The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands are located in the far north-west of South Australia, running up to the border with the Northern Territory and Western Australia. To get there from Adelaide, you need to drive more than 1070 kilometres north to Marla, then onto unsealed roads for hours to reach the scattered remote communities. The total population is about 2500, with the largest towns (300 to 350 residents) being Indulkana, Pukatja (Ernabella), Amata and Mimili. About 84.5% of the APY population are indigenous as compared to 2.3% of the total South Australian population (ABS, 2012). 

In the past there has been very limited capacity in the APY Lands to prepare and respond to fires that have threatened homes and communities. However, in recent times, the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has made a significant investment in building capacity in remote APY communities to prepare and respond to building fire and bushfire. This is being achieved through local liaison, training and equipment, which is targeted and suited to local culture and environments and quite different to the fire agency's traditional approach.

This session will feature local stories from some of South Australia's most remote fire brigades, in their own words. Region 4 CFS Regional Commander, Bluey Devine, will introduce the session, describing the successes and challenges of setting up and supporting these remote volunteer fire brigades. APY volunteers will then tell stories about their brigades and experiences from their perspective.