Female Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers from the Grampians region, including the Bacchus Marsh and Melton units, came together at Pyke’s Creek Reservoir, as part of the organisations’ VICSES Women in Rescue (WIR) event.
WIR returned to Pykes Creek on March 17. Now in its sixth year, the training day established for female volunteers, by female volunteers involved involved 67 female participants from VICSES, Victoria Police, CFA, St Johns Ambulance, Bacchus Marsh Girl Guides, Moorabool Shire Council, and support crews.
The event provided a two-part training program with the morning session based on various skills-based demonstrations, including radio communication systems, land search and rescue skills, casualty handling processes and boating techniques.
The afternoon session entailed a scenario exercise for the participants to implement their new knowledge and skillset.
VICSES Bacchus Marsh Unit volunteer Jane Patton said WIR is designed to help modify training techniques to suit members with varying strengths and capabilities and empower women to showcase their skills.
“When we have our orange on, we all take on a wide variety of roles, including flood and storm response, road crash rescue and searches for missing people. Women in Rescue has been a great way to consolidate those Skills,” she said.
VICSES chief executive Greg Leach said WIR ran at six locations in 2024 and has doubled its participant size.
“It’s fantastic we can provide these members with an environment to work together, train and learn from each other,” he said.
“Our female first responders at VICSES are incredible, and attend highly complex, challenging incidents. Our Women in Rescue event showcases their life-saving skills, using the latest rescue technology and training”.
