our statutory responsibilities,” Liam said.
“The more we build this shared capability, the more we build trust — and that’s essential for the long‑term health of Country and the partnerships that care for it.”
Wurundjeri Corporation Operations and Fire Officer Luke Perry said the program helps attendees learn how Traditional Owners are balancing cultural objectives with policy and safety requirements, and helps to strengthen conversations and engagement.
“The program is a great opportunity to get together with partners across agencies to talk about cultural fire practices and their significance to Country,” Luke said.
The Victorian fire management sector through Safer Together recognise and acknowledge First Nations culture and that Victorian Traditional Owners and First Nations Victorians hold a close cultural and spiritual connection to Country.
CFA remains All In to taking action and making change this National Reconciliation Week and well into the future. Anyone interested in learning more about these sessions should reach out to Port Philip Region Cultural Fire Officer at liam.gallagher@deeca.vic.gov