For Alfred Hospital burns liaison nurse Mel Pacquola, teaching people about fire prevention is as much a part of the job as treating those affected by them. 

Ms Pacquola has now taken her fire prevention message on the road, talking to boys at Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre about how fires can impact seriously on people's lives. 

'These boys usually have been involved with a range of crimes, some involving arson,' Ms Pacquola said.

'So the message we want to get across is risk-taking behaviour involving fire can have consequences.'

Highlighting the consequences, Ms Pacquola presents the sessions with former burns patient Ryan Paine, 22, who was treated at the Alfred after a kitchen accident in March 2004.

'Having a former patient there, who they can relate to, is really important.

'It's not like they're being lectured—they're hearing from the horse's mouth about the impact burns can have on your life.

'They really respond to Ryan—to his scarring and his story.' 

The sessions evolved as part of the Victorian Burns Prevention Partnership, an initiative involving the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the Country Fire Authority, the Royal Children's Hospital and the Alfred's burns unit.

'The idea was to form a united front on fire prevention,' Ms Pacquola said.

'Essentially, we have more voices saying the same thing•which helps get the message across.'