The emergency management sector’s first Sponsorship of Diverse Talent Pilot Program has concluded.
The first of its kind in Australia, the 12-month pilot began in May 2022 with women from 10 organisations participating.
The pilot program was led by the Emergency Management Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Group, which consists of the senior leaders from Victoria’s emergency management sector. The program aimed to overcome biases and systemic barriers to women’s advancement in the emergency management sector, by pairing women across the sector with senior leaders from various agencies.
We are grateful to the individuals who took part in the pilot as sponsors and participants, and thank the participating organisations:
- Ambulance Victoria
- Country Fire Authority
- Department of Education and Training
- Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
- Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority
- Inspector-General for Emergency Management
- Life Saving Victoria
- Parks Victoria
- Victorian State Emergency Service.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said “Diversity and inclusion helps us better represent, support and serve our community. I congratulate all involved in this initiative aimed at ensuring that the sector’s future leadership also benefits from gender diversity.”
Outcomes of the pilot are reported to the Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Council. The development and implementation of the program also continues to be reported to the Inclusion and Intersectionality Team within the Department of Justice and Community Safety. This supports the Department’s obligations under its Gender Equality Action Plan 2021-2025 (External link).
We look forward to hearing feedback and testimonials from current sponsors and participants at a closing event in mid-July 2023, and after a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program to ensure we incorporate all valuable feedback and lessons learned, we will be welcoming even more emergency management agencies to be involved in the next iteration of the program.
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.