Dr Kristine Klugman: Opening the Doors for Women in Firefighting

Dr Kristine Klugman, Deputy President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW, 1984 [Museum of Fire Collection]

When Dr Kristine Klugman was appointed Deputy President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW in 1982, she became the first woman to take on a senior leadership role in the then 98-year-old organisation. Her appointment not only made history—it also set in motion a chain of reforms that would ultimately lead to the inclusion of women in active firefighting roles in New South Wales.

Before her appointment, Dr Klugman had already led a remarkable life as a double-certified nurse, researcher, historian, and author. She held a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Community Studies and was the President of the Australian Museum Trust. She was also part of the interim council for the National Maritime Museum. Her career exemplified her passion for public service, education, and equity—values that she would bring into her role with the NSW Fire Brigades (now Fire and Rescue NSW).

One of Dr Klugman’s first goals upon joining the Board was to challenge the absence of women in firefighting roles. In 1983, at the age of 41 and a mother of three teenage daughters, she volunteered to undertake the Felix Russo Assessment Battery (FRAB) test—the physical test faced by all new recruits. She became the first woman to complete the full battery and passed with flying colours. Her success proved to the Board that women could meet the physical demands of firefighting, removing one of the final barriers to women joining the NSW Fire Brigades.

“Why haven’t we any female firefighters yet? Maybe they’re afraid they won’t meet the physical entry standards. They shouldn’t be—if a 41-year-old mother of three who does no regular exercise can pass all but the height requirement, a lot of taller fit young females must be able to pass.”

—Dr Kristine Klugman, 1983

Kristine Klugman completing the Felix Russo Assessment Battery Test (FRAB), 1983 [Museum of Fire Collection]

This milestone also aligned with broader political reforms. The introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) made it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sex in employment, helping pave the way for women to be employed in the same roles as men and receive equal pay. Dr Klugman's advocacy was both timely and transformative, aligning personal action with systemic change.

Her advocacy led to a change in the Fire Brigades Act of NSW, which had previously contained by-laws framed around male physical standards that effectively barred women from joining. With those legal barriers removed, the door was open—though progress remained slow. Four women joined as Permanent Firefighters in 1985, followed by only sporadic additions over the following decade. By the late 1990s, however, the presence of women in the service began to steadily increase. The first female Retained Firefighter joined in 1986, with others following in 1987, and the first female Captain of a Retained Brigade, Tania McMaster, was appointed in 1997.

Firefighters Alison Meenahan, Dawn Maynard, Denise Butcher and Heather Barnes with Kristine Klugman, 24 November 1986 [Museum of Fire Collection]

Beyond gender inclusion, Dr Klugman was instrumental in modernising the culture of the NSWFB. She pushed to replace the outdated seniority-based promotion system with one based on merit, fostered continuous education and professional development among firefighters, and championed public education in fire prevention and bushfire awareness.

Dr Klugman also played a vital role in establishing a permanent home for the Museum of Fire. When the government sought to relocate the museum from its temporary location in a decaying timber wharf at Circular Quay, she leveraged the opportunity to secure a new and more suitable location. After extensive negotiations, the old Penrith Powerhouse was chosen. Though in poor condition at the time, Dr Klugman saw its potential—and with her leadership, the museum found its long-term home in a building uniquely suited to the task.

Kristine Klugman inspecting Penrith Power Station for the potential to be the 'new' home of the Museum of Fire, 1986 [Museum of Fire Collection]

After her work with the Board, Dr Klugman went on to complete a PhD and later co-founded Civil Liberties Australia, serving as its President for 20 years. Yet her pioneering contributions to the fire service remain among her most lasting achievements—a legacy of courage, conviction, and change.

You can see Dr Kristine's Klugman's phenomenal contributions as a part of our Breaking Barriers, Battling Blazes Exhibition which is on until 23 November 2025, click here to find out more!

L to R: Todd Carney Mayor of Penrith, CEO Belinda McMartin, Dr Kristine Kulgman, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services Charishma Kaliyanda and Commissioner FRNSW Jeremy Fetrell at the exhibition launch for Breaking Barriers, Battling Blazes at the Museum of Fire, 6 March 2025

-Story by Curator Ben Dickson, featuring content from Bill Rowlings OAM