An Australian firefighter has begun a fellowship that lasts the month of May with the Santa Monica Fire Department’s Training Division.
The firefighter is Station Officer, Michael Yates, from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Australia.
Yates is the current Recruit Course Coordinator with the combined Emergency Services Academy in Brisbane, Queensland.
His focus of study and research is the American Fire Service Training methods and processes.
He will work in the SMFD Training Division and eventually have the opportunity to visit with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the Beverly Hills, and Culver City Fire Departments.
Officer Yates’ fellowship is an internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship provided by the Australian Government that supports citizens from eligible countries to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia, and for Australians to undertake these programs overseas.
The program provides various study and professional opportunities.
Yates served in stations in the far North West and the Sunshine coast of Queensland Australia as a firefighter and then a junior officer before commencing as a trainer at the academy.
He is now the senior instructor and holds competences as a heavy vehicle driver trainer, road crash rescue instructor, electrical de-energizing instructor as well as full competencies in all facets of basic firefighter training.
