PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets deliver ESCape Week 2021
PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets ESCape Week is the most prestigious event on the Cadet calendar – a once in a lifetime opportunity for cadets to be inspired, and experience life as an emergency service worker.
No cadet can be invited on ESCape week more than once, and this unique event offers unforgettable training experiences for ambitious young volunteers.
Congratulations goes to the 22 Cadets who were selected to participate in April 2021 ESCape Week – they all did themselves proud! Special thanks also go to our staff, adult leaders and mentors who made this week so successful.
ESCape Week involves five days of intense hands-on experiences provided by multi-agencies, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners for providing this year’s amazing experiences including Marine Rescue Bribie Island, Queensland Police Academy, Villeneuve Rural Fire Brigade, Dayboro & District Rural Fire Brigade, Bellthorpe Rural Fire Brigade, Hazeldean Rural Fire Brigade, Wamuran Rural Fire Brigade, Coochiemudllo Surf Life Saving and Queensland combined emergency services academy.
Day 1: Volunteer Marine Rescue Bribie Island
Day one saw Cadets participate in a police tactical response boat experience, open water survival swim and a guided tour of the marine rescue vessels, along with demonstrations of all safety equipment and procedures.
Everyone had the chance to ride in the police tactical response boat which travelled at some 120km an hour and experience what it would be like to join this part of the police service.
Day 2: Queensland Police Academy
Day two at the Queensland Police Academy at Oxley involved a meet and greet with the Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner, a visit with the Police Dog Squad, demonstrations from Police Explosives ordinance response team, witnessing the landing of a POL AIR helicopter and interaction with the Police Mounted unit.
After the Academy visit it was onto the Kemp Place Fire and Rescue station for pizza night!
Day 3: Rural Fire Service Villeneuve
Day three consisted of Cadets learning pump operations, fire extinguisher demonstrations, rolling and bowling of hoses, drip torch demonstrations and use of communication equipment.
The group combined all their knowledge learnt into team activities and races, and the day culminated in a fun water fight using the trucks hoses and pumps.
Day 4: Surf Life Saving Coochiemudlo Island
Day four saw Cadets experience a jet ski rescue, rescue board work, First Aid and CPR, and experience what a lifeguard does in their day-to-day patrols.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter made an appearance and cadets were able to have a demonstration of the equipment.
Day 5: Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy
The final day of challenges involved live fire academy, where cadets got to experience what it would be like to be a firefighter, dressing in full turn out gear, extinguishing live fire using fire extinguishers and hoses before moving onto gas bottle explosions where they had to extinguish the fire after hose training in a team environment. Additionally, there was a smoke-filled room experience, road crash rescue demonstration and virtual reality simulations.
The Graduation Ceremony was held at PCYC Lang Park, and attended by PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schulz and Acting Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Mike Wassing, who both praised the Cadets for their leadership and participation.
PCYC Queensland is incredibly proud to deliver this essential volunteer program now in its eighth year, celebrating 21 units across the state involving more than 169 Adult Leaders and 500 Cadets, and we look forward to delivering another successful ESCape Week in 2022!
