WHY CALDERN?

Australia benefits from the support of over 235000 emergency services volunteers. They are vital to the country’s capability to respond to emergencies and disasters. However, the number of people involved, and the hours dedicated to these roles have declined in recent years. Low volunteer numbers among country fire brigades have raised concerns that lives and properties could be at risk given the current predictions relating to the effects of climate change. [i]

Traditionally, the human face of emergency services organisations has lacked diversity. However, escalating natural hazard risks due to social, environmental and economic drivers requires a transformation in how these risks are managed and who needs to manage them. With communities becoming more diverse, building community and organisational resilience to more frequent and intense emergency events need organisations to change from working for communities to working with them.

Across the country, police forces are more than 4,000 officers short of their staffing goals. [ii] These shortages are also reflected in Hospital networks, health, fire and rescue services, ambulance services and other services and organisations devoted to emergency response. [iii] These shortages plague the entire Australian skills framework. [iv]Australia, like many other nations, is grappling with a defence recruitment shortfall. The government recently announced that it would open the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to permanent residents from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. [v].

These factors indicate impacts to National Security, Public Safety, infrastructure, property and the environment. It is extraordinary that efforts are directed to addressing these challenges from overseas given a pool of personnel immediately available in the country- from the CALD sector of society.

It is not contentious that Australia is an ethnically diverse nation. The ABS reports that in 2021, just over 7 million people in Australia were born overseas, representing 27.6% of the population. This was an increase from 6.1 million, or 26.3%, in 2016. The 2021 Census found that almost half of Australians have a parent born overseas (48.2 per cent) and the population continues to be drawn from around the globe, with 27.6 per cent reporting a birthplace overseas. At 30 June 2023 this number increased to 8.2 million people, with a proportion of 30.7%. Australia's defence forces comprise only 5.7% of personnel from a CALD background. [vi] Cursory results from Australian Police forces indicate a range of 5.3% to 15.5%. Other Emergency Services reveal similar results and the nature of challenges.[vi]

New research finds many CALD people who make up an overwhelming proportion of people living in Australia who had been born overseas or had a parent born overseas face barriers to seeking employment or volunteer roles in emergency services. These barriers are multifold and are a worrying trend – “. These concerns have led to much strategic thinking about how to boost volunteer numbers. Emergency service volunteer ranks have traditionally been filled by “able-bodied, Anglo-Celtic, heterosexual men,” with little representation from Indigenous, culturally diverse or LGBTI groups. Female volunteer numbers have also been low, due to perceptions of an ‘old boys’ or ‘military’ culture in emergency service organisations."[vii] Indeed other contributors indicate the removal of barriers would be beneficial:"Capacity can be further increased if masculinity is recast away from heroism and machismo. Emergency response to events like major bushfires and floods demands ‘all hands on deck’ and now is the time for the sector to act.We know emergency services organisations have harmed women and LGBTIQA+ people, and men who don’t ascribe to a dominant way of being. Men are part of ‘gender’ and Bob Pease (referring to Ainsworth et al. 2014) notes that when women demonstrate proficiency in a ‘man’s job’ they may ‘experience significant push-back from men"[viii]

Further research about Australian Social cohesion from the Scanlon Institute (scanloninstitute.org.au) concludes that despite Australians having an overwhelmingly positive view of multiculturalism, prejudice and discrimination remain as problems

"The experience of discrimination, however, remains stubbornly common. In 2023, one-in-six (18 per cent) people said they experienced discrimination in the last 12 months because of their skin colour, ethnic origin or religion. This includes more than one-in-three (36 per cent) from non-English speaking backgrounds, 41 per cent of migrants from a Chinese background, 50 per cent of Indian Australian migrants, 45 per cent of African and Middle Eastern Australians and 39 per cent of people who have migrated to Australia in the last 10 years. Within these groups, those who experience discrimination report a significantly weaker sense of belonging and personal wellbeing. Although difficult to precisely measure, this suggests that discrimination contributes to weaker social cohesion and wellbeing, particularly among our newest Australians"[ix]'

The 2024 Multicultural Framework Review adds clarity to the current status and complexities of Australia's social structure and threats to national unity and belonging. [x]

Caldern understands that achieving its objectives and overcoming the challenges to CALD persons' contribution to our emergency services involves ensuring meaningful representation, influence and visibility across the emergency sector. We support an ongoing process that requires intentional efforts to break down barriers and promote equity. In many aspects of society only critical mass improves representation, visibility and influence as has been evident in women's representation which has arguably led to positive changes in decision-making, policies, programs and resource allocation and overcome systemic inequalities, biases, stereotypes, tokenism and social injustice.[xi]

[i]Bushfire risk high, lack of volunteers' places increasing pressure on rural fire brigades - ABC News, The culturally diverse deficit in our emergency services - PBA (probonoaustralia.com.au)

[ii] Some state police forces are looking abroad for recruits as they face a shortage of trained officers - ABC News

[iii] 2023 staff crisis for Australia's EDs (hospitalhealth.com.au)

[iv] Skills Shortage Quarterly – March 2024 | Jobs and Skills Australia

[v] Australia faces defence shortfall. But so do many other nations (crikey.com.au)

[vi] Effective diversity in emergency management organisations: the long road | AJEM News & views (aidr.org.au)

[vii] Scanlon Institute_Essay Edition 4 FINAL.pdf p.3

[viii]Australian Journal of Emergency Management | AJEM | July 2024 (aidr.org.au)

[ix]2023 Mapping Social Cohesion Report.pdf (scanloninstitute.org.au) p.10

[ix]Towards fairness: A multicultural Australia for all (homeaffairs.gov.au)

[xi}Sheer Numbers: Critical Representation Thresholds and Women's Political Representation on JSTOR