International Women's Day (IWD) is dedicated to recognising the achievements and contributions of women worldwide.

From women in emergency management to hazards insurance, employee wellbeing, and disaster preparedness, we sat down with six remarkable women employees at NEMA to hear their thoughts on this year’s theme, ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’.

 

How women in emergency management are helping address women’s unique needs

Poornima from our National Coordination Mechanism Operations team understands the importance of investing in women to accelerate progress in emergency management.

She believes that women in emergency management bring different perspectives, skills, and experiences, and their representation is crucial in addressing women's diverse needs in emergency situations.

Poornima also advocates for gender diversity to promote inclusivity and collaboration. 

‘Women, including pregnant women, those with children and elderly women, have diverse needs in an emergency. Having women represented in an emergency management agency is critical so that all these unique needs are considered and addressed when planning,’ says Poornima. She believes that investing in women should start at the grass roots level and supportive work environments play an important role.

 

Christine from our Coordination and Planning Branch sees the value of recognising women's roles in emergency management, particularly in the response and recovery areas. 

She acknowledges the specific needs of women and families in disasters and the need to focus on women's involvement in emergency management careers and volunteer capacities. 

‘This year's IWD theme, ‘Invest in women’, means to me that we recognise women of all ages and demographics across the emergency management field,’ shares Christine.

She also recognises the role of women in recovery efforts, caring for their families, and providing compassion to others during disasters. 

‘When I've been in recovery centres, we see that women are the ones championing the recovery process, and that they are the ones front and centre when people are having one of the worst days of their lives,’ says Christine.

 

Representing women in the insurance sector 

Shakya from the Insurance Policy team speaks about the significance of investing in women in emergency management and advocating for women's rights from the perspective of insurance affordability and disaster recovery.  

She emphasises the need for women to advocate for themselves and their ideas, highlighting how single women and single mothers can be disproportionately impacted by insurance processes. 

Shakya notes the progress made in female representation in the insurance sector but says there is a need for ongoing improvement. 

‘It's not just about having women in the room, in the big meetings, in the executive. Although that is important, it also means actually listening to them, when they are in the room, taking their advice, and treating them the same as everyone else,’ says Shakya. 
 
She also encourages women to pursue job opportunities without underestimating themselves, highlighting the importance of believing in their own abilities. 

 

Accelerating the role of women in emergency management

In her reflection on the International Women's Day 2024 theme, Annie from our Program Design team talked about women's vital role in emergency management, noting their different perspectives and skills. 

In her line of work, Annie sees a need for inclusive policies and programs in disaster preparedness, that consider women's unique needs and challenges.

‘To me this year’s theme is about showing women they are valued, and taking their contribution to disaster preparedness and risk reduction seriously. It’s about making sure that NEMA’s programs and policies consider women and girls.’ 

She also stresses the value of seeing men and women as equals in accelerating the role of women in emergency management.

 

Investing in women in the workplace

Natasha from our Conditions and Wellbeing team believes women's contributions are essential for the effective functioning of organisations.

She values the representation of women in leadership roles and advises women, especially in male-dominated fields, to advocate for themselves. 

‘To me, investing in women means recognising the skills, knowledge and experience that women bring to the workforce. One thing I would say to women is, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and ensure that your needs are met personally and professionally in everything that you do.’

Natasha also praises the presence of many talented women at NEMA. She appreciates the significant number of women in leadership roles at NEMA, highlighting the representation and qualifications of women leading in the Australian Public Service. 

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Cindy, our Chief Finance Officer, reflected on the status of women in the workforce, noting that while women make up half of the population, their representation in the workforce is still low. 

She emphasised the positive impacts of having women in the workforce.   
‘I think International Women's Day is a critical time to reflect on how far we've come. There are so many positive outcomes of having women in the workplace in terms of the way they work with people, the way they lead teams, as well as their different perspectives and points of view,’ says Cindy. 
 
Cindy underscored the significance of women's representation at NEMA in supporting Australian communities and dealing with disasters, highlighting their unique perspectives and experiences, nurturing elements and ability to connect with communities. 

 

Working at NEMA

At NEMA, we believe our people's dedication and passion are the driving forces behind our success. 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace that empowers individuals to perform at their best. 

The work of our people has a real impact on the lives of Australians, and we take pride in that responsibility. 

If you share our values and are interested in joining team NEMA, explore our Careers page to learn more and discover current opportunities.