#493 On-Call & Volunteer Retention Systems: The Perennial Problem - Solving It for the 21st Century

 In this episode, we explore one of the fire service’s most persistent challenges: how we recruit, retain and properly support on-call and volunteer firefighters in a world that has changed faster than the systems designed to sustain them. Joined by Brittany Hollerbach, Emelie Lantz and Dr Steve Sadler, we look beyond the usual “people don’t want to volunteer anymore” narrative and ask whether the real issue is that the model itself no longer fits modern family life, employment pressures, rural communities, training demands and the wider risks of the job. From the unseen burden carried by families and primary employers, to smarter training, flexible roles, data-led workforce planning and the bravery needed from leaders to challenge outdated structures, this conversation digs into what it will actually take to build an on-call and volunteer fire service fit for the 21st century. 

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