Monday 8 March 2021 marked International Women’s Day (IWD). CFA Women’s Network members attended forums hosted by the Emergency Services Foundation to highlight what they are doing to support and inspire women in CFA.
In the weeks around this important date CFA Women’s Network members are attended IWD forums hosted by the Emergency Services Foundation to share information about the work they are doing to support and inspire women in CFA and how they are challenging subconscious social stereotypes about who should be in operational and leadership roles.
Diana Dorber has been a volunteer with CFA for almost ten years and is currently the 2nd lieutenant, brigade training officer and tanker driver for Boisdale Fire Brigade and is a member of the South East Region Women’s Network.
Diana attended the Bairnsdale event held on Saturday 27 February and was inspired by many of the discussions about how women in the emergency services are choosing to challenge.
“It was a great reminder that we can increase resilience in ourselves but also in our communities in the work we do.” Diana said.
Captain of Beechworth Urban Fire Brigade, current Chair of the District 24 Women’s Reference Group and District Support Officer Tracy McVea attended the Wangaratta event held on Sunday 14 March.
“I found Juliet Bourke’s presentation, ‘Resilience in Crisis’, interesting and inspiring. The stories of success and inspiration also gave me some insight into how we all approach challenges in different ways, but we are all after the same thing - to be heard and treated with respect and equality,” Tracy said of her experience at the event.
Ballarat City Captain and member of West Region Women’s Reference group Nicole McGrath attended the event held in Melbourne on Tuesday 16 March and was inspired by the creativity and strength of women across the emergency services.
"It was inspiring to hear the stories of creativity and strength from women across other emergency service organisations and how they are challenging perceptions around women's participation in their organisation," Nicole said.
"It was also an important opportunity to hear from the expert panels about how processes and policy can be challenged, and how organisations must adapt to ensure bias is removed and a safe, inclusive and respectful environment to work and volunteer fostered.
"Women across the emergency services are keen to keep the conversation going about how women can s