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 23 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 produced a resolution/outcome/list of recommendations for reporting as part of the ESF Chair’s closing address at the conference.  

These outputs were 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 2024.

Over 450 delegates attended the Emergency Management Conference in 2023, 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 2024!

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 2023

"The networking with great people"
"The panel discussion on the use of international humanitarian principles in domestic emergency management."
"Seeing some of the younger generations present!"
"Great presentations, updates on the National agenda valuable and found NEMA presentation informative."
"Great discussions on cross-border communication and surge workforce issues/learnings."
"Caroline Douglass' presentation on UK's flood preparedness."
"Communication and collaboration is key. Developing relationships before activation is more beneficial than trying to develop them in an emergency."
"The importance of connecting, engaging and interacting face-to-face."
"Working with community to build resilience for the first 72 hours."
"Things are changing for the better. This includes the conference, community and the EM sector"

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