The CFA will receive five new mobile driving simulators, made by Motum Simulation in partnership with the CFA, to develop scenarios, environment and hazards, which aim to deliver improved safety to fire crews by the end of this year.
CFA deputy chief officer for operational doctrine and training Rohan Luke said the mobile simulators gave volunteers a safe, controlled environment to learn in during situations that were challenging to replicate in real life.
“These include emergency response driving (with lights and sirens), navigating firegrounds and managing potential rollovers in challenging off-road conditions,” Mr Luke said in a media release.
The simulators are equipped with virtual reality headsets and eye-tracking technology to help drivers sharpen critical skills, such as spatial awareness, mirror checking and hazard perception.
The 6 Degrees of Freedom motion technology allows the driver to move forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right, and pitch, yaw and roll.
Mr Luke said the first completed simulator was shown at the AFAC26 conference — Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Australasia's largest emergency management and first-responder event — before being placed at the CFA’s Central Highlands training campus for testing.
A second simulator was expected to arrive by the end of September.
“The final three simulators are scheduled for delivery by the end of this year. Once delivered, the simulators will be fully mobile and travel across the state, providing access to volunteers in both urban and rural locations,” Mr Luke said.
“These simulators, along with ongoing licensing and driving training efforts, will help ensure our members are well equipped to drive safely and effectively, both now and into the future.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the CFA was always looking at new technologies and ways to improve volunteer training and experience.
“These state-of-the-art driving simulators will be an incredible asset to CFA,” he said.
The $1.29 million project is part of the Upskilling and Protecting our Firefighters Program, funded by the Victorian Government.
