Victoria Rescue (NZ-RT7)

The Victoria Rescue response team provides light rescue and emergency response services to the University and wider community.

Overview

Victoria Rescue (NZ-RT7) is an emergency response team of volunteer first responders who provide first aid support to community events and surge support in large scale emergencies, working alongside emergency services and other agencies. As an in-house team, they are deployed to Victoria University campuses with priority but provide support across the region and country as required.

The team was founded in 1978 and has an enduring legacy of over 200 former members who have gone on to use skills developed in the team in a variety of fields—from professional roles with emergency services, to lawyers and policy professionals. The team is currently made up of current students, alumni, and staff members, but membership is also open to members of the public.

The team is accredited as a New Zealand Response Team by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). This means they can be deployed across the region and the country when needed in an out-of-region emergency. NEMA accreditation is a significant achievement—it shows the team is able to perform to a national standard and provides assurance that the team can operate safely alongside other emergency services, employees, and organizations during an incident.

The team is currently accredited four capability strands with NEMA:

  • Foundation Skills
  • Light Rescue (surface search and rescue)
  • Civil Defence Centres and Welfare
  • Mass Casualty Incident Support

Who we are looking for

Anyone, regardless of their affiliation to Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, can apply to join Victoria Rescue.

Because of the time and investment required to become an operational responder, applicants are expected to be prepared to commit to a minimum of two or three years to the team. During this time, you can expect to be regularly training and working with the team. You are expected to put aside the time necessary to complete required courses on weekends, particularly in the first two years while you attain the necessary qualifications to become operational.

The team trains weekly throughout the calendar year on Monday evenings from 6–8pm. Trainings are compulsory throughout Trimesters 1 and 2, but optional for students during study breaks, mid-trimester breaks, and the summer break.

There is a requirement for basic fitness, which is assessed on an ongoing basis, but enthusiasm, attitude, and ability to work with others are the main factors that contribute to a successful application.

For staff who aren't able to commit to regular training, other opportunities to participate in emergency response at the University can be found on the staff intranet.

Join the team

Anyone can apply to join the Victoria Rescue response team, provided you can commit to training.

  • The team runs an annual recruitment round during Clubs Week in Trimester 1 where interested candidates can sign up physically or digitally.
  • We also consider new recruit applications at any time in the year, but admittance during the year will typically be for persons with existing skills that will enable them to work at a similar level to the rest of the team.

At any point in the year, if you are interested in coming along to a training to see what the team does, email VictoriaRescue@vuw.ac.nz—you are more than welcome to observe for an evening before you put forward your application.

Keep a watch on this page for the next recruitment evening.

Register your interest

What you can learn and do

The team has internal progression pathways for all recruits to aspire to the rank and specialization they choose. These include a variety of areas from technical rescue skills like working a chainsaw or 4WD operation, to leadership skills such as CIMS and Squad Leadership.

Team members are provided all the training and equipment required to be a full member of the team. Some notable certifications include:

  • Pre-Hospital Emergency Care,
  • Psychological First Aid,
  • Coordinated Incident Management Systems (CIMS),
  • leadership theory,
  • chainsaw operation, and
  • rubble pile searching.

The team can provide a range of tasks during a major incident:

  • Cordons and movement control.
  • Assisting with public notifications and evacuations.
  • Reconnaissance, impact assessment, survey, and information gathering.
  • Surface search and rescue including line-and-hail searches, stretcher work, and improved casualty movements.
  • Advanced first aid and casualty care.
  • Coordinating spontaneous volunteers.
  • Providing support or surge staffing for Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs).
  • Assistance with multi-agency, rapidly deployable caches, and associated equipment.
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) coordinated activities.
  • Preparing for and responding to severe weather events.
  • Establishing and staffing Civil Defence Centres (CDCs).
  • Assisting with welfare needs assessments for communities.
  • Generators, lighting, water pump, and other equipment expertise.
  • Supporting ambulance services with pre-hospital emergency care and triage.
  • Liaison and radio communication links with University building cluster groups.
  • Providing general support and assistance to emergency services.

Get in touch

We hope you’re keen on joining us!

Quotes

“I love the fact that I learn skills I can use to help people, rather than stand on the side when something happens. That’s why I do it.”- Andrew Simpkin, Team Leader, Senior Responder, joined 2016.

“Our team is so accommodating of everyone’s backgrounds and capabilities. Sure, certain skills might take a certain amount of physical ability, but if that’s not possible for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of the team. It just means you might specialise in different things.” - Róisín Kenny, Senior Responder & Team Medic, joined 2021.

“If anything happens to my customers [while I’m at work], I can save them. If anyone on the street drops down and has a cardiac arrest, I know what to do. It’s not just that I’m more prepared for a work role, it’s that I’m more prepared for life. Preserving life.”  - Xanthia Coombe, Senior Responder & Team Medic, joined 2021.