Australian university studies women firefighters; plans conference

The University of Western Sydney (UWS) has created a research program called Diversity in Fire and Rescue Services. One of their current projects is an online survey of women firefighters throughout Australia. Women in all aspects of Australian firefighting paid or volunteer; urban, rural, military, airport, or wildland are invited to complete the survey at www.firegirls.info.

One of the main goals of the survey is to find out why there is such a discrepancy in the level of involvement of women between the volunteer and career sectors. Dr. Merilyn Childs, who heads the program, says, While up to 30% of volunteer firefighters are female, that number drops to less than three percent when you start looking at women who have made firefighting their career.

Acknowledging that the low participation of women in career firefighting is true around the world, Childs says, Weve decided to take the lead here in Australia, and ask female firies (firefighters) themselves about the various social, cultural, economic and organizational factors that have led to these statistics... We want to know what makes firefighting such a great job for the women who do it. We also want to find out what barriers might be discouraging women from taking it up as a full-time career.

The UWS is also organizing a conference, the National Women in Firefighting Forum, scheduled for May 12-13, 2005, in Sydney. Organizers plan for the event to recognize and celebrate the contribution of women to firefighting in Australia, discuss the issues faced by women in firefighting, develop strategies and support networks, and encourage greater participation of women in all aspects of firefighting and fire management. More information is available at www.ozfirewomen.info

NETWORKING THE WOMEN OF TODAY'S FIREFIGHTING WORLD, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO HELP BUILD THE FIRE SERVICE OF THE FUTURE

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