ABOUT THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

What is the Emergency Management Conference?

Bringing together emergency management professionals and subject matter experts over two days, EMC offers insight, reflection, understanding and motivation across a wide range of topics and emergency management incidents.

Over the past 24 years, EMC has established a reputation for consistently attracting high-quality local and international speakers.

The conference is also the premier annual networking opportunity in Victoria for EM staff and volunteers.

Topics examined at EMC include mental health, diversity, preparedness, community engagement, response, recovery and factors contributing to emergencies, such as climate change.

The conference unfolds over two engaging and interactive days including:

    • Keynote speakers
    • Insightful presentations and topical panel discussions
    • Half day of interactive workshops (optional- select up to two)
    • Exhibition
    • Welcome cocktails
    • Conference dinner

To give delegates a voice on the issues that affect them and the EM field, a series of workshops were added to the conference program in 2023. Each workshop produces a resolution/outcome/list of recommendations for reporting as part of the ESF Chair’s closing address at the conference.  

These outputs are also tabled at the following ESF Stakeholders’ Council meeting. The ESF Stakeholders Council comprises of senior representatives of all Victorian emergency service agencies. Workshops will again feature on the conference program in 2025.

Over 420 delegates attended the Emergency Management Conference in 2024, confirming it as the largest EM-focused conference in Victoria.

The conference is once again, set to be the emergency management event of the year in 2025!

History of the Emergency Management Conference

In the late 1990s, ESF identified the need for a local conference to help build understanding and capability across the Victorian EM sector in relation to emergency management issues and trends. The Emergency Management Conference was initially established to meet that need and aligns with ESFs four strategic pillars by:

    • Connecting, harnessing and growing the collective wisdom and strength of the sector
    • Identifying opportunities to learn, focusing on the needs of a mentally healthy sector now and into the future
    • Arming people with evidence and knowledge to drive good practice
    • Seeking out relationships to support the sector to improve

A small profit derived from the EMC helps fund ESF’s program of work. 

The Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) has hosted the Emergency Management Conference (EMC) annually since 2000. 

DELEGATES’ HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM EMC 2024

"There is so much good work going on in the sector & it's important to connect"
"To make sure we have good two way communications between communities, emergency services and governments"
"Communities and diversity are essential to building relevant relationships to inform EM plans"
"Top-class speakers disseminating worthwhile information"
"Enhancing disaster resilience in Australia - Bhiamie Williamson and the threat environment for critical infrastructure - ASIO"
"Hearing about the IMT Canadian deployment and having one of the audience members thank the panel as he is a member of the First Nation community directly affected by the fires our IMT members were involved in"
"Hearing the experiences of others on their involvement in overseas events"
"The keynote speaker CIndi and the ASIO presentation- AMAZING"
"Working with community to build resilience for the first 72 hours."
"The presenters were really informative and experts in their fields. I learned a lot"

Latest News