FEMALE and gender diverse volunteers from VICSES Hume region will unite on Saturday, 1 March as part of the organisation’s ever-expanding Women in Rescue (WIR) initiative.

Volunteers from Indigo Shire units are expected to make their way to the Seymour event which will provide volunteers with hands-on training experience designed to empower women in emergency operations.

Volunteers will take part in live demonstrations and skills development sessions, centred around VICSES boat response drills, Land-Based Swift Water Rescue and trailer manoeuvring.

They will also take part in a series of rescue competitions throughout the day, and have the opportunity to gain experience managing an incident from a VICSES Field Operations Vehicle mobile command point.

The event allows participants to gain experience using important tools and equipment, refine their rescue skills, build confidence and collaborate with like-minded volunteers in a supportive environment.

VICSES Women in Rescue Hume event coordinator, Lisa Wise, said it has been fantastic to see the continued growth of the event locally, going into its eighth year.

“It’s been supported by a cohort of committed female and gender-diverse volunteers driven to maximise their VICSES experience,” she said.

“This year’s event will offer a wide variety of activities for our volunteers to bolster their emergency response capabilities and ensure they’re even better prepared to support their communities in an emergency.”

Currently, women and gender diverse members make up nearly 34 per cent (1,689 out of 5,002) of VICSES’ volunteer base, and the organisation aims to increase that number to better reflect the communities it serves.

The event follows a demanding 2024, where VICSES Hume region volunteers received a yearly total of more than 4500 Requests for Assistance (RFAs) from their communities.

For those interested in joining VICSES or learning more about becoming a volunteer, visit ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.