For the first time, a contingent of Nepali fire and forest management professionals have visited Victoria to learn from the state’s fire experience.
The visitors were hosted by the Australian Himalayan Foundation through the Australia Awards Fellowship program.
The four-week fellowship, held in Victoria and New South Wales, was designed to strengthen Nepal’s capacity to manage and respond to climate-induced bushfires.
The group spent two weeks in Central Victoria, including in and around the Macedon Ranges, training with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) as part of the professional development visit.
The group joined pre-season operational briefings, bushfire awareness training, and field exercises designed to build practical firefighting skills.
They learnt about fuel reduction burns, visited recent bushfire-affected areas, and compared outcomes between planned burns and uncontrolled fires to see how proactive fire management protects communities and ecosystems.
FFMVic workcentre operations coordinator Vince Cafari planned for FFMVic led training activities to be comprehensive and practical, and said safety was the focus.
“Safety is forefront of what we do. If it’s not safe, we don’t do it. We highlighted the importance of doing things safely,” Mr Cafari said.
The program also included a session about Traditional Owners, where the group learnt about cultural burning practices and the connection between fire, Country, and community.
Both nations recognise that valuing these traditional practices support healthier, more resilient landscapes.
“It’s important for FFMVic because it’s an opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experiences, but also to get from the Nepali Fellows their experiences and their stories,” Mr Cafari said.
The 15 fellows were selected from 10 Nepalese organisations, including ForestAction Nepal, and the Ministry of Forest and Environment, for their leadership in fire management and potential to drive change.
Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the federal government.
The fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region.
Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who are in a position to advance development outcomes and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership.
