More than 70 NSW SES members took part in the two-day event at Endeavour Energy Training Facility, Liverpool, tackling eight high-pressure emergency scenarios based on a mass-casualty flash flooding event.
The realistic scenarios included rescuing patients at heights in a transformer station, evacuating occupants from a house and assisting people experiencing homelessness from a bunker, to test the participants' technical capability, teamwork, leadership and problem solving under pressure.
As one of the largest events on the NSW SES training calendar, the State Disaster Rescue Challenge required the support of about 110 additional SES logistics, transport and rescue exercise specialists.
Extensive preparation also went into making the event as realistic as possible, with moulage (mock injuries) applied to dozens of role players on site, enhancing the realism for rescue operators.
This year, competitors also took part in a series of learning stands with Endeavour Energy, gaining a greater understanding of how to safely work near electrical wires during floods, storms and other emergencies.
Teams competing in the NSW SES State Disaster Rescue Challenge 2026 had to win their Zone competition to qualify for the state competition in Sydney. Successful teams included: Ashfield Leichardt, Ballina, Gosford, Parramatta, Port Macquarie, Sutton, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga Units.
The Port Macquarie Hastings Unit was named overall winner and will represent the NSW SES at the National Disaster Rescue Challenge in Queensland later this year.
In second place was Parramatta Unit, closely followed by the Gosford Unit in third place. The best team leader award was given to George Jeofferys from Parramatta Unit, while the safety award was earned by Port Macquarie Hastings Unit.
Quotes attributable to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services, Charishma Kaliyanda:
"I know these teams train non-stop for the real-life situations they face in their communities, and I am impressed by the skills and professionalism they demonstrated this weekend.
"That commitment produces highly trained teams that are ready to serve alongside our communities and help keep the people of NSW safe."
Quotes attributable to NSW SES Chief Superintendent, Jake McDonald:
"Disaster Rescue Challenges have been a highlight on the NSW SES training calendar since 1988 and give members an engaging opportunity to put their rescue knowledge into practice and fine-tune their skills in a friendly yet competitive environment.
"The complex scenarios reflect the wide range of incidents our volunteers respond to every day, from severe storms and land searches, to delicate rescue operations that demand strong communication and collaboration.
"Exercises like this are vital in strengthening our operational readiness across the service."
Case study - Port Macquarie Hastings Unit:
For more than two decades, Port Macquarie Hastings Unit volunteer Michael Brumby has responded with the NSW SES to assist his community through some of the most challenging emergencies.
Now, as team leader of the Port Macquarie Hastings Disaster Rescue Challenge team, he's helped fellow volunteers test their rescue skills against the best emergency service teams from across the state.
"In our local community this year, we've responded to medical gain-entry jobs and patient lift-outs supporting NSW Ambulance, as well as several vertical rescues involving people exploring along the coast who needed assistance," Mr Brumby said.
Mr Brumby said events like the State Disaster Rescue Challenge play a critical role in ensuring volunteers are ready for the unpredictable situations they face in the community.
"Outside of SES we all have different lives, but coming together with a common goal builds trust in the group," he said.
"No two jobs are ever the same. Going away and having someone else test your skills in unfamiliar scenarios is invaluable.
"You get thrown a few curveballs and you find a few more tools to put in the toolbox. That improves our overall ability to think outside the box when it comes to the real jobs we face in the community."
Mr Brumby led the Port Macquarie Hastings team to victory at the last National Disaster Rescue Challenge in 2024.
"It was really hotly contested between the different states, so it was really cool for us to come out on top," he said.
Case study - Tamworth Unit:
Representing NSW SES Tamworth Unit, Nigel Johnston said that the Challenge has strengthened skills that would have immediate benefits for emergency response in the New England Region.
Mr Johnston, who joined the NSW SES in 2016, is able to draw on years of experience responding to storms and floods across the Tamworth area.
"At the unit, we respond to riverine flooding, which occurs very quickly around here, and support Gunnedah with the flow on effects downstream. Flash flooding is a real concern for us, and we've had to pull people out of the water from hotspots around town," Mr Johnston said.
"We're also called on to assist NSW Ambulance with general land rescues, so all the extra knowledge and skills from the Challenge helps us to work more effectively to support them. It makes us better operators."
Mr Johnston said the realistic rescue scenarios tested during the Challenge directly translate to operational capability on the ground.
Preparation for the competition began months in advance for the Tamworth team, with neighbouring Units assisting with scenarios to help them prepare.
"Armidale and Tambar Springs also put on training days for us, where they've shared their wisdom as General Land Rescue Operators," Mr Johnston said.
Case study - Parramatta Unit:
For long-serving NSW SES Parramatta Unit Volunteer George Jeoffreys, this year's Disaster Rescue Challenge was more than testing rescue skills; it was about standing alongside the next generation of SES members.
After nearly three decades of service and having competed in the Challenge since 1998, George shared the competition field with his son, Macklan Jeoffreys.
"Using skills outside the examples in our basic learning materials helps prepare members for the enormous variety of situations we encounter in the field," Mr Jeoffreys said.
