VICSES volunteers promote preparedness at popular Seymour expo

Hundreds of Victorians are now better equipped to prepare for emergency situations, after engaging in meaningful conversations with Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.

VICSES members from across the Hume Region volunteered their time throughout the three-day event beginning on 4 April, encouraging community members to take steps to plan and prepare to act in the event of a local emergency.

Alongside representatives from major partner AAMI, volunteers at the VICSES activation were kept busy by a steady stream of attendees keen to learn more about the role of VICSES in local communities and seek advice about establishing their own emergency kit.

Interstate and international visitors were also able to glean valuable knowledge from local volunteers, with many taking home their own SES-branded grab-bags to stash important items such as battery-powered radios and torches, food and bottled water, first aid kit and device chargers for immediate access in the event of an emergency evacuation.

VICSES was one of approximately 400 exhibitors with activations at the popular farming event, which was expected to attract in excess of 20,000 attendees to the state’s northeast.

VICSES Seymour Unit’s rescue boat and mini-rescue truck were also on hand at the event, proving popular with the expo’s younger demographic and allowing volunteers to promote early awareness of the diverse range of skills and opportunities available within VICSES.

Since 2020, VICSES volunteers in Hume region have responded to an average of more than 4,000 requests for assistance (RFAs) from their community each year, with the majority involving flood or storm response.

Already in 2025, volunteers throughout the region have been called to more than 800 flood or storm-related incidents.

To find out more about how to prepare for an emergency, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe/at-home, or to volunteer with your local unit, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.

Quotes attributable to Sara-Jane Bowering, Acting VICSES Community Resilience Coordinator:

“This event was a fantastic opportunity for our volunteers to promote the importance of thinking proactively about emergency preparedness.

“Victoria has seen its fair share of weather emergencies in recent years, so it’s vital community members take steps to ensure they’re prepared in an emergency evacuation.

“Grassroots conversations such as these play an important role in saving lives across Victoria, and it’s pleasing to see so many people seeking out additional information and giving consideration to their own emergency plan as a result.”