Rescue boat multi-agency exercise

The activity was designed to provide boat crews with simulated exercises to practise their responses to water emergencies. Vessels and crews from Victoria State Emergency Service’s Central and North East Regions along with Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad and Lake Eppalock Coast Guard joined together to undertake two scenarios. Vessels and crews were blended during the activities to enhance inter-operability. Each day saw an entirely new task force of volunteers attend and participate in the exercise.

The exercise consisted of two scenarios which were run simultaneously each day requiring the vessels to operate as two separate task forces. Task forces were briefed, tasked and coordinated by a Water Police Marine Coordinator and monitored and tracked by the SES Field Operations Vehicle.

Through the use of multi-agency incident talk groups all personnel involved were able to communicate directly with each other and the Search Commander to receive timely instructions each time they located items of interest or the missing persons. Search vessels were joined by the Victoria Police Air Wing members who assisted with aerial searches, often locating items of interest or the missing persons, before directing search vessels to those locations by use of inter-agency talk groups and overhead hand signals.

Overall, approximately 70 volunteers attended the weekend’s activities. Feedback from participants highlighted the realism of the event through the use of multi-agency personnel and resources, the advantages in use of inter-agency talk groups, and the positive approach by all involved to work in a multi-agency event.

Special thanks goes to all the participating agencies and personnel as well as Strathbogie Shire for the use of their facilities over the weekend. Agencies involved:

• VICSES – Central Region

• VICSES – North East Region

• Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad

• Coast Guard Lake Eppalock

• Victoria Water Police Squad

• Victoria Police Air Wing

• EMV – Marine Search and Rescue Office.

Submitted by Michael Potter

MROR Central Region