"The scenarios might be very different but for a busy Unit like Parramatta, the ability to apply them creatively allows us to get through complex jobs safely and efficiently."
While the Challenge provides valuable training under pressure, George said the highlight was competing alongside his son.
"My son and two daughters are now all members at Parramatta Unit, which is a huge source of pride for me," Mr Jeoffreys said.
"Having the opportunity to compete in a Challenge with my son is just amazing, but the chance to share their SES experience with them and to watch them find their place in the Unit is beyond words."
For Macklan, the weekend's event marked his second time competing, but his connection to the NSW SES began long before he became a volunteer in 2021.
"Growing up, I used to act as a child casualty at the Challenges when Dad was competing, so as soon as I turned 16, I became a volunteer myself" he said.
"It's really great to learn from my dad, he shares his years of experience with not just me, but the whole team."
Case study - Sutton Unit:
Representing the NSW SES Sutton Unit, Karen Elphick said the Disaster Rescue Challenge was a valuable opportunity to sharpen operational skills while strengthening teamwork in a realistic, high-pressure environment.
Ms Elphick joined the NSW SES in 2023 to give back to her community through volunteering.
Since then, Ms Elphick has completed training in storm operations, including chainsaw operations and working from heights, and has been deployed across NSW to support communities during severe weather.
In May 2025, Ms Elphick was deployed to Taree to assist with clean-up efforts and community response after record-breaking flooding.
She said the Challenge reflected the problem-solving needed during real emergency operations.
"At the Challenge, you learn in a similar way to how you learn on deployments where you're faced with real-life problems," she said.
"You're working through realistic scenarios, making decisions as a team, but then receive feedback that helps you think differently about how you approached the task. That's incredibly valuable because it's directly applicable to what we do in the field.
"I really enjoyed the team environment and going away together to solve problems," she said. "I'm also a touch competitive."
Case study - Gosford Unit:
Ensuring volunteers are ready for floods, storms and other emergencies, NSW SES Gosford Unit Commander, Philip Whitmore, has led his team to this year's State Disaster Rescue Challenge.
Since joining the NSW SES in 2003, Inspector Whitmore said he's been lucky enough to qualify for four statewide challenges.
"We always push the Unit to be part of the Challenge - it's an excellent training opportunity, and is great for team bonding and networking," he said.
The Gosford team spent three months preparing for the Challenge, committing to weekly training sessions covering a wide range of emergency scenarios.
"Every Thursday night we're out training, and it's not just the Challenge team. Other members from the Unit get involved too, helping to set up realistic scenarios covering everything from vertical rescues and mass casualty incidents, to CPR and first aid," Inspector Whitmore said.
The Gosford NSW SES Unit regularly responds to flash flooding across the Central Coast and deploys to assist other communities during major weather events.
Case study - Ballina Unit:
Young Ballina Unit volunteer, Coen Acret, sharpened his skills at this year's Challenge and applied the knowledge he's learnt since joining the NSW SES in 2023.
"In Ballina, we respond to a mixture of hazards including riverine and flash flooding, whilst also providing the local general land rescue service," he said.
"Our main workload for rescues is gaining entry for Ambulance or assisting them to carry out patients, which are both skills practised at a Disaster Recue Challenge."
Coen said the Challenge exposes volunteers to a wide range of realistic rescue scenarios that are difficult to replicate during routine training.
"At the Challenge, you get to practise your critical thinking skills and situational awareness before taking it to the real world and applying it to an operational task," he said.
"There aren't many opportunities where you can respond to eight different rescue incidents in one day and really put your skills, critical thinking and teamwork to the test."
Alongside his volunteer role, Coen is also studying Paramedicine and said at his role at SES compliments his studies by exposing him to emergency situations that can't be taught in a classroom.
"That opportunity to communicate with people that I haven't met before and the skills that I haven't learnt in university yet, like knowing what a rescue scene looks like, is really valuable."
Case study - Ashfield-Leichhardt Unit:
Representing the NSW SES Ashfield-Leichhardt Unit, Soraya O'Malley, said the Disaster Rescue Challenge provided practical training to strengthen the Unit's ability to respond to emergencies across Sydney's Inner West.
"The Challenge gives you the opportunity to receive specific and valuable feedback, creating a great environment for learning," she said.
In the weeks leading up to the Challenge, the Ashfield-Leichhardt team trained together weekly, refreshing skills in roof access, emergency tarping, tool operation and land search techniques.
Other members of the Unit also stepped up and backfilled roles to help the team train, making it a whole of Unit effort to prepare.
"Our team includes newer members alongside those with many years of operational experience. Training together allows everyone to share knowledge," Ms O'Malley said.
As the Unit's Flood Rescue Coordinator, Ms O'Malley said the experience had immediate benefits for local emergency responses.
"In Ashfield Leichhardt, we regularly respond to flash flooding in busy, high-traffic areas, including rescues involving vehicles trapped in floodwaters," she said.
"The communication and teamwork skills reinforced at the Challenge are really valuable for us to apply in the field - making sure you have constant awareness and sharing information as the situation changes."
