Diversity and inclusion in emergency management: from policy to practice

How do we effectively implement diversity and inclusion policies in emergency management sector practices? Join us to find out about the latest research and how it is being applied. 

In partnership with Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA), Victoria University, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC hosted a free online forum, Diversity and inclusion in emergency management: from policy to practice. 

The forum presented the Diversity and inclusion framework for emergency management policy and practice, developed through the Diversity and inclusion: building strength and capability project to provide a basis for practitioners to address diversity and inclusion issues through a strength-based approach, which builds upon current practice and expertise in the sector. Download the framework here. 

Event details

When: Wednesday 2 December, 12pm AEDT (10:30am ACST, 11am AEST, 11:30am ACDT, 9am AWST, 2pm NZDT)

Duration: 1 hour

Where: Zoom

Speakers:

• Celeste Young: Collaborative Research Fellow, Victoria University & Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
• Quinn Cramer: Station Officer, QFES, WAFA President
• Rachael Utumapu: Manager Women’s Development, FENZ 

The forum was recorded and is available to watch above or on the CRC Hazard Channel. The forum saw a fantastic discussion on diversity and inclusion, and plenty of thought-inspiring questions came through that couldn’t be answered in the hour of the event, so all the panellists recorded a follow up panel Q&A session to keep this important discussion going and answer all the questions received. That video is also available to watch below or on the CRC Hazard Channel.

About the forum

This online forum discussed the evolution of inclusive practice over the last three years, the purpose of diversity and the critical role inclusion plays in the management of social, human and natural hazard risk in communities and organisations. It also explored what is at risk and showed why diversity and inclusion is a business imperative and why investment to build capability in this area is now critical.

Celeste Young presented the Diversity and inclusion framework for emergency management policy and practice, the Learning as we go: developing effective inclusive management support document and other supporting materials that have been developed by the project to support inclusion practitioners' management and measurement in this complex and challenging area. She also challenged common assumptions about the value of their work and how it can enhance service delivery and create safer and more resilient organisations and communities.

Quinn Cramer spoke on the role WAFA has to play in diversity and inclusion policies by discussing policies and best practice insights, including future directions and opportunities for the future of women in firefighting. She discussed a range of WAFA documents that have been developed to assist organisations in creating more inclusive and safe workplaces, and the complexities of diversity and inclusion in practice. Two of these documents - the WAFA outcomes statement and WAFA-QFES workshop evaluation report - are available to download below. 

Rachael Utumapu spoke on encouraging more women to join emergency services agencies in New Zealand as the Manager of Women's Development at FENZ, and what diversity and inclusion policies have already been implemented in New Zealand. 

Download key external resources

• 2018 WAFA outcomes statement
• 2018 WAFA-QFES workshop evaluation report

You can also access and complete the WAFA Build­ing Inclu­sive Work­places Ques­tion­naire here. 
And there is more information about the Girls on Fire resilience program for young women here.