Emily Ireland balances her full-time job, two children, and volunteer roles in marine rescue and firefighting in Onslow, a small coastal community located 1,300 kilometers north of Perth. She aims to inspire her children by demonstrating that not all valuable contributions come with a financial reward. "You [get to] show the kids that you don't have to always just do things because it earns lots of money; you can get a benefit out of it that's not material," Ms. Ireland stated. Ms. Ireland is among 54 women serving in volunteer marine rescue positions across the Pilbara region. She emphasized the importance of women in fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) relationships acquiring emergency skills. "We are getting more and more women each year, but the ratio between men and women is still very off," she noted. The Pilbara region faces unique challenges, including cliffs, crocodiles, and an increasing number of tourists. Despite these obstacles, volunteers respond to an average of 130 rescues annually, which often involve missing persons, distress calls, and vessel breakdowns. The Midwest Gascoyne region has the highest percentage of female volunteers, followed closely by the Pilbara. In Exmouth, women make up 43 percent of rescue crews, while in Port Hedland, they account for 40 percent. This contrasts sharply with the overall gender ratio in the area, where the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 272.6 men for every 100 women in the Shire of East Pilbara in 2024. Bec Benson, a district officer with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in the Pilbara, noted a consistent increase in female volunteers in recent years, many of whom are stepping into leadership roles. "We've had a couple of groups where the crew of the vessel has been solely women," she said. The Pilbara also attracts a younger demographic of volunteers, with an average age of 40. Shelby Noble, a full-time worker and senior rescue skipper in Port Hedland, shared how her experience with the crew has made her more assertive. "You learn so many different life skills; how to handle a vessel, how to handle lines, tie knots, interact with the community," she explained. "It gives you a bit of a purpose." Denise Mackay, a new recruit who moved to Port Hedland six months ago, quickly embraced the opportunity to volunteer. "There is no reason why women can't be as capable and competent at doing this kind of thing as men can be," she said. Michael Chapman, commander of Marine Rescue Onslow, reflected on the changing gender demographics of his team. "When I joined, there were no women in the group. [Now] we actively recruit women; they are an asset to us — we would be buggered without them," he remarked. The growing involvement of women in marine rescue highlights a shift in community engagement and the importance of diverse participation in emergency services.