VICSES provides emergency assistance to thousands of Victorians every year. Our volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and come from all walks’ of life, ages and backgrounds.

You will find our volunteers assisting their local communities throughout Victoria in rural, regional and metropolitan locations, on the front line, in emergency planning and strategy centres, and providing education to help community members understand what to do when an emergency strikes. We respond to our communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. 

Fitness and training requirements

Each of our volunteers receives accredited, recognised training as part of their role, ranging from first aid, general rescue, chainsaw operations, community education, media training, and much more. 

Our Minimum Physical Fitness for Role Program ensures volunteers in operational roles in the field have the minimum physical fitness requirements to undertake their roles safely.  Each role below provides an Advised Fitness Level between 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest), in addition to further skills and fitness requirements. 

Select a volunteer opportunity below to learn more: 

Responding to Storms

Advised Fitness Level: 2-3
 
Participating in emergency response operations resulting from storms and other severe weather events is done through a combination of training and on the job experience, working in a team of people. 
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Rescue Boat

Advised Fitness Level: 4
 
Be part of the rescue boat crew - either as a deckhand, crewperson or coxswain and learn skills for crewing a rescue boat. 

 
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Community Engagement

Advised Fitness Level: 1
 
A number of roles are available for volunteer members to help create awareness of emergencies and emergency preparedness in their local communities. 
 
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Search and Rescue

Advised Fitness Level: 3-5

VICSES has a number of volunteer search and rescue roles, including flood and swift water rescue, search and rescue in remote environments, and road, air, industrial or rail incidents.

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Managing Units

Advised Fitness Level: 1

There are a number of roles for volunteers who want to help us run our units as efficiently and effectively as possible.

 

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Support Unit Member

Advised Fitness Level: 1-2

VICSES is made up of volunteer units who support our head office and regional offices. You can provide support at one of these units.

 

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Managing Incidents

Advised Fitness Level: 1-3
 
VICSES volunteers who have successfully gained qualifications in general search and rescue and other more specialist skills can develop their capability in the leadership and management of emergency incidents.
 
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Road Crash Rescue 

Advised Fitness Level:  4
 
Road Crash Rescue  is a critical service delivered on a daily basis by VICSES and other emergency response agencies across the State.  Join a Road Crash Rescue accredited unit and provide life saving response to road accidents. 
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Junior Members

Advised Fitness Level: Role based (view other volunteer opportunities)
 
VICSES is a child safe, child friendly organisation. This means that we value children and their safety, engagement and education.
 
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