An Unprecedented Event You Don't Want To Miss

The Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) in partnership with the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) are pleased to inform you of an exciting conference on Diversity in Emergency Services (31 October-2 November 2007).

The conference is a joint initiative of the two organisations which recognise the importance and value of diversity management in today's complex and globalised world.

Emergency Services in Australia have been grappling with the challenges of diversity and the changes that are associated with doing diversity well. Despite the many and varied achievements that have been recorded in the emergency services sector in Australia in relation to diversity management, much more work is still required to ensure changes are systemic, meaningful, equitable, impacting and sustainable.

This conference has long been overdue. It courageously proposes to tackle diversity in an honest, "no-nonsense" and down to earth style. It seeks to go beyond the rhetoric and into the heart of the matter to unpack and reveal what exactly lies behind the slogans and how to make sense of it all for emergency services personnel working at the coal face.

Is it yet another talkfest? We believe that while hundreds of conferences have been held on the issue of diversity, none have focussed specifically and solely on diversity as it applies to emergency services. There is a lack of evidence-based and persuasive argument on why diversity is valuable and beneficial in the emergency services sector. This conference proposes to present the case for diversity first before tackling the associated challenges, issues, and benefits that go with it.

We invite you to join us on this exciting venture, either as a delegate or a presenter or both. This is an unprecedented event not likely to be repeated for a long time.

We look forward to your input and involvement

Yours sincerely