Dozens of homes have been destroyed in bushfires across Tasmania and New South Wales in recent days, with one firefighter killed during prevention work on the NSW Mid North Coast

It's a harsh start to the bushfire season as thousands of volunteers prepare for the weeks ahead.

Elliott Simpson is one of those volunteers. He's a member of the Green Point Rural Fire Brigade on the New South Wales mid-coast and at just 21 years old he's attended more than 160 call-outs - from Cyclone Alfred to the Taree flood recovery efforts.

Guest: Elliott Simpson, NSW RFS Young Volunteer of the Year