Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) returned to compete at the Australasian Rescue Challenge (ARC) which was held at Adelaide, South Australia from June 29th to July 2nd 2023.

The VICSES teams participated in simulated road rescue scenarios that involve completing a simulated exercise in a set time frame, and to exacting standards.

The Road Rescue Challenge provides an opportunity for VICSES volunteers to harness best practice rescue skills and to put them into practice on modern cars.

VICSES South Barwon and Bannockburn Units were represented by our volunteer crew who won the Director’s Shield, as the highest placed State Emergency Service team at the ARC, as well as placing in the top ten.

Chief Officer, Operations, Tim Wiebusch; Team Leader Caroline Taylor, Josh Hutton, Lisa Keys, Adrian Van Doren of VICSES South Barwon Unit; Blake Shawcross and Andrew Kuppen of VICSES Bannockburn Unit, and Gerry Sheridan, Operations Officer – Capability Improvement - 1 July, 2023 (photo credit: VICSES)

The VICSES crew were also one of only two teams to extricate all four casualties, as part of the competition.

The technical team performed strongly by being efficient with their tool work, and with their time. This helped them to keep up a high momentum of activity to get results more quickly than their competitors.

The volunteer teams are led by a commander, supported by a medic, and technical members, who are assessed in each area of competency. The challenge is hosted annually by the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) to gather and share knowledge of cutting-edge developments in road rescue.

Engagement with teams from across Australasia is intended to promote shared knowledge, a consistent approach to the work, and to build ongoing relationships between emergency management agencies. Teams representing fire and rescue agencies from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore will participate in learning symposia and three days of challenging rescue and medical scenarios.

During the simulations, the team is assessed on their command-and-control structure, as they safely and systematically approach extricating the patient in under 30 minutes. Crews demonstrate these skills by utilising the tools available - such as hydraulic cutters and spreaders (the “jaws of life") - handling the patient safely and mitigating hazards, such as fuels, airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

VICSES provides 85% of Road Crash Rescue (RCR) coverage across Victoria with each of our 104 accredited units capability assessed every three years, along with other agencies providing RCR coverage across the state: Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV); Country Fire Authority (CFA); Echuca Moama Search and Rescue Squad, and Shepparton Search and Rescue.

All agencies involved work to the same exacting standards to qualify to provide the RCR service.

Our VICSES volunteer crew included Team Leader Caroline Taylor, Josh Hutton, Lisa Keys, Adrian Van Doren of VICSES South Barwon Unit, and Blake Shawcross and Andrew Kuppen of VICSES Bannockburn Unit.

Gerry Sheridan, Operations Officer – Capability Improvement; Team Leader Caroline Taylor, Josh Hutton, Lisa Keys, Adrian Van Doren of VICSES South Barwon Unit; Blake Shawcross, Andrew Kuppen of VICSES Bannockburn Unit. 1 July 2023 (photo credit: VICSES)

Quotes attributable to VICSES Team Leader, Caroline Taylor:

“Bringing home the shield is recognition of the commitment and hard work of our members. It reflects on the quality of training we provide at VICSES, as the largest road crash rescue provider in the country. Winning this award speaks to the skill of our volunteers, and their work throughout our communities to protect and save lives.”

To read more stories about our work in Road Crash Rescue (RCR), click here.