Fire and Rescue NSW provides In-water rescue training for Malaysian first responders - Penrith
Published: 21 Oct 2025 11:48am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) In-Water experts are helping to train visiting Malaysian rescue crews to deal with floodwater emergencies.
The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) recently approached FRNSW to study swift water rescue techniques and was put through its paces late last week during a dedicatedq exercise at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
The invitation arose from FRNSW’s strong relationship with Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
FRNSW and NADMA are members of the United Nations’ International Search and Rescue Advisory Group or INSARAG, which, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), facilitates the deployment and co-ordination of Australia’s Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART), when they are sent to sudden onset emergencies around the globe.
The local firefighters, including veterans of the 2023 Turkiye Earthquake emergency response and numerous floodwater disasters in NSW, have put their Malaysian counterparts through a series of challenging scenarios to increase their capabilities.
They’ve been tested with land-based rescue and recovery drills and In-water exercises, modelled on real-life scenarios that FRNSW has encountered during flood operations, including:
- Tactical swimming and patient management
- Raft operations and recovery of casualties
- Recovery of casualties from vehicles in waterways
- Use of hydraulic tools and techniques in waterways
The Stadium’s whitewater rapids created a realistic environment to test the participants’ abilities to extract ‘people’ trapped in stormwater drains, canals, rivers and creeks.
The SMART operators, a mix of firefighters, police officers and soldiers, have also been shown how to use FRNSW’s flood rescue equipment as they meet their Public Safety Training qualifications.
Additionally, the international rescuers have had the opportunity to inspect FRNSW’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) operations.
Quotes attributed to FRNSW Deputy Commissioner – Strategic Capabilities, Paul McGuiggan:
“The opportunity to share our enhanced knowledge has proved extremely valuable.
“Our In-Water experts have responded to numerous flooding events over the last few years, including Cyclone Alfred earlier this year. Every time they deploy, their experience grows and it’s great to share those learnings.”
Quotes attributed to SMART Team Leader, Inspector Muhamad Bin Idris:
“Malaysia has floods, usually from October until March, and we wanted to upgrade our skills and the equipment we use.
“The training has been educational and it’s been a very good experience for the team, which has learnt a lot, such as how to deal with fast-flowing water and how to simulate the situations back in Malaysia.
“Maybe in the future, we could try to introduce a swift water aquatic centre to assist our training further.”
Media note – Footage of the training is available here: https://vimeo.com/1128715675/00d7ff44d7 [external link]
Updated: 21 Oct 2025 11:08am
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
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