A new Indigenous Partnership Strategy is being piloted there and in Moree, and should be rolled out across the region later in the year.

Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has committed to working with Indigenous leaders, land managers and housing providers, and become more involved in local youth programs.

Read more:

About 50 people attended this morning’s launch of the strategy at Tamworth Regional Youth Centre.

Zone superintendent Tom Cooper said FRNSW would “involve everyone in the Indigenous community through collaboration in critical decision-making, fire safety initiatives and employment opportunities”.

Deputy commissioner Jim Hamilton said it was about “education and prevention rather than enforcement” and would focus on accidents – such as with unattended cooking or clothes laid over heaters – and arson.

“Part of this is also making people aware that … if it is a deliberate fire, the consequences of deliberate fires.

“Unfortunately we have people in our communities who deliberately light fires or deliberately destroy properties, and what we engage in here is to work with our communities, work with NSW Police to educate people about the dangers.”

Aunty Yvonne Kent said elders welcomed “the boys in the light blue or the dark blue” to engage with local youths. “By working together, I think there will be better outcomes for our community and our children,” she said.

A symbol of the strategy will be local Indigenous artist Jodie Herden’s work to be featured on local fire trucks.

The work took her about six weeks and features the rainbow serpent, Garriya.

“I thought about what was important to the local Gomeroi community, and fire and water are two of the major influences,” Ms Herden said.

“Water is the giver of life, and Garriya created the waterways, rivers and watercourses through the Gomeroi region.”