Dedicated Queensland firefighters named on King’s Birthday Honours List

• Three Queensland Fire Department personnel have been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List. 
• The Crisafulli Government congratulates Station Officer Justin Francis, Inspector Daren Mallouk and Captain Stephen Malone who have been honoured this year.  
• The AFSM is awarded to both paid and volunteer members of an Australian fire service who have given distinguished service.  

Decades worth of service to the Queensland Fire Department has earned three of its own a spot on the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List, with the Crisafulli Government proud to honour their distinguished service. 

The recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) have each demonstrated exceptional dedication to Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) and Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ).  

The Crisafulli Government is proud to back Queensland’s firefighters, recognising their service and supporting them to continue protecting and delivering for communities across the State. 

Station Officer Justin Francis joined in 1995 and has since served QFR across a range of frontline operational and specialist roles.  

Currently the station officer at Cannon Hill Fire Station, Mr Francis’ career includes periods as a safety assessment officer and building approvals officer.  

He has also demonstrated his commitment to firefighter safety, high-rise firefighting capability and community protection in the built environment.   

Inspector Daren Mallouk began his career with QFR as a firefighter in 2001 and is currently the manager of the State Fire Investigation Unit.  

His expertise in fire origin and cause determination has contributed to more than 150 complex investigations and he has overseen more than 1000 fire scenes, including structural damage, explosions, fatalities and hazardous materials.  

Captain Stephen Malone began his firefighting career with RFSQ in 1998 and has continued as a rural firefighter and State Emergency Service member alongside his current role as the captain of Julia Creek Fire and Rescue Station. 

Mr Malone is dedicated to community safety, multi-agency collaboration and operational preparedness, a passion which saw him establish the McKinlay Shire First Responders Group to improve coordination between emergency services.  

Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy congratulated each recipient on receiving the highly distinguished honour. 

“The recipients of this year’s Australian Fire Service Medal represent more than 80 years of combined service, showcasing the dedication, leadership and expertise within the Queensland Fire Department,” Minister Leahy said. 

“I congratulate each of them and thank them for their decades of service protecting Queensland communities.” 

QFD Commissioner Steve Smith said it was wonderful the recipients had been recognised for the immense success they had achieved.  

“I want to thank Mr Francis, Mr Malone and Mr Mallouk for the knowledge, improvements and dedication they have brought to their roles and QFD,” he said.  

“You have not only impacted your colleagues in QFD but have been able to share your knowledge with other agencies and emergency services colleges across Australia and the world. 

“I look forward to the impact you will continue to have across QFD.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kyah Devine, 0428 217 040 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

Station Officer Justin Francis 

• Justin Francis has served QFD for more than 30 years since joining the organisation in 1995. 
• His career includes long-term service as a station officer across Brisbane, periods as a safety assessment officer and building approvals officer, and relieving appointments as an acting inspector in both operations and building fire safety. He is currently the station officer at Cannon Hill Fire Station.
• Mr Francis has demonstrated commitment to firefighting safety, high-rise firefighting capability and community protection in the built environment. 
• His academic achievements, including a Bachelor and Master of Emergency Management, have underpinned significant organisation contribution.
• He identified critical knowledge gaps in high-rise firefighting and authored QFD’s ‘Firefighting in the Built Environment’ program, training more than 600 firefighters. He has been involved in major investigations including the Cathedral Place fire and has presented at more than 30 national and international conferences on high-rise fire safety.
• In 2017 Mr Francis was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research global best practice in high-rise evacuation and building fire safety systems, including post-incident study of the Grenfell Tower fire. His findings continue to influence fire safety reforms in Australia and abroad. He established and led the Firefighter Safety Working Group, which drove improvements including on-site decontamination procedures, enhanced PPE storage, air monitoring protocols and fire station design updates to reduce exposure to toxins.  

Inspector Daren Mallouk 

• Daren Mallouk joined QFD in 2001 as a firefighter and is now the manager of the State Fire Investigation Unit. He is recognised for his exceptional expertise in fire origin and cause determination and has contributed to more than 150 complex investigations while providing managerial oversight for more than 1000 fire scenes. His technical proficiency and professional judgement have been instrumental in delivering expert witness testimony when required.
• Mr Mallouk has delivered training and specialist advice supporting the implementation of safety initiatives, fire prevention strategies and public education programs aimed at reducing unsafe practices and the use of non-compliant products. His leadership has played a key role in enhancing the capability of fire investigators, particularly in evidence preparation and reporting.
• Mr Mallouk has presented on emerging and high-risk issues such as lithium-ion battery hazards, fatal fire analysis and fire scene reconstruction both nationally and internationally. He is widely regarded for his ability to lead change, mentor investigators and foster cross-agency collaboration.  

Captain Stephen Malone 

• Stephen Malone started his career with QFD as a RFSQ brigade member with Dry Ridges and Kynuna Rural Fire Brigades in 1998. He also became an auxiliary firefighter and has been captain of Julia Creek Fire and Rescue since 2015 as well as a State Emergency Service volunteer. 
• Mr Malone recognised the challenges of emergency response in remote areas and established the McKinlay Shire First Responders Group to improve coordination between emergency services. It strengthened communication, joint training and fostered a unified emergency services presence.
• In response to unprecedented fuel loads across the Mitchell Grass Downs region, he organised rural fire training for 30 graziers which addressed a generational gap in fire behaviour knowledge. His leadership prepared the region for three bushfire seasons. 
• Mr Malone identified limitations in remote medical response and developed the LifeFlight JetA1 Fuel Partnership which enabled helicopter access for medical and search and rescue operations in previously inaccessible areas. He also created a fixed location emergency Triple Zero sheet system to improve caller location accuracy across rural properties which reduced response delays.