Working as pairs in 12-hour shifts in a custom all-wheel-drive, they are dispatched at the same time as an ambulance to provide first aid until paramedics arrive.

While the CERT went live last month, Upper Hume group manager Michael Atkinson said Ambulance Victoria first gauged interest in the initiative in 2016.

“Yackandandah was a place of interest as it was growing, and at the time in 2016 there probably wasn’t enough of a response to gain momentum,” he said.

“AV decided to revisit that 12 months later and got quite a lot of interest, so we recruited in 2018.”

Real estate agent Shane Stone, who was appointed team leader, and his fellow volunteers spent last year undertaking training.

Within their first month, they have responded to fractures, strokes, farm accidents and more.

“We went live on Monday, January 14, and on the Tuesday we had our first job and were then averaging four to five a week,” Mr Stone said.

“Over a seven-day period we probably have coverage 80 per cent of the time, with the odd day when someone has other commitments.

“The team is amazing – we have eight ladies and four guys aged between 24 and 63, and they’re all passionate.

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“The support we’ve had from AV has been great.”

The group joins Berringa and Walwa CERTs in the Upper Hume catchment, and ambulance community officers – who are paid – in Mitta and Chiltern.

Mr Atkinson said Chiltern’s transition to an ACO model in November, and the creation of the Yackandandah CERT, addressed current need.

“We’ve put the correct response into Yackandandah and are happy we’ve transitioned Chiltern into an ACO model, so there’s no plans in the immediate future to alter resourcing,” he said.

“It’s great for people in Yackandandah to see locals representing their community, and we’ve had nothing but good feedback.”

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