VRA Rescue NSW

19/06/2026

VRA Rescue NSW building mounted search and rescue capability for regional NSW

Some rescue capability starts with lights and sirens.

Some starts with boots in the dirt, a saddle, a search line, a trained rescue dog and volunteers ready to serve.

VRA Rescue NSW is developing an emerging mounted search and rescue capability in regional NSW, bringing together trained volunteers, horses and Search & Rescue Dogs to strengthen future search operations across open country, rural properties, bushland and hard to access locations.

VRA Rescue NSW members recently came together at Merriwa as part of ongoing LandSAR training, continuing the development of this important capability for regional and rural NSW communities.

This developing capability will support mounted volunteers to be working alongside VRA Rescue NSW Search & Rescue Dogs in future search operations where terrain, distance and access can create real challenges for emergency responders.

The concept is simple but powerful: combine local volunteers, skilled riders, horses, search dogs and proven LandSAR training to strengthen the ability to locate missing people and help bring them home.

“Every missing person search is a race against time. In regional NSW, terrain, distance and access can make that challenge even harder. Building mounted search and rescue capability gives us another practical way to support communities when it matters most.”

A sincere thank you to SAR Training Australia for its continued support of VRA Rescue NSW and LandSAR training, and for its willingness to assist in exploring future training and capability development opportunities.

To our volunteers, thank you for your commitment, professionalism and service to community.

On foot, by vehicle, by air, with our Search & Rescue Dogs or on horseback, the mission remains the same: bring people home.

To support the development of this capability, or to discuss how you may be able to assist VRA Rescue NSW, please contact:
[email protected]

You can also show your support with a donation:
https://www.rescue.org.au/



Jihad Dib MP Chris Minns Roy Butler MP Peter Rothwell - For regional NSW Paul Toole MP Sky News Australia Sky Racing
2GB Sydney 2GB Drive with Chris O'Keefe

18/06/2026

👏 Congratulations Sally and Sharne! 👏

A huge congratulations to Sally and Sharne on successfully obtaining their LR licences today, allowing them to drive their unit’s rescue truck.

This is a fantastic achievement and provides valuable additional capability for the squad, while also helping share the responsibility of vehicle operations.

A big thank you to Dave Cook, Paul Lewis and Geoff Mulligan for their time, support and guidance in helping prepare the team members for their assessment.

Well done to everyone involved!

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Mendooran and District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals

A huge congratulations to two of our girls - Sally and Sharne - who today passed their driving test and now hold an LR licence, enabling them to drive our truck.
This will give our Captain, Dave, some much needed support, relieving the pressure of being the only driver for so long.
Thank you to Dave Cook, Paul Lewis and Geoff Mulligan for all your assistance in preparing the girls for their test today.

17/06/2026

🚨 Exercise Mudcrab 2026 – Gold Coast International Airport 🚨

Today, VRA Rescue NSW members joined emergency service partners from across New South Wales and Queensland to participate in Exercise Mudcrab 2026 at Gold Coast International Airport.

The large-scale, multi-agency exercise simulated the crash of a Boeing 737-800 into a nearby waterway, providing a realistic and challenging scenario to test emergency response capabilities, incident management, rescue and recovery operations, communications, and interagency coordination.

Exercises of this scale are critical in ensuring emergency services can work seamlessly together during complex incidents. They provide valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships, enhance interoperability, share knowledge, and build the relationships that are essential during real-world emergencies.

While we all hope an event of this nature never occurs, training alongside our partner agencies helps ensure that if the unthinkable does happen, responders are prepared to act quickly, effectively, and as one team.

A huge thank you to all participating agencies, exercise controllers, evaluators, role players, and support personnel who contributed to the success of today’s exercise. The lessons learned and relationships strengthened through exercises like Mudcrab help make our communities safer and more resilient.

💚

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW - Region North
Tweed District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals

09/06/2026

Today, on Thank a First Responder Day, we acknowledge the dedicated volunteers and emergency service personnel who stand ready to assist their communities at a moment's notice.

Whether responding to emergencies, supporting community events, or assisting those in need, first responders are there when their communities need them most. Their commitment, professionalism and willingness to serve make a real difference every day.

At VRA Rescue NSW, we're proud to stand alongside our emergency service partners across the state and thank every volunteer and professional first responder for the work they do in service of their communities.

To all first responders, thank you for your dedication, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to helping others.

07/06/2026

Have a look at these legends from Lithgow & District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW, constantly training and developing their skills within their rescue area for the benefit of the Lithgow and surrounding communities.

From canyon environments to remote bushland, our volunteers dedicate countless hours to maintaining their skills, local knowledge, and operational readiness so they’re prepared when the call for help comes.

Their commitment, professionalism, and willingness to serve their community is what makes volunteer rescue so important across regional NSW.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who continue to train, learn, and give back to their communities.



