📢 #WA has decided! After 2,600+ names suggested and12,000+ votes cast in our naming competition, our new #BlackHawks will be named Yelka (Noongar for ‘Hawk/Eagle’) & Florian (Patron Saint of Firefighters). Thank you to the community for embracing our newest #aircraft!

Meet kelpie x “Mars”, one of our newest trainees. He is showing great prey/play drive, energy and enthusiasm and has just passed the unit’s entry level control test. “Away find” young Mars.

Congratulations to trainee area search dog Pippa on passing the SES Canine Units indication test. Pip has always had a strong touch indication but trainers have encouraged her handler to try and get a speak indication. With a jump and a woof she was successful. Well done!!

The unit has been busy training up new recruits. Sue and Tess both passed the entry level control test and are progressing well. (1/2)

Trainee search dogs Pippa and Gia are coming along well in area search with their very capable handlers Bre and Judy. Both have past their indication tests and are moving onto searching bigger areas. Both teams are well on their way to becoming operational. (2/2)

The sky was in full support of our teams as they descended into the bush for night training. Thankfully, the K9s search with their nose, not their eyes & with a wonderful southerly breeze, teams flew through their areas. Thanks to Tom & Chelsea for hiding in the bush for the dogs

Probably not what this volunteer had in mind when they signed up with the Canine Unit. Thanks for always looking for new ways to challenge our canines and handlers!

Throwback Thursday. This time two years ago when our search dogs learnt how to zoom. #tbt #sesdogs

It was a cold and wet morning when we met to put two teams through their Area Search assessment. Both teams passed with each giving an excellent performance. Cara, Rusty, Judi & Gia are now initial grade search teams. (1/2)

Both teams have put a tremendous amount of work to achieve the very high standard needed to reach assessment level. A big thank you to assessors Leonie, Zeffie and Rachael and an especially big thank you to bodies Craig and Robert. Do we look cold? (2/2)

Congratulations to Craig and Inka for passing their indication test. This is one of the checkpoints teams must pass on their way to becoming an operational team.

Ryan was presented with his section leader stripes today. He will be taking over as the Southern Section Leader from Glenys and is based in the south-west. We would also like to thank Glenys for her time as section leader for the last several years.

The unit has been busy conducting assessments over this weekend. Congratulations to the three new operational teams and one dual purpose team! Hundreds of hours of training and lots of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point.

K9 Penny and her handler passed their scent-specific tracking assessment on Saturday.

K9 Torah and her handler passed their area search assessment on Sunday.

K9 Buddy and his handler passed their area search assessment on Sunday.

K9 Ziva and her handler passed their scent-specific tracking assessment on Sunday. Ziva is already an operational area search dog and will now be able to be deployed in either capability for searches.

Bodying for our search dogs can be a tiring business 😴 But on a serious note, it’s good to challenge what the dog (and handler) perceives as normal.