Firefighter calendar pin-ups give young Australians massive cash boost

The buff men featured inside the Australian Firefighters Calendar are more than just good-looking heroes.

They've also recently donated $30K from the sale of their calendars to Orana, which works hand in hand with Down Syndrome South Australia to provide employment, training and support with life skills, such as cooking.

Hundreds of South Australians of all ages have found a place to belong here and the money will help keep this vital disability service running.

Mitch, Cohen, Simon, Aaron and Dan – familiar faces from the Australian Firefighters Calendar – paid a visit to Orana, along with A Current Affair's Sylvia Jeffreys, to see first-hand the organisation's incredible work.

"They've come armed with more than their calendars," Orana CEO Nick Mihalaras says, of the firefighters.

"They're a fantastic group of guys, and the whole organisation is absolutely fantastic, we really appreciate their support."

Orana has provided a supportive environment for people of all ages, including two-year-old James and his parents who tell Jeffreys they were at "very vulnerable point".

But that changed once they met other mums and dads going through a similar situation at Orana.

"We learn off each other and we learn off other mothers who may have been going through the same thing," James's mother, Carolyn, says.

"People are coming not just to learn and achieve their goals, but it's the social aspect and having that sense of coming to a place where you're welcomed and your respected," Down Syndrome South Australia general manager Kaz McMahon says.

McMahon says the firies have certainly been welcomed during their special visit with ACA.

"We did tell people they weren't going to take their shirts off, they'd have to buy the calendar," she laughs.

This visit, particularly for the fathers among the firies, really hit home.

"It's really humbling knowing that all people and all kids have a chance to grow and throughout their life progress in all kinds of areas," firefighter Dan tells Jeffreys.

"I know as a parent that I would hope that my children would have the same opportunity."