FRNSW leads multi-agency exercise, boosting collaboration and skills - Edgeworth
Published: 08 Sep 2025 12:08pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has again played a leading role in a large-scale drill at Lake Macquarie, the fifth of its kind designed to sharpen the response of emergency services at serious vehicle accidents.
The exercise was developed following previous bus crash scenarios and was the most complex to date, involving additional agencies and organisations working together in a realistic training environment.
This time, a simulated collision between an Australian Defence Force (ADF) Army heavy vehicle, a bus, a large flat bed truck and multiple cars was staged to test the ability of first responders to manage multiple casualties in challenging conditions.
Firefighters from Morisset, Toronto, Lambton, Belmont and Swansea stations were joined by NSW Ambulance paramedics, NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers, and ADF personnel to tackle the scenario which was staged at the Edgeworth depot of bus company, CDC NSW.
Mannequins were placed in the wreckage and crews acted as injured passengers and training to increase the scale and realism of the emergency.
Involving the Army Defence vehicle and personnel for this exercise provided an opportunity for FRNSW and other agencies to better understand Defence in-service vehicles and equipment.
Using hydraulic cutting tools, firefighters refined their skills in gaining rapid access to patients trapped inside the overturned vehicle, while ambulance crews practised coordinated medical response and scene management.
Exercise organisers withheld the details of the mock incident until crews arrived on site, ensuring a realistic response and genuine inter-agency cooperation.
The inter-agency collaboration helps crews strengthen ways of working together to better protect communities, particularly during High Risk Weather Season (HRWS) events.
FRNSW Acting Chief Superintendent, Matthew Waldon, said the scenario was an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across emergency services.
“These exercises mean that when our firefighters arrive at a real-life crash, they know exactly what to do,” Acting Chief Superintendent Waldon said.
“Working side-by-side with our colleagues from NSW Ambulance, the RFS and Defence allows us to build trust, improve communication and better understand each other’s capabilities.
“That teamwork translates directly into better outcomes for the community when the real calls come in.”
General Manager Hunter Valley at CDC NSW, Jodie Mallia, emphasised the importance of such initiatives.
“Exercises like these are invaluable. They offer a vital opportunity for emergency services to collaborate in a controlled setting, refining our ability to respond effectively when real emergencies occur.
"The insights gained help us improve procedures and ultimately save time and lives.”
Media note – FRNSW footage of the exercise can be obtained here: https://vimeo.com/1116366565/43bd66b3f6?ts=0& [external link];share=copy
Updated: 08 Sep 2025 11:28am
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