Entry requirements

Criminal history policy

The Criminal History policy takes into consideration the responsibilities of a contemporary firefighter, such as:

  • dealing with members of the community in vulnerable situations in an emergency environment
  • entering private houses in an emergency environment without the occupant’s supervision
  • having access to keys to property including large commercial properties
  • dealing with members of the public including children and isolated elderly in relation to community education
  • demonstrating a commitment to upholding the principles of the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct

Imprisonment Sentence
An applicant who has been sentenced to any term of imprisonment, including suspended sentences, will be indefinitely excluded from applying.

Indictable Offences (Serious Offences)
An applicant with a finding of guilt for an offence such as theft, deception, criminal damage, arson, drug trafficking, serious assault or other serious offence may be eligible to apply 10 years after the date of offence when committed as an adult, or five years after the date of the offence if committed as a child. This includes all findings of guilt including convictions, cautions, diversions, good behaviour bonds and without-conviction findings.

Summary Offences
An applicant with a finding of guilt for a summary offence involving dishonesty, assault, property damage or any offence against an emergency services worker may be eligible to apply five years after the date of offence. An applicant with a finding of guilt on two or more occasions for any other summary offences may be eligible to apply five years after the date of the last offence. All other summary offence findings will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This includes all findings of guilt including convictions, cautions, diversions, penalty notices, good behaviour bonds and without-conviction findings.

Intervention Orders/Personal Safety Orders
An applicant named as the respondent in a current full intervention/personal safety order, or previous full order may be eligible to apply five years from the date of the expiration of the order. An applicant who is subject to an interim intervention/personal safety order is ineligible to apply whilst the order is in effect. An applicant with a finding of guilt for breaching an intervention order may be eligible to apply 10 years after the date of the breach if the offence was committed as an adult, or five years after the date of the breach if the offence was committed as a child.

False and misleading information
An applicant found to have deliberately supplied false, incomplete or misleading information in an attempt to gain entry into FRV may be excluded indefinitely from applying in the future.

Outstanding warrants/orders
An applicant with outstanding warrants, court orders, fines, corrections orders is not eligible to apply until the outstanding matters are finalised.

Charged with or awaiting criminal proceedings
An applicant who is charged with or awaiting criminal proceedings is not eligible to apply until the outstanding matters are finalised. A case-by-case assessment will be made re eligibility/suitability.