By Shelby Brooks
Female road rescue volunteers were instilled with confidence and new skills at VICSES’ annual Women in Rescue event in Pakenham on Saturday 15 April.
Founded in 2018, Women in Rescue is a targeted training event designed to celebrate women in emergency operations, to get hands on with the tools and equipment, share rescue skills and have fun in a safe and supportive environment.
Twenty-two women from units across the state came to Pakenham SES to learn hands on, practical components of rescue operations.
This year was the largest Women in Rescue event, with eight locations across Victoria hosting the event simultaneously and a 93 per cent increase in uptake this year – almost double the number of participants to last year’s event (2022).
A variety of specialised training and exercises were set up to cover the diverse capabilities that VICSES volunteers require during a range of different emergencies.
At the event in Pakenham, the volunteers tackled various skills-based demonstrations, including beginner and intermediate road crash rescue techniques, as well as advanced.
Pakenham SES section leader of training and community education Dee Azzopardi said the aim of the event was to empower female volunteers with confidence.
“Hopefully the participants walked away with lots of confidence and new techniques so they can pick up the rescue tools when they go back to their unit,” she said.
“It benefits everyone and the community to have women empowered.”
The event also aims to promote gender inclusion and diversity within VICSES, and encourage recruitment and retention of female VICSES volunteers.
Currently, 1655 of all 4,893 VICSES’ volunteers are female (34 per cent) and VICSES would love to boost that figure to ensure they reflect the communities they serve.
To volunteer with VICSES, or for further information on what it means to be a VICSES volunteer, visit ses.vic.gov.au/join-us
