The exercise, to be held in the Armidale Town Hall, is coordinated by the Disaster Welfare Services arm of Community Services, with community partners Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Anglicare, Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) has provided funding for operational capacity training exercises to be held across the State to help prepare and inform local communities about the trained emergency service volunteers in their area.

Operating under the NSW State Disaster Plan, teams of volunteers have been trained throughout the State to respond to emergencies.

These local volunteers perform a range of functions in evacuation and recovery centres.

Community partners spokesman Brendan Delaney said the exercises provide volunteers with the opportunity to test their planning, training and capacity skills.

“The training will ensure local communities can be assisted in their time of greatest need,” he said.

“The success of any emergency response always reflects the amount of time and effort put in by local volunteers.

“It would not be possible to effectively deal with a major disaster or emergency without them.”