The main focus on the training exercises was to practice removing people trapped in wrecked cars and setting up rigs to lift people out of caves and mine shafts.

Ararat SES controller Costas Chrysopoulos said SES and CFA units now worked together to rescue people from confined areas underground.

“CFA does the confined spaces, that’s why they brought in special crews from Ballarat to do the training,” he said.

“SES doesn’t do confined spaces in mines because you need a breathing apparatus, but we set up all the equipment you need to do the job.”

Mr Chrysopoulos said SES units had more training sessions planned for the future, including boat rescues and responding to hypothetical incidents at Hopkins Correctional Centre and Ararat Wind Farms.

“We have brand new hydraulic rescue equipment at the moment so we are training to get used to it,” he said.