Around 30 Gippsland volunteers joined more than 300 female and gender-diverse Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) members across the state for Women in Rescue 2026, held at the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre (VEMTC) West Sale on Saturday, March 21.
Now in its ninth year, Women in Rescue was founded in 2018 to empower female and gender-diverse members in emergency response. The Gippsland session gave volunteers hands-on training in technical rescue, including working safely at heights for temporary roof repair, broad land search exercises, navigating challenging terrain in four-wheel-drive vehicles, and practising fire extinguisher use, supported by female Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers.
Raelene Billingsley ESM, VICSES Gippsland Women in Rescue organiser, said the program offers a unique opportunity for skill development and confidence-building.
“Women in Rescue brings volunteers together in a supportive environment to enhance their emergency response capabilities,” she said.
“Through realistic scenarios, participants are better prepared to support Victorian communities when they need us most.”
VICSES CEO Rob Purcell said the initiative strengthens operational readiness while fostering connection and teamwork.
“This program nurtures professionalism, resilience, and expertise among our female and gender-diverse volunteers, ensuring they’re equipped to respond to every incident with confidence,” he said.
Women now make up nearly 34 per cent of VICSES’ volunteer base, with initiatives like Women in Rescue helping to increase representation and reflect the communities they serve.
The Gippsland session highlighted the dedication of local volunteers, who continue to respond to tens of thousands of calls annually, from storm and flood incidents to road crash rescues.
