VRA Rescue NSW

30/08/2026

🏆 Cave Rescue Wins NavShield! 🧭

A fantastic result for VRA Rescue NSW at this year’s NavShield, with one of our Cave Rescue two-day teams taking out first place in the Emergency Services category!

The team finished with an impressive 1,920 points across 26 hours of challenging navigation, endurance and teamwork.

VRA Rescue NSW Cave Rescue had three teams competing this year:
🔹 1 × One-Day Team
🔹 2 × Two-Day Teams

They were joined by fellow VRA Rescue NSW competitors from VRA Rescue NSW – SORU and Central Coast Rescue Squad – VRA Rescue NSW.

NavShield provides an excellent opportunity for our volunteers to test their navigation skills, decision-making, endurance and teamwork in demanding terrain.

A huge thank you to the NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue Unit for once again organising another outstanding event, and congratulations to all of our VRA Rescue NSW members who took part.

👏 A brilliant result for Cave Rescue and a great weekend for our volunteers!

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW - Cave Rescue Squad
VRA Rescue NSW - SORU
Central Coast Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
Peter Rothwell - For regional NSW
Roy Butler MP

26/08/2026

Great team work from Taree Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW and emergency services on this road crash in a suburban street in Taree as captured by 7News Taree.

25/08/2026

Happy National Dog Day!

Today, the spotlight belongs to some very special four-legged heroes - the incredible VRA Rescue NSW Search Dogs.

These highly trained dogs work alongside their dedicated handlers to search for missing and vulnerable people across NSW, using skills including air scent area search, scent-specific trailing, water search, and human remains detection.

Today, it’s all about the dogs.
Our heroes. Our searchers. Our four-legged lifesavers.

Happy National Dog Day to all our amazing search dogs, past, present and future!

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
VRA Rescue NSW Search Dogs
NSW Government

23/08/2026

We are excited to be here today for the Sydney Roosters third annual Emergency Services Match at Allianz Stadium. 🏈

The triple-header event honours the incredible men and women across NSW who serve in our emergency services - our local first responders and front-line volunteers including our members from across the state showcasing our equipment and vehicles. 💚

From road crashes to vertical rescues, missing person searches, natural disasters to education, engagement and prevention, our amazing volunteers support regional, rural and remote NSW every day. 🚨

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us at our display, chat with our members and see how we're bringing increased capability and resourcing across NSW. 🙏



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Cessnock District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
VRA Rescue NSW SRG Metro
Dubbo Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Bega District Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Jihad Dib MP
Sydney Roosters
Wests Tigers
NRL
Chris Minns
NSW Nationals
Roy Butler MP
Peter Rothwell - For regional NSW

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

Mounted Search & Rescue Training | Gresford, NSW 🐴

Our Mounted Search & Rescue team recently took part in a great weekend of training in Gresford, NSW, building skills, confidence and capability both in the saddle and on the ground.

Training covered:

🐴 Desensitisation checks and training
🤠 Horsemanship and horse handling
🦺 Safety principles and procedures
🔎 Search patterns and procedures
🤝 Building confidence, capability and teamwork

Mounted Search & Rescue provides a valuable capability for operations across challenging terrain, with highly trained teams and horses working together to locate and assist those in need.

A fantastic weekend of learning, teamwork and capability development for our members and their four-legged partners.



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW Nationals
7HorseRacing
Racing.com
Racing TV
Racing NSW
Australian Turf Club

21/08/2026

Over the last fortnight we've been releasing teasers of our new light rescue vehicle that VRA have developed in conjunction with Hidrive.

AFAC 2026 saw the official release of the vehicle, which gathered large amounts of attention and positive feedback from attendees.

Today our Capability Development Manager provides a video tour of the vehicle, its innovative features and stowage. The design in an evolution in emergency vehicles and we're excited to be placing this one into service at a Squad to be announced soon.

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
Hidrive
AFAC News

19/08/2026

🔍 SEARCH EFFORTS CONTINUE IN NATTAI NATIONAL PARK

VRA Rescue NSW volunteers continue to support an ongoing multi-agency search operation in Nattai National Park.

Our amazing and dedicated volunteers have been working across challenging and rugged terrain, assisting with ground search activities and supporting the broader coordinated response.

Search operations in remote bushland can be physically demanding and require careful planning, teamwork, resilience and close coordination between participating agencies.

We are incredibly proud of the commitment shown by our volunteers, who continue to give their time, skills and energy to support operations such as this. Their dedication to helping others and serving the community is at the heart of VRA Rescue NSW.

Our crews will continue working alongside emergency service partners and supporting the search effort for as long as our assistance is required.

Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers involved in this operation and to the families who support them while they are away from home.



VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom
VRA Rescue NSW - SORU
Jihad Dib MP
Chris Minns
NSW Government
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW Rural Fire Service
NSW Police Force
Rescue & Bomb Disposal - NSW Police Force
PolAir - NSW Police Force Aviation Command
NSW SES

18/08/2026

🚜 Heading to AgQuip 2026? Come and visit VRA Rescue NSW!

AgQuip is back in Gunnedah, and VRA Rescue NSW will be there throughout the event, showcasing the people, equipment and capabilities that help keep communities across NSW safe.

Whether you’re interested in rescue, want to learn more about what our volunteers do, or are simply keen to have a look through some of our rescue equipment, make sure you stop by and say hello to our crews.

📍 Find VRA Rescue NSW at Site C39

Our volunteers will be on hand to chat about VRA Rescue NSW, answer your questions and share what it’s like to be part of a dedicated emergency service supporting communities across the state.

If you’re considering volunteering, it’s also a great opportunity to find out how you can get involved and make a difference in your local community.

👋 Come and visit us; our team will be there until Thursday evening. We hope to see you there!

VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton
VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom

18/08/2026

🚒 Building capability through realistic rescue training 🚜

When the call comes in, our crews need to be ready for whatever they find.

Over the weekend, VRA Rescue NSW volunteers from across Region North came together in the Inverell area for intensive agricultural and heavy rescue training, putting their skills to the test across challenging and realistic scenarios.

From understanding the hazards associated with farm machinery through to managing a complex multi-casualty heavy rescue incident, members were required to think critically, work as a team and adapt as each scenario developed.

Training like this gives our volunteers the opportunity to strengthen their skills and experience before they are needed at a real emergency.

🎥 VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Alix Thom joined crews over the weekend and, in this video, talks about the value of realistic training and the importance of continuing to develop our rescue capability across NSW.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the weekend possible and to our volunteers who continue to give their time to train, learn and be ready to serve their communities.



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