Record 12 Teams Set for First Mine Rescue Competition in Metropolitan Adelaide
WHS News · Mining
Mine rescue teams from across Australia and New Zealand will put their emergency response skills to the test in Adelaide this National Safe Work Month, with a record field and a historic first for the competition.
Key takeaways
- A record 12 teams will compete, up from just three when the event began in 2010.
- SAMERC is being held in metropolitan Adelaide for the first time, at the MFS Angle Park Training Centre, 21–23 October.
- Victoria’s ISH24 Women’s Mutual Aid Team is the first all-female team in the competition’s history.
- The event is open to the public, including the families of competing mine workers.
12
teams competing, a new record for SAMERC
9
realistic rescue scenarios, plus a theory round
4
jurisdictions represented: SA, VIC, NSW and NZ
A milestone year for SAMERC
The South Australian Mines Emergency Response Competition (SAMERC) is moving into metropolitan Adelaide for the first time, with a record 12 teams set to compete at the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) Training Centre at Angle Park from 21 to 23 October.
The competition has grown considerably since its first outing in 2010, when just three teams took part. This year also marks another milestone: Victoria’s ISH24 Women’s Mutual Aid Team will become the first all-female team to contest the event.
Nine scenarios that mirror real mine emergencies
Over three days, teams will be tested on realistic, high-pressure scenarios designed to reflect the incidents mine rescue crews may face on site:
- Surface rescue
- Road crash rescue
- Industrial rescue
- Vertical rescue
- Confined space rescue
- Mass casualty response
- Firefighting
- Breathing apparatus search and rescue
- Team skills challenge
A separate theory competition will also test teams’ technical knowledge. Teams are competing for the SAMERC Perpetual Trophy, alongside individual event awards and recognition for outstanding leadership and teamwork.
Meet the 2026 teams
South Australia & New Zealand
- BHP Olympic Dam (SA)
- BHP Carrapateena (SA)
- BHP Prominent Hill (SA)
- SIMEC Whyalla (SA)
- Hillgrove Resources, Kanmantoo Copper (SA)
- OceanaGold (New Zealand)
Victoria & New South Wales
- ISH24 Women’s Mutual Aid Team (VIC)
- Agnico Eagle, Fosterville Gold Mine (VIC)
- Aurelia Metals (VIC)
- Victory Metals, Ballarat Gold Mine (VIC)
- Metals Acquisition Limited, CSA Mine (NSW)
- Newmont, Cadia Operations (NSW)
Bringing mine rescue to the city
SAMERC is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers and backed by industry sponsors committed to emergency preparedness and mine safety. Chairman Les Allen said promoting the event to an interstate audience in Victoria earlier this year had helped attract new teams.
Our committee is getting out there and more people are wanting to participate. It is certainly becoming one of the leading competitions of its kind in Australia.
Les Allen, SAMERC Chairman
Mr Allen said the Angle Park venue, which also trains firefighters, provides an ideal setting for rescue scenarios, and its city location makes it easy for the public and participants’ families to attend. For many mining families, he noted, it is a rare chance to see what their loved ones do at work.
Why emergency preparedness matters
SafeWork SA is a Premium Sponsor of the 2026 event, alongside BHP Copper SA, Blackwoods, Byrnecut, Enaex, Fire and Safety Australia, ISH24 Safety & Rescue, Orica, and Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.
While every effort is made to prevent incidents from occurring, it is essential that mine rescue and emergency response teams are prepared to respond effectively when emergencies arise.
Glenn Farrell, Executive Director, SafeWork SA
Mr Farrell said the competition gives teams a valuable opportunity to test their skills in realistic scenarios and share best practice across the mining and resources sector. He described this year’s record participation, including the first all-female team, as a sign of the industry’s commitment to building capability, strengthening safety culture and supporting greater diversity in emergency response roles.
Event details
- When: 21–23 October 2026, during National Safe Work Month
- Where: MFS Training Centre, Angle Park (Adelaide’s western suburbs)
- Who: 12 mine rescue teams from SA, VIC, NSW and New Zealand
- Entry: Open to the public
- More info: samerc.com.au
Lessons for every workplace
You don’t need to run a mine site to learn from SAMERC. Every business has a duty to plan for emergencies. Use the competition as a prompt to check your own readiness:
- Review your emergency plan. Make sure it covers the realistic emergencies for your site, and that workers know where to find it.
- Test it, don’t just file it. Run drills and scenario exercises, then record what worked and what didn’t.
- Plan high-risk rescues in advance. Work in confined spaces or at heights needs rescue and first aid arrangements in place before the job starts.
- Keep skills current. First aid, fire warden and emergency response training fades without regular practice.
- Involve your HSRs and workers. The people doing the work are best placed to spot gaps in your emergency arrangements.
Source: SafeWork SA, Record number of rescue teams to compete in Adelaide (9 September 2026). For more information about the competition, visit samerc.com.au.
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