Become a Dispatcher
Before the sirens sound and the fire engines roll, the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Dispatcher is already in action - gathering information, planning the response, and directing the team.
The first to respond to your call
Any time of day, every day of the year, our Dispatchers are ready to respond to every call for help that comes in to our three Communications Centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, to mobilise an emergency response to any location in New Zealand.
It’s why we’re proud to wear the Fire and Emergency NZ uniform.
To learn more about us, and our mahi around the motu, visit our Communication Centres Facebook page(external link) or watch the video below of some of our Communications Centre staff talking about their role.
You’ll solve serious problems
No two events are the same. Your ability to read the situation and respond is the first step to a successful operation.
When there’s a lot happening and seconds count, you’ll rely on your razor-sharp analytical and problem-solving skills to pull everything together. The connections you see, the ideas you form, and the decisions you make give our fire crews the best chance at controlling the event.
From reading the details to seeing the big picture, your problem-solving skills are one of our biggest strengths.
You’ll be part of a mission critical team
As a Dispatcher, you are the first to respond to an emergency call. The call you take and the decisions you make determine how the rest of our team handles an event. You’ll give our fire crews the information they need to respond and to stay safe.
You’ll liaise with Police, Ambulance, and other services when they’re needed, and keep everyone up to speed about how the situation is changing.
During the event, you’ll gather vital information that helps us report on our performance. You’ll also form strong relationships with other Dispatchers and Firefighters who work the same shifts as you. You won’t be on the scene, but you’re an essential member of the team.
It's a career path with great support
We know this is a demanding job. That’s why every Dispatcher receives the same wellbeing support services as our Firefighters and this structure of support extends to management who proactively check in with staff who have handled traumatic events.
To keep you on top of your game there’s comprehensive training, initially and ongoing, leading to NZQA-recognised qualifications.
There’s also a clear career path to reward those who commit to the role and want to progress. To learn more about our extensive Training and Development programme, visit [training and development page]
Ready to respond to the call?
Apply to be a DispatcherIn this section
-
Dispatcher duties and entry requirements
When the public turns to us for help, we must answer their call and come to their aid. Dispatchers are at the very centre of this responsibility and require specific skills and qualities to operate from one of our three Communication Centres.
-
Dispatcher recruitment process
Our Dispatchers work under very tight timeframes to get the details of an incident into our computer system and turn out the necessary resources - usually in less than 90 seconds! Our application process ensures we pick the best people for that job; as it can be the difference between life and death.
-
Dispatcher training and development
As a Dispatcher, you’re mission-critical to Fire and Emergency - and to the people we help. That’s why we give our best possible support to you and your career path.