CFA participation in the Emergency Management and AFAC Conferences 2025

Delegates at AFAC25 in Perth

 

CFA proudly supported more than 60 members across the state to attend this year’s conferences at both the Emergency Management and AFAC Conferences.

 

CFA centrally funded 32 volunteers, 24 employees, four secondees and one senior leader from all areas of the state to attend the Emergency Management Conference (EMC) in July at Pullman Albert Park and the AFAC Conference in August at Perth.  

Nominations for attendees were actively endorsed by leadership and the CFA executive, underscoring CFA’s commitment to fostering professional development. 

This year’s Emergency Management Conference theme was ‘Reflections and Realities – where will the next 25 years take us?’, while the AFAC conference theme was ‘From local to global: leveraging systems, capability and connection’.

Showcasing the latest research and practice across the sector, AFAC25 featured the multi-streamed AFAC Conference, incorporating the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) National Conference and the Women and Firefighting Australasia Conference.

Attendance at these conferences provides the opportunity for members to expand their knowledge, learn about latest trends and network with attendees and exhibitors from across the wider Victorian and Australian emergency management sectors.  Participants gained insights into the latest best practices, enabling them to return with knowledge to share with their teams. 

Vicki Linaker, a volunteer from North East Region, attended EMC. She reflected that after listening to the various agency presentations over the two days, there was a common thread running through them to listen to the community, engage with local businesses where possible and not rush in and tell people want they want, rather ask what they need. She is excited to share what she heard and learnt with her brigade and the wider district. She was also one of two people that won a kindle for participating in the onsite activities at the conference.

We wish to congratulate several CFA members who represented CFA through engaging presentations, stands and insightful posters on display at both conferences.

• Elissa Jans - Confronting assumptions and the challenges of change – children’s fire education for the next generation’
• Siobhan Greene - Protecting Our Littlest: Enhancing Fire Safety and Burns Prevention in 0-4 Year Olds
• Dr Debra Hopkins - Tailoring evaluation approaches to organisational requirements
• Brett Boatman - The impact of mass gathering events on emergency services and rural communities
• Matthew Allen - The renewable energy disruption
• Kristy Butler - Categories of fire: a four-category system for describing bushfires by resource requirements
• Mark Gunning - Mobilising an army of agencies and communities
• Chloe Begg – Research workshop panel
• Ellisa Bourne - Utilising the voice of the community - Key lessons in multicultural fire safety resource development
• Fiona Macken - Fire Medical Response

By enabling member attendance at the EMC, AFAC and other similar opportunities, CFA promotes professional development and recognises the vital role of volunteers in emergency services. 

Next year’s Emergency Management Conference will be held on 14-15 July at Pullman Melbourne Albert Park and the AFAC conference from 18-21 August at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. EOIs for 2026 Conference will open in March 2026.

 

Submitted by	Tracey Ruse