The team is available when a rural or urban SAR incident has the potential to require specialist rescue equipment and personnel that are not readily available for on scene stand-by. To provide rope rescue techniques in the support of search or rescue incidents. The Rope Rescue Team functions as a stand alone rope rescue response unit. The rope rescue team trains in both urban and rural rope rescue systems. This cross training allows the team to interface well with other wilderness response or urban rescue agencies.
Training is maintained by regular continuing education and monthly exercises.
Under the Rope Rescue Teams portfolio is the development and testing of new techniques and equipment. Equipment for rope rescue is cached between members and the Victoria base to allow for rapid deployment. Responses requiring rope rescue are received by the on duty Incident Commander who then activates the Rope team duty pagers. The primary team performs the assessment of all prospective members and is responsible for setting and maintaining team standards. All requests for response are evaluated by the on duty Dive Unit Chief prior to resource deployment.