VICSES leads major multi agency search and rescue exercise at Lake Eppalock
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) led one of its largest search and rescue training exercises in recent years at Lake Eppalock over the weekend, bringing together up to 120 VICSES volunteers and emergency services partners to test and strengthen their response to complex incidents across land and water.
The two-day exercise brought together VICSES volunteers alongside Victoria Police, Water Police, Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) and CFA personnel, who supported the exercise with drone capability.
For the first time, Victoria Police Mounted Branch personnel also supported the exercise, giving VICSES volunteers the opportunity to train alongside specialist emergency services and strengthen coordination across land and water-based search operations.
The exercise featured two realistic scenarios designed to test the skills and coordination required during complex search and rescue incidents.
The first simulated a missing skydiving aircraft, with VICSES boat crews and land search teams tasked with searching Lake Eppalock, the shoreline and surrounding bushland for simulated debris and casualties.
The second scenario focused on vehicles caught in floodwater, with crews responding to simulated casualties trapped in vehicles, a person on the roof of a floating vehicle and a person who had self-extricated before becoming lost in nearby bushland.
VICSES volunteers worked across marine and land-based search teams, using coordinated search patterns, navigation, radio communications, casualty management and dynamic risk assessment throughout the scenarios.
CFA drone capability also supported the exercise, providing an additional perspective to assist with searching and developing a shared operating picture across the exercise area.
The skills tested during the exercise reflect the work VICSES volunteers regularly undertake alongside other emergency services during real incidents.
In the past 12-months from August 2025 to August 2026, VICSES volunteers responded to almost 3,500 requests to assist other emergency services and agencies, an average of almost 10 jobs every day. This can include supporting Victoria Police with flood rescues, land and marine searches, missing person incidents and other complex emergencies where VICSES volunteers provide specialist skills, equipment and local knowledge.
The exercise provided volunteers with practical experience in a simulated emergency environment, while strengthening the relationships, communication and coordination needed to work effectively together during real life incidents.
To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.
Quotes attributable to VICSES Operations Manager Justin Navas
“You can’t replicate everything that happens during a real emergency, but exercises like this give our volunteers the opportunity to practise the skills and decision making they need in a controlled environment.”
“Our VICSES volunteers regularly support other emergency services during real-life incidents, including floodwater rescues and search and rescue operations, so being able to train alongside our agency partners is really valuable.”
“It also means we get to know how each agency operates, what resources they can bring to an incident and how we can best work together when we are responding to a real emergency.”
“Training together means we are better prepared to work together when it matters most.”
