AUSTRALIA'S EMERGENCY MANAGERS - TOWARDS PROFESSIONALISATION

This thesis identifies, for the first time, the demographic profile of Australia’s emergency managers. It proposes reasons for the professionalisation of Australia’s emergency managers, to better prepare them to provide life-saving services for the Australian community. It asks whether Australia’s emergency managers’ skills, qualifications and experience enable them to be considered as professionals. It considers the characteristics of various recognised professional organisations. It makes recommendations suggesting what steps could be taken in the short- and long-term to facilitate the establishment of an Australian emergency management profession.