EMERGENCY Services Cadets were given a taste of how to perform rescues on land, in the air and on the water at a training day in Cleveland on Sunday.
Raby Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue hosted the young people from Cedar Creek and St Laurence's College for the training day, the first of its kind since the PCYC program was created last year.
The cadets were shown around the base and given practical demonstrations of on-water surf life saving rescues, using inflatable life rafts and how to stay safe on the water.
The base's carpark was also transformed into a makeshift helipad, allowing a Surf Life Saving Queensland rescue chopper to land and give cadets a rare, up-close look at the aircraft.
Emergency Services Cadets range from their pre-teens to early 20s and are taught all aspects of volunteering during crises.
The program took over from the SES Cadet initiative in February last year and is gradually being rolled out across the state.
Assistant Minister for Emergency Volunteers Ted Malone was at the training day and praised those who attended.
He said the program was designed to introduce a new generation to volunteering and boost the state's emergency organisations.
"The biggest challenge we have with our emergency service volunteers is age and, quite frankly, as organisations they have to be competitive in attracting young people," he said.
"By joining the volunteers [young people] get a whole packet of life experiences they wouldn't otherwise have."
n To see more photos of the training day, visit www.redlandcitybulletin. com.au.
