VICSES volunteers learn the ropes for High Angle Rescue response

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) units conducting technical rope rescues in some of the state’s most challenging terrain have been bolstered with additional turnout capacity, with more volunteers now trained to support their community.

Members representing VICSES Bright, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Marysville units recently completed the final stage of their High Angle Rescue Operator accreditation, following a four-day course which saw them learn and refine rescue techniques in partnership with CFA volunteers from Mount Beauty.

Based at Bright, the course saw volunteers undertake simulated rescue events in natural and man-made landscapes, developing their skills at the VICSES Bright Unit and at the nearby Bright Brewery in late-March before returning to the region earlier this month to complete simulated rescues at Mount Buffalo and at a telephone tower outside of Bright.

 Over the four-day training cycle, volunteers were able to build on their previous completion of Steep Angle Rescue training, constructing and operating complex rope systems in wilderness and industrial environments while fostering camaraderie with their fellow first responders in the process.

Further south, 15 VICSES and CFA high-angle accredited volunteers concurrently gathered near Wonga Park, undertaking a skills maintenance day at the Clifford Park Scout Camp to allow experienced volunteers the chance to further refine their craft in a controlled environment.

The cohort, which included VICSES members from Marysville and Alexandra units and Wandin, Monbulk and Apollo Bay CFA, tested a range of different rescue techniques while undergoing important competency testing to ensure each member showcased the skills necessary to support the safety of their community and fellow first responders.

While local VICSES units undertake regular High Angle rescue skills maintenance in a unit setting, large-scale VICSES and CFA-run training courses are also held several times each year throughout the state to ensure volunteers are well-prepared to manage these high-risk and high-consequence, multi-agency rescue scenarios.

These courses are often run in partnership with local businesses, Parks Victoria and private landholders, allowing volunteers to accurately simulate real-life rescue scenarios.

In 2024, VICSES volunteers were called to almost 150 high-angle rescues across Victoria.

Already in 2025, crews have been called to more than 50 designated high-angle rescue scenarios, providing vital support to community members caught in challenging and difficult-to-reach terrain.

For more information on the range of different specialist roles available to VICSES volunteers, visit https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us/volunteer-opportunities.

Quotes attributable to Andrew Feagan, VICSES Operations Officer Technical Rescue

“Our VICSES steep and high-angle responders across the state show great dedication and professionalism to ensure they can provide vital rescue support in many of the most hard-to-reach parts of our state.

“Being able to bolster our network of high-angle rescue accredited volunteers is particularly important this time of year, as community members enjoy hiking and exploring the great outdoors with friends and family over the holiday period.”