ETHNIC communities are being encouraged to get more involved with local emergency services under a new joint initiative launched at the South Morang Fire Station last week.

Building Community Capacity for Responsiveness to Local Emergencies aims to bridge the gap between emergency services and different-language groups in Melbourne's north by creating greater interaction between the two fractions.

The program includes a range of initiatives from fire-safety workshops to bolstering the recruitment of volunteers from within the multi-lingual communities. It is designed to tackle the evolving needs of an expanding population, which included a rapid migration of different cultural residents.

CFA Region 14 general manager Gill Metz said the initiative was designed to ensure the continuing viability of the CFA in a region that would see its population double to a million residents by 2021.

It was not just about recruiting members, but also making the public more aware of what to do in an emergency situation. "There are a number of roles that people can fill as a volunteer," she said. "From active duty to community education."

South Morang CFA volunteer Dean Reading believed the injection of more bilingual members into the station would be a "great asset". The 17-year-old active member said having the ability to quickly communicate with different cultural groups in an emergency would be invaluable.

The project was announced during a come-and-try day supported by Whittlesea Council, State Government, Whittlesea Community Connections and the CFA and included activities such as a station tour, fire extinguisher demonstrations, and firefighter dress-ups.

Epping's Hamilda Ali said the day was a way to learn what to do in case of a fire emergency. An Iraqi woman who moved to Australia 15 months ago, Ms Ali said she didn't really know much about the CFA. She hoped that more information days of the kind could be held.

CFA Region 14 media marketing co-ordinator Kris Perkovic confirmed that the open day was just the beginning, with a number of follow-up fire awareness sessions planned.

Source: Whittlesea Leader