The United Firefighters Union of Australia Aviation Branch is a trade union representing the workplace, industrial, and professional interests of over to 950 aviation firefighters employed by the Commonwealth Government enterprise Airservices Australia.
Our members deliver Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) at airports across Australia, protecting passengers, aircrew, aviation infrastructure, and surrounding communities.
ARFFS fire stations are currently located at 27 airports across every State and Territory, as well as Norfolk Island. These locations range from small regional mining and tourism hubs through to Australia’s major international gateways serving capital cities.
→ View map of Airservices Australia ARFFS locations
The Aviation Branch forms part of the United Firefighters Union of Australia National Branch, ensuring aviation firefighters have dedicated representation within a strong national union structure.
The strength of the Aviation Branch is built on the commitment of members who have taken on representative, advocacy, and leadership roles over many years. Through sustained service, these members have helped advance safety, professional standards, and working conditions across the ARFFS network.
Some members have made an exceptional and enduring contribution to the Union and its members. In recognition of this service, the Aviation Branch may award Life Membership, the Branch’s highest honour.
The United Firefighters Union of Australia was officially registered on 1 August 1990, following more than 20 years of sustained effort by firefighters seeking national representation.
The UFUA was originally registered in 1964 by the Deputy Industrial Registrar of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. However, strong opposition from state and metropolitan fire authorities led to a High Court appeal, ultimately overturning that registration.
Opposition came from the Chief Officers of the Country Fire Authority, Metropolitan Fire Brigade boards across multiple states, and other firefighting authorities, who resisted the formation of a national firefighters’ union.
In a 1970 Full Court decision, Chief Justice Barwick ruled that firefighters were not employees engaged in an “industry” within the meaning of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and therefore could not form a national industrial organisation.
This decision marked the beginning of a renewed and determined campaign for national recognition.
In 1983, a High Court decision delivered by Justice Brennan in The Queen v Coldham; ex parte Australian Social Welfare Union overturned the earlier interpretation of what constituted an industry and an industrial dispute.
This ruling reopened the pathway for firefighters to pursue national registration and reinvigorated efforts across state-based unions.
In 1988, the Federal Firefighters Union (FFU) lodged a new application to be registered as the United Firefighters Union of Australia. As FFU members were employed at airports, they were considered federal employees, enabling national registration.
Despite 36 formal objectors, organisers Mick Doyle and Rod Knowles travelled the country meeting with stakeholders, ultimately convincing all but one to withdraw their objections.
On 1 August 1990, the UFUA was officially registered as a national union representing more than 11,000 Australian firefighters.
The inaugural meeting of the UFUA was held later that year and opened by the then Premier of Tasmania, Michael Field, who spoke to the significance of national firefighter representation and the importance of cooperation between governments and unions.
The first National President was Rod Knowles, and the first National Secretary was Mick Doyle.
Today, the UFUA represents more than 13,000 firefighters across Australia, continuing to campaign for improved safety, fair working conditions, professional standards, and strong industrial representation for firefighters nationwide.
The Aviation Branch remains a dedicated and integral part of this national structure, advocating specifically for the unique operational and industrial needs of aviation firefighters.
