Update from Cultural Diversity Engagement Officer Nada El-Masri
As part of my role as Cultural Diversity Engagement Officer at CFA, I have been working on a number of short films on CFA safety messages to use as educational tools for various cultures.
Titled 'We speak your language', this project is a collection of culturally-appropriate films that aim to fill the gap of translated safety messages for different cultural communities.
This project stemmed from feedback from our members whose first language wasn't English that at times the operational language in our current fire safety messaging can be hard to relate to, or understand in English.
As well the project aims to represent the diversity we have within CFA by promoting a wide range of our members and their cultures. By involving our current active CFA volunteers in the development of these films we are able to appropriately represent these cultures. It also establishes a better connection for other community members to approach their local CFA fire brigade.
My role in CFA allows me to work alongside a number of different members who speak a range of languages. I often notice members completing their training and actively being involved, as if there are no language barriers. I wondered how we could share their stories and understand why they wanted to be part of CFA.
Consulting with our volunteers and Film Director Marcus Salvagno we started to create a project brief. We wanted these films to be a great opportunity for all CFA members to gain a better understanding of working alongside a range of different groups and backgrounds.
What I found interesting was the interviews we conducted prior. If you have the opportunity to sit with your cultural members and ask to hear their stories it really brings a new light about their homes, family, culture, language and in some cases, their survival.
We have two more films being developed for 2021 which includes Indonesian and our CFA Juniors. I'm excited to hear what the juniors have to say about cultural acceptance and inclusion, but also to hear what the parents have to say about their experiences having their children be part of CFA.
Last week we began filming our Indonesian film, which includes great fire safety messages, training and an interview from a 1st lieutenant who is fluent in Indonesian.
These films aim to help the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity our brigades hold and should be acknowledged and celebrated for their work.
I thank the Springvale Fire Brigade for being great contributors to the Thai film and Keysborough Fire Brigade for its open involvement in supporting new cultural members and being part of these films.
