08/10/2026
On Wednesday, Civil Defence personnel conducted a Search Skills Training Exercise in the Curracloe and Whitegap area involving new recruits and Search Team Leaders. The exercise commenced with a briefing on a simulated missing person incident. Following the briefing, the search operation was initiated with the deployment of three search teams equipped with TETRA radios to maintain communications throughout the exercise. A range of operational resources were utilised, including the Communications Truck with SARMAN search management software, a Polaris off-road vehicle, and a DJI M30T thermal imaging drone to support aerial search capability and casualty location. Once the casualty was located, the team used MX Locate to accurately determine and share the casualty's position. A Polaris response team, accompanied by medical personnel, was then deployed to the scene to assess, treat, and safely transport the casualty from the area. The exercise provided valuable training for both new recruits and experienced personnel, enhancing search management, communications, drone operations, casualty location procedures, and coordinated deployment of medical and transport resources. The scenario demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating ground search teams, aerial assets, search management technology, and specialist response vehicles in locating and recovering a missing person.
