As the snow melts and spring emerges across the NSW Alps, the State Emergency Service (SES) Snowy River Unit has reflected on another busy winter and is already looking ahead to next season.

The SES Snowy River Unit are actively seeking new volunteers to join their elite alpine search and rescue teams, with training for the 2027 winter season set to commence soon.

SES Snowy River Unit commander, Malika Bailey, said the past winter was a period of consistent activity.

“We had a good winter with consistent call outs and managed to squeeze some training in that the team requires in-between the call outs also,” commander Bailey said.

“Although it was a pretty poor season for snow, we were still kept pretty busy, though it was nowhere near as bad as last year regarding the number of rescues - last year was terrible.”

The alpine region of NSW is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly during the winter months.

However, the breathtaking beauty of the Snowy Mountains can quickly turn treacherous.

With weather conditions capable of shifting from bright sunshine to blizzard-force winds, freezing temperatures, and heavy snow within hours, the risk of becoming lost or injured is ever-present.

While the formal winter operation is being wound down, the team remains on standby.

“We are still getting call outs as people start to get out backcountry more now being springtime, but the weather can still turn, and people can get caught up in storms,” commander Bailey said.

“We are still active and ready to respond, but we are starting to transition to summer activity.”

In emergencies, time is critical and SES volunteers work in close cooperation with NSW Police, deploying highly trained volunteers to locate and rescue lost or injured people.

To reach isolated and rugged terrain swiftly, the units are equipped with snowmobiles, and volunteers are skilled in using snowshoes and skis to navigate remote locations.

The role requires a deep familiarity with the area, with volunteers needing to reside in the general Snowy Mountains region.

Rescue operations typically involve individuals who have fallen during bushwalking or become trapped in high-altitude areas.

The work demands specialist skills, including technical rope rescue techniques for retrieving people from cliffs, caves, and other precarious heights.

Commander Bailey said the transition from winter to summer activities is an ideal time for recruitment.

“This is the prime time for us to advertise and recruit new members that would be interested in joining our team to help the community during next winter season,” commander Bailey said.

“We will be starting all the training and prerequisite training they need to move on to be a rescuer. There’s quite a bit of training and it takes time, but the team is behind them, and we would love to see a whole lot of new faces joining us.

“The benefits of joining are clear, it has many positives, such as meeting new people, helping the community, and developing new skills - a big reason why people should join the SES.”

Commander Bailey noted a possible positive trend in backcountry safety this year compared to last saying, “We can’t say why exactly this year was much calmer than last year, but we are hoping that people are getting the message to take Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) out with them when going backcountry, and also that people are being more prepared with what they bring with them.”

Prospective volunteers are encouraged to contact the unit directly or visit the Jindabyne headquarters in Leesville to learn more.

“I would like to thank the community for always being so kind to us and always welcoming us in their time of need,” commander Bailey said.

“We are always going to be there for them and respond the best we can so we can help their bad day be a better day.”

For more information visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au or keep up to date on the NSW SES - Snowy River Unit Facebook page.