Members from several NSW rescue agencies are departing for the United Kingdom today to participate in the United Kingdom Rescue Challenge.
NSW State Rescue Board (SRB) emergency services agencies regularly participate in multi-agency rescue exercises and challenges, which significantly enhance collaboration and teamwork, foster shared skills development, improve preparedness, drive innovation, and holistically improve service delivery.
These outcomes collectively boost community confidence and trust in both our full-time and volunteer emergency services. This experience will significantly enhance their operational readiness and effectiveness in real-world scenarios, ultimately benefiting and giving back to the communities in NSW.
Members from VRA Rescue NSW, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and NSW Surf Life Saving will form multi-agency teams and participate in Vehicle Extrication, Trauma Response and Water Rescue Challenges.
VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner Brenton Charlton, said "We saw the benefits of learning and sharing from the UK Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Service when they come out to Australia last year for the Australasian Rescue Challenge and these are invaluable opportunities to build up our rescue operators and in turn share information back to their agencies and all emergency services.
"This is an incredible opportunity for these rescue agencies to come together as one team and represent the region in rescue. I'm proud of the team representing our state, including our two VRA Rescue NSW members who were also part of the team that won the 2024 NSW Road Crash Rescue Challenge in Dubbo earlier this year."
