News

VICSES women tackle overnight training

By Bree Lambert

Mar 25, 2026

Women from across the Loddon Mallee region participated in the 2026 VICSES Women in Rescue event. Photo by Supplied

The ninth annual Women in Rescue event recently reached a major milestone, as Victoria SES volunteers traded their beds for the bush in the initiative’s first-ever overnight training.

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Volunteers from across the Loddon Mallee region converged at Echuca’s Billabong Ranch on Saturday, March 21, for a 24-hour practical training.

“Hosting an overnight event is a really exciting way to add a unique twist to the established Women in Rescue initiative, allowing volunteers to develop a range of vital rescue skills in challenging conditions,” VICSES Loddon Mallee Women in Rescue volunteer organiser Laura Nelson said.

The training included a realistic night-time emergency scenario, challenging participants with a land search exercise and operating tools and equipment in darkness.

Volunteers refined their emergency rescue skills in a collaborative environment. Photo by Supplied

With support from VICSES trainers and the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad, participants mastered essential skills, including map navigation, portable lighting setup and safe casualty transportation.

VICSES women, guided by the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad, practised transporting a casualty in darkness. Photo by Supplied

The event aimed to empower female responders by building confidence, capability and connection while developing vital emergency response skills.

SES Echuca volunteer Judi Cantwell said she found the session on the Field Operations Vehicle particularly valuable, learning how quickly it could be deployed and feed back information to people on the ground.