NAB has announced a partnership with Girls on Fire, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving gender diversity and inclusion in the emergency services sector.

Girls on Fire, led by Bronnie Mackintosh, provides firefighting and resilience programs in an outdoor learning setting for teenage girls and culturally diverse young people. The partnership will help fund the group’s national expansion beyond New South Wales.

Through attending a ‘Girls on Fire’ program participants build personal resilience skills and make meaningful connections for future volunteering or careers in emergency services.

Founder of Girls on Fire and Station Officer at Fire and Rescue NSW, Bronnie Mackintosh, said the partnership would allow programs to expand nationally and reach more young people.

“Communities move beyond surviving fire and natural disaster to thriving with the right kind of leadership, and the right kind of leadership is one that reflects the community it serves,” Ms Mackintosh said.

“Engaging with Girls on Fire not only encourages greater diversity and participation from girls and women, it helps create a culture of connection.

“We’re excited to take our programs across the country to empower more young people and increase gender representation in emergency services.”

NAB Group Executive Rachel Slade said the bank’s support of ‘Girls on Fire’ is about diversity in leadership as well as helping Australia withstand and recover from natural disasters.

“Bronnie’s powerful personal story of finding her voice within the emergency services industry as a leader compelled us to get involved. Over the past two years, our relationship has grown as we’ve supported their work to break gender stereotypes and empower young people to become leaders in their communities,” Ms Slade said.

“NAB is proud to partner with trailblazers like Girls on Fire to help protect Australian communities.”

Since 2018, Girls on Fire has run school programs, cultural inclusion and community engagement activities in 30 locations across New South Wales and held its first Victorian program in Creswick this week.

Notes to editor:

• NAB’s involvement with Girls on Fire began in 2021 when it was awarded a NAB Foundation Community Grant. The NAB Foundation Community Grants program is part of NAB Ready Together, an initiative that helps customers, colleagues and their communities withstand natural disasters.