Fire and Emergency’s addressing bias video in national online guidance

A Fire and Emergency video resource, reminding people that on our waka, there is room for everyone, has been published by the Public Service Commission, Te Kawa Mataaho, as part of its Addressing Bias online guidance.

The newly launched guidance was created as a key resource for public service agencies and includes a raft of resources to educate on and overcome the challenges of bias in the workplace.

The video titled ‘stepping into our waka – addressing unconscious bias and exclusion’ was developed earlier this year and features our National Recruitment Manager Rochelle Martin, Senior Firefighters Atlas Christie and Mike Tia, National Manager Women’s Development Rachael Utumapu and Business Services Coordinator Tegan Willis. 

National Manager Workplace Culture and Change, Elizabeth Church says, “seeing the public service banding together to take on workplace inclusivity head-on is one thing but being able to play our part to support this is fantastic and something we will continue to champion. It lines up with our value of Manaakitanga – we serve and support”.

“Having our resource identified and selected by Te Kawa Mataaho for a suite of national resources addressing bias really is a testament to the importance we have put on this here at Fire and Emergency,” says Elizabeth.

The video was developed as part of our Respect and Inclusion learning modules to support the unconscious bias section of the training which we’re planning on introducing nationally next year.

In addition to our video, the guidance also includes resources from the Department of Internal Affairs, Treasury and NZDF.

Visit the new online guidance here(external link), and watch the video below.