- Published:
- Monday, 9 June 2025 at 8:19 am
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) is proud to acknowledge this year’s recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in recognition of their commitment to community safety.
FRV Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Andy Waterson has been awarded the prestigious AFSM, alongside Commander Colin Brown and Wildfire Instructor Anthony Scicluna who are both currently working in the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
Established in 1988 to recognise the distinguished service of firefighters to their organisations, AFSMs are awarded on the King’s Birthday each year.
Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman AFSM welcomed the news and congratulated the recipients on the well-deserved honour.
“The Australian Fire Service Medal is the highest award for a member of an Australian fire service, and it is fantastic to see our firefighters’ incredible work acknowledged in the King’s Birthday Honours List,” Commissioner Freeman said.
“On behalf of everyone at FRV, I extend my congratulations to ACFO Waterson, Commander Brown and Wildfire Instructor Scicluna on this distinguished award that recognises their commitment to keeping Victorian communities safe.”
ACFO Waterson’s journey into firefighting began long before his first day on the job.
“My dad was the Captain of the Cohuna Fire Brigade. I used to tag along with him as Mum looked after my brothers and sisters. Both my brothers, Luke, and Tom, are also great firefighters with Fire Rescue Victoria. It’s all we have ever known,” ACFO Waterson recalls.
ACFO Waterson officially began his career with the Dandenong Fire Brigade, where he quickly became known for his commitment to operational excellence and training.
More recently, ACFO Waterson has contributed to the integration of Victoria’s two career fire services, leading policy development and promoting enhanced cooperation. He also stepped in as Acting Deputy Commissioner of Operational Training, leading a passionate team for 14 months.
Receiving the AFSM is an honour ACFO Waterson describes with characteristic humility.
“It’s a huge honour – one I’m not entirely comfortable with, to be honest,” he said.
“I think of the people who have received this before – many of them played a significant role in my career. I see this award as part of my responsibility to now support and guide our future leaders.”
To ACFO Waterson, public service is more than a career – it is a calling and a legacy.
“FRV gives us all the opportunity to become part of one of the greatest fire services in the world,” he said.
“This award reflects not just my own efforts, but the people I have worked with, those who mentored me, and those I am proud to mentor today. I am humbled to be recognised by my peers, who all work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Waterson
ACFO Waterson has dedicated himself to improving the safety of firefighters across fire and rescue for over 35 years.
He commenced with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) as a junior volunteer in 1985, becoming a career firefighter in 2001. He is an accredited level two operations officer and incident controller and has been deployed to many significant emergencies, including the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, 2010-2011 Queensland floods and 2019-2020 Black Summer fires.
Notably, he played a key role in the development of CFA’s urban search and rescue (USAR), including the multi-agency category one course. He was an endorsed aerial assessor on behalf of WorkSafe and helped integrate enhanced aerial appliances into CFA, contributing to operational readiness and safety.
ACFO Waterson joined Fire Rescue Victoria in 2020 as the commander of Emergency Management Liaison and played a lead role in re-establishing major events post COVID-19. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer and has undertaken roles regarding Policy, Planning and Operational Guidance. He played a pivotal role in ensuring consistency between CFA and the former Metropolitan Fire Brigade doctrine, following the 2020 Fire Services Reform.
Under his leadership there has been a substantial increase in the delivery of training courses and the number of personnel trained.
Through his visionary leadership, innovative doctrine development, and dedication to collaboration, ACFO Waterson has set a new standard for operational excellence. His contributions to driver education, USAR and aerial capabilities have a lasting impact on safety, training, and preparedness of firefighters across multiple agencies.
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