2026 started with some wild weather across Queensland, with Winton being just one of the places heavily affected by rain and flooding. Winton has just one SES member so the community relies on extra support in times of disaster. This time PCYC Emergency Services Cadet Sally was there to help!
Sally worked alongside SES personnel, door-knocking and advising residents to evacuate as flood waters rose. Sally found the experience incredibly meaningful, feeling a strong sense of purpose in supporting a community in need and helping ensure residents’ safety.
Sally says her time in Emergency Services Cadets has helped her feel more knowledgeable and confident when approaching situations like this, particularly in communicating with others and delivering important safety warnings to the community.
Well done Sally!
Our Emergency Services Cadets Youth Psychological First Aid (PFA) pilot has now wrapped up across all participating Units in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, and what a powerful journey it has been.
Across Gin Gin, Biggenden, Hervey Bay and Childers, Cadets and Volunteer Leaders embraced the training with a strong sense of responsibility to their communities. Our young people showed us that they are more than ready to engage in conversations about wellbeing, support, leadership and resilience.
The young people in PCYC Queensland’s Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) program are nothing short of inspiring.
They’re stepping up in big ways, and proof that the future is in good hands: in the past year, they’ve rolled up their sleeves and lent a hand during natural disasters, learned life-saving skills, and taken on leadership roles within their communities.
When ex Cyclone Alfred swept across Southeast Queensland in March, communities prepared for flooding and long nights of hard work.
Among those stepping forward to help were three ESC units, activated to support their local SES teams by filling sandbags and helping prepare their towns for severe weather. The cadets took on tasks usually handled by trained volunteers, freeing SES crews to deal with urgent jobs such as tarping roofs and responding to emergency calls.
The spirit that drove those cadets into action is the same spirit shown by Jack Daw, ESC participant who, with his father, rescued a man from a burning vehicle near Gin Gin, pulling him to safety moments before the car was fully engulfed.
His courage, leadership and calm response reflect the values that sit at the heart of the ESC philosophy.
The ESC program provides young people with a safe, fun and inclusive environment that offers them practical life skills and leadership opportunities. It is delivered in partnership with QPS and QFES and is usually based out of local emergency service facilities. Cadets try everything from first aid and search and rescue to radio comms, K9 demos and team challenges. Led by volunteer Adult Leaders and supported by real emergency services crews, the program helps young people build confidence, make friends and discover what it’s like to be part of the emergency services community, whether as a volunteer or in a future career.
One of the highlights each year is ESCape Week, a hands-on adventure where cadets try marine rescue, water safety challenges, search scenarios, fire equipment training and even sessions with Polair and the bomb squad.
Program Coordinator Kerrieann Ruatoka said her favourite part was watching the students stretch themselves.
“There is such a great sense of connection, energy and growth. It is really rewarding to hear the positive feedback from both students and staff about the impact the program is having,” she said.
That same sense of teamwork is carried into the annual Cadet Games, held in Brisbane and Townsville. Cadets from PCYC Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Army Cadets, Royal Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Navy Cadets participate in activities that tested communication, skill and problem solving.
ESC Program Manager Sue Bernard described the event as busy, exciting and full of connection.
“The day is all about the young people getting together with cadets from other organisations and making connections in a fun way, and of course plenty of competitive spirit,” she said.
PCYC Queensland hosted the flagship event for cadets in Queensland, the 2025 Cadet Games in June.
The Games, in their 11th year, saw 180 cadets from PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Army Cadets, Royal Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Navy Cadets compete in games of skill, problem solving and teamwork.
They vied for the title of Ultimate Cadet Crew and were judged by emergency services and defence personnel who volunteered their time on the day. Judging was based on communication, ability and teamwork and events are chosen based on skills and drills taught to the cadets throughout the year.
PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets Program Manager Sue Bernard said the day was action-packed, busy and fun – and is made possible thanks to the support of many.
“The day is all about the young people getting together with cadets from other organisations, and making connections in a fun way – and, of course, plenty of competitive spirit,” she said.
“It is a real celebration of our remarkable young people, giving them the chance to use skills they have learned and be seen by some leading figures in the emergency service and defence community. We have many cadets who return year after year to reconnect with cadets from other areas and seeing them enjoy the events and keep coming back, making these lasting connections and feeling such pride, is so rewarding for us to see.”
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schulz said the games were a highlight of the PCYC calendar each year.
“Seeing these young people excel in what they are doing, work together, make new friendships and, importantly, have fun while doing so is terrific to watch,” he said.
“It really shows what we are all about here at PCYC Queensland. It’s also great to get such firm support for the event from the emergency services, our volunteers and PCYC team members.”
PCYC’s Emergency Services Cadets provides young people with practical life skills and leadership opportunities.
The Cadet Games are supported by Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Department, Queensland Ambulance Service, Australian Red Cross, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland.