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals

31/05/2026

🚨 Training Together, Stronger Together 🚨

Eight rescue operators from Cessnock District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW recently attended the Hunter Valley Fire Control Centre to complete specialist training in the use of breathing apparatus (BA).

Delivered by instructors from Hunter Valley Fire Control, the course covered the operation and safe use of BA systems, rescue techniques, maintenance requirements, decontamination procedures, and the correct stowage of CABA sets on rescue vehicles.

Throughout the training, members demonstrated their ability to correctly don and operate breathing apparatus, conduct routine maintenance, and safely perform rescues in hazardous atmospheres. Scenarios included unconscious person rescues, firefighter down/man down incidents, removal of CABA equipment, and the commencement of resuscitation.

Rescue operators also integrated their rescue and road crash rescue (RCR) skills while operating in breathing apparatus, providing valuable experience in realistic operational environments.

This course marked the first-ever combined RFS and VRA Rescue NSW breathing apparatus training program—a fantastic example of agencies working together to enhance capability and deliver better outcomes for our communities.

A huge thank you to the Hunter Valley Fire Control Centre and all involved in making this inaugural course a success. 💚🚒🚑



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals
NSW Rural Fire Service

30/05/2026

Search Concludes with Positive Outcome in Royal National Park

After several days of coordinated search operations, a woman reported missing in the Royal National Park near Waterfall has been located alive.

Throughout the search, volunteers from VRA Rescue NSW worked alongside the NSW SES, NSW RFS, NSW Police Force, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and NSW Ambulance, with resources deployed daily across challenging terrain as efforts intensified.

The woman was located around midday today and was transferred into the care of NSW Ambulance paramedics for assessment and treatment.

VRA Rescue NSW extends its thanks to all agencies and volunteers involved for their commitment, professionalism, and teamwork throughout this operation. Search incidents of this nature require a significant multi-agency effort, and we are grateful for the dedication shown by everyone involved.

Most importantly, we are pleased to see a positive outcome for the woman, her family, friends, and all those who worked tirelessly to bring this search to a successful conclusion.

💚 Team Green 💚



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW Search Dogs
VRA Rescue NSW - SORU
Wollongong VRA - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals
Roy Butler MP
Peter Rothwell - For regional NSW

23/05/2026

Throughout regional, rural and remote NSW, VRA Rescue NSW volunteers are all too familiar with the reality of road trauma.

From the east coast to the west, north to south, our volunteers respond to serious motor vehicle accidents that leave lasting impacts on families, communities and emergency responders alike.

Many of these incidents occur on regional roads, where factors such as fatigue, speed, long travel distances and road conditions can quickly turn deadly.

This National Road Safety Week, we join with our partner agencies in asking every road user to take responsibility every time they get behind the wheel.

Drive safely. Look after each other. Help us reduce trauma on our roads.



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Official Site

20/05/2026

It’s been another busy few weeks for our specialist capabilities across NSW, with members from VRA Rescue NSW Specialist Operations Rescue Unit (SORU), Cave Rescue and SAR Dogs assisting our General Land Rescue units and partner agencies across the state.

Recently, multiple SORU, Cave Rescue and SAR Dog members completed a multi-day search operation in the Central Coast region alongside our Central Coast Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW and Cessnock District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW. The operation was conducted in dense bushland terrain, with some areas requiring specialist vertical rescue capabilities to support search efforts.

At the same time, members from Taree VRA Rescue NSW while returning from deployments supporting flood operations in the Northern Rivers have now been tasked to assist NSW Police and partner agencies with an active land search in the Nambucca Valley area.

Our volunteers continue to show incredible dedication, professionalism and commitment to supporting communities across NSW, wherever and whenever they are needed. 💚



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW - SORU
VRA Rescue NSW Search Dogs
VRA Rescue NSW - Cave Rescue Squad
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals

19/05/2026

🚨 Flood Rescue Operations Continue Across Northern NSW 🚨

For the past 24 hours, volunteers from Tweed Heads, Brunswick Heads, Casino and Taree — deployed to support local operations — have been responding to multiple flood rescue callouts across impacted communities.

Crews have safely assisted numerous people trapped in floodwaters after vehicles became stranded attempting to cross flooded roads. Several incidents involved at-risk individuals requiring specialist rescue assistance from our highly trained volunteers.

Our members continue to work alongside partner emergency service agencies in difficult and rapidly changing conditions to keep communities safe.

This is a timely reminder:
⚠️ Never drive, walk or ride through floodwater.
⚠️ Conditions can change rapidly and floodwaters can be deeper and faster moving than they appear.

If it’s flooded, forget it.

💚 Thank you to all emergency service personnel and volunteers continuing to support communities across the region.



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW - Region North
Tweed District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Casino Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Taree Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government