The diversification of emergency services is an imperative recognized by both the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA). The idea to hold a national conference on this theme emerged from discussions between the two organizations. The UFUA and the MFB are increasingly engaging with a range of diversity issues and are keen to explore opportunities for sharing and learning at the national level.

The conference uses the holistic meaning of diversity and recognises the complexities and intersection of identities which co-exist in one community. Therefore, call for papers will focus on the themes of the conference as an essential requirement while the context may refer to any aspect of diversity such as: race, culture, language, disability, gender, socio-economic background, age, or sexual orientation.

The MFB and UFUA consider this conference as a start to a series of future conferences and seminars on the topic of diversity in emergency services. It is hoped that this conference will set a chain reaction whereby more discussions, dialogue and analysis begin to happen more often in the emergency services sector and lead to increased collaboration and partnerships on diversity.

Conference Objectives

  • To explore and showcase the business case for diversity within the emergency services sector
  • To learn from a wide range of international and national experiences in the sector about the challenges faced by emergency services in developing diversity competence and engaging with diverse groups in the community
  • To explore and consider the various strategies developed and/or recommended to emergency services to follow and implement to assist their diversity goals
  • To promote diversity as the responsibility of all departments within an emergency services organisation and therefore all departments have a contribution to make.

The conference participants will be challenged to contribute to a series of discussions exploring questions including:

  • Defining diversity - what is it in an emergency services context?
  • Why do we need diversity?
  • How can diversity be effectively achieved?
  • How do emergency services currently respond to internal and external diversity?
  • What are the challenges facing emergency services as they implement diversity strategies?
  • What are the barriers faced by diverse groups in accessing emergency services or joining their ranks?
  • What are the benefits of diversity for emergency services?
  • What are the limitations and implications that may confront emergency services if they fail to address diversity?
  • What are the key skills required of emergency services personnel in a diverse community?
  • What are the organizational, personal, professional and individual benefits of diversity?

The conference will further explore opportunities for Australian emergency services to act as leaders, showing the way as emergency services in Australia and internationally learn to adapt to change. It is expected that the range of speakers and presentations will provide much needed research insights into how Australian Emergency Services are responding to the challenge of diversity. The conference aims to offer a rich source of research and good practice in a range of areas related to diversity challenges in emergency services. The range of themes to be explored will offer new insights into how emergency services are responding and planning for the future. As Australian workplaces become more diverse and adapt to change, such insights can be of broader benefit in feeding into public policy on equal opportunity, inclusive work cultures and means to achieve the balance between workplace norms and community and civic goals.

Who should attend?

  • Senior leaders in Emergency Management roles
  • Union leaders within the emergency services sector
  • Emergency services personnel
  • Academics in the field of emergency management, anthropology, ethnic studies, Indigenous studies, gender studies, disability studies, diversity management
  • Public administrators and policy makers
  • Private and public sector leaders
  • Workplace trainers, HR and organizational development practitioners
  • Diversity practioners
  • Multicultural, disability, indigenous and women's groups and organisations
  • Federal, State and Local Government managers and policy makers
  • Research students

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline
Friday, 20 July 2007

Abstract Notification
Friday, 31 August 2007

Early Bird Registration Deadline
Friday, 21 September 2007

Accommodation Booking Deadline
Friday, 21 September 2007