It’s difficult, life-threatening work – and last weekend dozens of SES volunteers hit the Hastings River, to hone their flood rescue skills.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has hosted a Land Based Flood Rescue course, putting participants from the Service and external agencies through their paces in an environment simulating a real-life flood rescue scenario.

Held at Beechwood near Port Macquarie on August 5 and 6, the training involved personnel from the NSW SES, NSW Police, and key flood rescue support agencies of Marine Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and Surf Life Saving NSW.

Twenty-four emergency service personnel completed the course, trained by six experienced NSW SES flood rescue trainers, to become competent land-based flood rescue operators.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey ESM said the course trained participants in a range of skills necessary for flood rescue operations.

“This course is designed to test participants across multiple scenarios so they’re prepared for whatever challenge they may face during a dangerous, real-life flood rescue operation,” Assistant Commissioner Storey said.

“As the lead agency for flood rescue in NSW, the SES's provision of consistent high standard of training to emergency service partners is key to the safety of our personnel and the community.

“The opportunity for agencies to train together also builds interoperability, which is so important in the field during real life emergencies.”

Senior Manager of Training Paul McQueen ESM said the Hasting’s River hydrology was similar to a naturally flooded environment, with natural hazards, currents and other environmental factors.

"The NSW SES has the largest contingent of trained flood rescue operators, and we want to continue building our flood rescue capability by sharing knowledge and skills through training like this,” Chief Superintendent McQueen said.

Video By | Nakita Jager