Education programs
Bringing fire history to life!
The Museum of Fire’s dynamic and curriculum-linked school program provides awesome experiences for groups large and small.
With fire appliances dating back to the early 1800’s the Museum of Fire stands as a fitting monument to the heroic firefighters who support our communities. The steam engines, horse drawn carts, manual pumps and modern motorized engines also highlight how transportation has changed over the years.
The Museum of Fire’s education program allows students to see a wide variety of historic fire engines and to gain insights into the way the Fire Brigade has changed (and continues to change) lives.
Overview
The talk is suitable for primary school students and is based on the school curriculum. When you arrive, teachers and helpers will be provided with a structured timetable before your visit.
Here is some information to help you in planning your visit.
The Education Programs typically last about 3.5 hours, but they can be tailored to be as short or long as you need.
The Museum is located about an hour west of Sydney, and makes for a great day visit, or stop-off destination on your way to/from the Blue Mountains.
Early Stage 1 - Stage 1: People in the Community
This program engages students in learning about what Firefighters do and how they do their job. Students are encouraged to take part in a role play scenario which highlights the role of all emergency services and asks students to recall what they have learned about being helpers in the community, especially Firefighters.
Stage 2: Identifying Hazards
This program engages students in learning about fire safety through the lens of personal safety, safety in the home and safety when at school. Students are led in discussion of concepts such as what is an emergency? What are fire hazards? And how can fire hazards been avoided, prevented or resolved. Students are then asked about how firefighters manage fire hazards and discuss the equipment and tools used by firefighters.
Stage 3: Bushfires
This program discusses the impact of bushfires on the environment. Students are asked to think about how bushfires differ from fire within the built-up environment and discuss how we can prevent bushfires. Students also learn how fire can be good for the environment and how Aboriginal people use fire to shape their environment.
Venue and safety information
The Museum has a general risk assessment which covers an excursion from our perspective, but all schools are legally required to complete their own.
How to book
All groups visiting the Museum of Fire must book in advance.
Please note that the minimum number for an Education Program is 15 students.
Bookings can be made using this link, or on (02) 4731 3000
We are open 9:30am to 4:30pm all year round (except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Cost
$12.50 per student
This includes a Fire Safety Talk, Emergency Services role play experience, a self guided-tour of the Museum and a ride on a Fire Engine.
A non-refundable deposit of $187.50 (15 students) must be paid within 2 weeks of booking to secure the date, if the deposit is not paid after these 2 weeks your booking will be cancelled.
Supervisor-to-student ratios
K-6 Supervisor-to-student ratios are 1:10
Special Needs supervisor-to-student ratios are 1:4
For any group of ten students (K-6) one teacher or parent supervisor will be admitted to the Museum free of charge. For special needs groups one carer, teacher or parent supervisor will be admitted free of charge for every four students.
Any additional adult helpers are charged at $9.50 per person. If you require further confirmation of what your ratio allocation would be, please call the Museum on (02) 4731 3000.
Facilities
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On Site Parking [including disabled parking]
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Accessible toilets
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Gift Shop
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Picnic facilities
Should you require any further information or assistance in planning your visit click here or contact the Museum on (02) 4731 3000
Group Booking Arrival Policy
To ensure all groups receive the best possible experience, our education and activity sessions run to a fixed timetable, which is provided to your group ahead of your visit.
Our programs are delivered by a combination of staff, volunteers, and visiting industry presenters, who are specifically rostered and scheduled around your group's confirmed arrival and program times. As a registered not-for-profit charity, we rely on the generosity of our volunteers and the careful coordination of our small team to deliver these experiences, so we're unfortunately unable to hold or delay sessions to accommodate late arrivals.
Running late?
If your group is running behind schedule, please contact us as soon as possible with an updated estimated time of arrival, so we can do our best to accommodate you.
Arriving after your scheduled start time
Regardless of whether we've been notified, your group's program will commence at the activity scheduled for your actual arrival time. Any activities scheduled before your arrival will be forfeited and cannot be made up or rescheduled.
For example: if your timetable includes morning tea (10:00–10:30am), fire engine rides (10:30–11:00am), and an education talk (from 11:00-11:30am), and your group arrives at 11:00am, your visit will begin with the education talk. All previous activities will be forfeited.
If your group still requires morning tea despite arriving late, this can be accommodated, however it will be taken from your remaining program time and will shorten all subsequent activities.
No shows
If your group does not arrive and we have not been contacted, this will be treated as a no-show. As a registered charity, the full cost of the booking, based on the confirmed number of students, will still be payable, as resources, staff, and volunteer time will already have been committed to your visit.
Home School groups
The Museum also offers education programs for home schooled children. The educational program for home schooling groups allows children to see a wide variety of historic fire engines and to gain insights into the way the Fire Brigade has changed (and continues to change) lives. For information pertaining to pricing, program contents and guidelines, refer to this document:
A non-refundable deposit equivalent to 15 students secures your homeschool group booking and is due within 2 weeks of booking. The remaining balance is then due in full no later than 7 days before your excursion date to confirm program time and resourcing. Bookings not finalised by either deadline will be cancelled, with any deposit paid retained.