Located on approximately 40 hectares on the outskirts of Ballan, the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre - Central Highlands is a versatile Emergency Services Training Facility that uses LPG as its sole fuel source for live-fire scenarios. This makes the site efficient, and environmentally responsible, while still providing the realism needed to prepare personnel for a wide range of Emergency situations.
VEMTC Central Highlands supports comprehensive programs across fire and rescue, incident management, teamwork, and multi-agency exercises. Its purpose-built grounds and controlled environments allow for both routine skill development and complex, scenario-based training that reflects the real-world challenges Emergency Services face.
Centrally located, the site is easily accessible for both Metropolitan and Regional attendees, making it an ideal hub for ongoing capability building. By choosing VEMTC Central Highlands, organisations gain access to a facility that combines safety, flexibility, and realism - ensuring their people return to service with the confidence, teamwork, and expertise to perform at their best.
Take a tour
Take this interactive tour to get a closer look at the campus.
Campus Features
Facility features
19 props spread across three Practical Areas for drills (PADS), an offroad Driving Area and an enclosed Safe Working at Heights Prop.
Classroom facilities
- Conference room – 20 Students
- Classroom 1 - 20 Students
- Classroom 2 - 20 Students
- Classroom 1 and 2 -Joined Accommodating 80 Students
- Classroom 3 - Theatre Style 30 Students
- Classroom 4 - Theatre Style 30 Students
Gas Pad
A number of complex fire scenarios requiring a range of diverse skills:
- Road Tanker
- Running Drain
- Service Station
- Domestic Cylinders
- Gas Meter Leak
- Gas Rupture/Impingement Shield
- Horizontal/Vertical Bullet
- Loading Dock – Fat Boy Gas Cylinder
- Loading Dock – Office
- Skip Bin
Extinguisher Pad
Multiple props which can be plugged into an underground gas area and ignited to provide a range of live fires:
- Car
- Circular Pit/Island Prop
- Flam Trays
- Flexible Prop Point – Car, Kitchen Stove, Letter Box, Plane, BBQ
- Skip Bin
- Spoon Drain
Structure Pad
Low structure and Multi-storey buildings, including a commercial kitchen and flash over fire scenario providing experience at a range of skills levels for:
- BA Search and Rescue
- Break and Enter
- Draughting Pit
- Low Structure House
- Multi storey Building
- Portable Gas Caddy
- Power Line Prop
- Single Storey House
- Skip Bin
- Solar Panel Prop
- Workshop/Compound
Off-Road Driver Training Areas
Multi four-wheel driving scenarios replicate requirements to meet national competencies, as well as outcomes from various coronial enquiries that resulted from various off road driving incidents including:
- Water crossing
- Sand crossing
- Driving over rough and uneven ground
- Driving through mud
- Stopping and starting on steep gradients; and
- Cross slope capability
Safe Working at Heights
- Safe Working at Heights Training
- Safe Working at Heights Skills Maintenance
- Low Voltage Fuse Removal Training
- Low Voltage Fuse Removal Skills Maintenance, and
- Ladder Training & Skills Maintenance
BA maintenance
Forcible entry prop
Gas PAD bullets
Low structure
Single story structure
Multi-story structure
Service station
Offsite support to brigades
The following resources are available for Brigades / Members offsite training by submitting a request through the Offsite booking form.
D15 BA trailer including:
2 classic sets
2 electronic sets
10 BA cylinders
3 dummies
Smoke machine (incl. 1ltr of fluid) |
D07 BA trailer including:
8 classic sets
16 BA cylinders
2 dummies
Smoke machine (incl. 1ltr of fluid) |
| General rescue trailer |
Rope rescue trailer 1 |
| Rope rescue trailer 2 |
LVFR2 trailer |
| Gas suits (6 available) |
Splash suits (6 available) |
| Driver training vehicle (Automatic) |
Driver training vehicle (Manual) |
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How to find us
Page last updated: Monday, 8 September 2025 4:45:40 PM