Modern tools transform VICSES Rochester Unit’s road crash response

A suite of battery-powered road rescue tools are set to revolutionise Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Rochester Unit’s response to local road crash emergencies, by providing greater manoeuvrability and better tool flow for volunteers to provide life-saving emergency assistance to patients.

Delivered by the State Government to replace the unit’s previous tethered hydraulic tools, the northern Victorian unit is one of the latest to receive the state-of-the-art Holmatro Pentheon equipment, which includes cutting and spreading tools to efficiently make space to remove a casualty from vehicles and other entrapments.

The battery-powered tools allow volunteers to move freely around an emergency scene, representing a major upgrade on the unit’s previous equipment which required being tethered to and powered by the unit’s rescue truck.

So far in 2025/26, VICSES Rochester Unit volunteers have been called to 10 road crash rescue emergencies in their local community, a figure just below their yearly average of 11 since 2019/20.

VICSES Rochester Unit volunteers have been undertaking regular, targeted training to acclimatise to their updated equipment, which features more efficient power transfer and speedier reaction to volunteer input, ensuring when the need arises, they will be ready to respond.

The equipment promises to greatly improve volunteer efficiency when responding in Rochester and surrounds and allow community members to receive the timely care they need in the wake of a traumatic road crash.

VICSES is home to 104 primary road crash rescue (RCR) units across the state, representing the largest response network in the country. Statewide, volunteers have been called to more than 2,400 RCR incidents during the last 12 months.

To find our more about volunteering opportunities with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us/volunteer-opportunities.

Quotes attributable to Tim Williams, VICSES Rochester Unit Controller:

“Our volunteers are highly trained and incredibly skilled when it comes to responding to road crash emergencies and they pride themselves on being there for our community in its hour of need.  We just need some additional volunteers, willing to take up the challenge of donning the orange and supporting our local community.

“This state-of-the-art equipment will strengthen our capacity to efficiently respond to time-critical road emergencies and ensure our members have the resources and freedom of movement they need to have a positive impact on these rescue operations.

“While it’s nice to have the shiny new equipment on our trucks in the event of an emergency, we’d much prefer drivers exercise caution and drive to the conditions on our roads to limit their risk of a traumatic road crash in the first place.”