About Us | Our History
CREST Victoria – A History of Service
1976 to 1978 – Foundations and Early Growth
The Citizens Radio Emergency Service Teams (CREST) concept began in September 1976, when a group of passionate CB radio operators met in Sydney Australia. At the time, CB operation was illegal in Australia, but the pressing need for an emergency communications service—particularly to assist motorists—was clear.
From this meeting, CREST was established. Within months, the idea had spread beyond New South Wales, including into Victoria, where local operators quickly saw the value of an organised, community-led emergency radio network. CB operators across Victoria began forming unofficial listening posts and offering relay services in remote areas long before CB was formally legalised.
The first official emergency call was handled in October 1976, setting a precedent for the type of support CREST would go on to provide.
1978 to 1988 – Legalisation and Early Expansion in Victoria
Following the legalisation of CB radio in Australia, CREST experienced rapid national growth. In Victoria, the movement quickly formalised with the support of emergency services and regional councils, particularly in remote and rural areas where radio often outperformed telephone infrastructure.
During this time, CREST Victoria built strong relationships with police, SES, and local councils—laying the groundwork for the official recognition and formal affiliations that would follow in later years.
As the national body pursued incorporation and tax-exempt status, CREST volunteers in Victoria focused on community preparedness, education, and building a sustainable monitoring and repeater infrastructure across the state.
1989 to 1990s – Victoria Responds
The 1980s and 1990s were a defining period for CREST Victoria. Although headquartered operations shifted to Canberra and New South Wales for national coordination, Victoria remained at the forefront of field activity.
When the 1989 Newcastle earthquake and 1990 Nyngan floods hit New South Wales, Victorian CREST members provided support by relaying information across state lines and helping coordinate vehicle movements through regional HF and UHF nets. This reinforced CREST’s role as a cross-border resource in times of national crisis.
In 1994, as unprecedented bushfires swept across New South Wales, CREST Victoria supported interstate emergency communications as part of a larger mutual aid response. The event demonstrated the critical need for CB communications in large-scale disasters where telephone and mobile services fail.
CREST in Victoria Today
CREST Victoria continues to monitor emergency channels 24/7, providing a free, community-based communications service across the state. With a focus on rural and remote communities, CREST Victoria plays a critical role in locations where mobile coverage is limited or unreliable—especially during bushfire season or extreme weather events.
Our volunteers are active throughout regional Victoria, assisting motorists, truck drivers, 4WD adventurers, and farmers, as well as supporting event management, emergency services, and community resilience planning.
We are currently expanding our monitoring base, improving training access, and investing in repeater infrastructure to strengthen our capacity across the High Country, Mallee, Western Districts, and Gippsland.
Training and Accreditation in Victoria
CREST Victoria upholds strict training standards to ensure our Communications Officers operate at a professional level. Each officer must:
- Complete formal training based on the CREST Standard Operating Procedures Manual
- Pass two verbal assessments and one written examination
- Demonstrate safe and effective use of UHF and HF equipment in live monitoring situations
Our procedures align with those of accredited emergency services, and our Communications Officers are trained to use closed questioning techniques to extract precise, actionable information from distressed callers.
Channels We Monitor
CREST Victoria monitors:
- UHF CB Channel 5 (Emergency Use Only)
- HF CB Channel 9 (Remote Emergency Relay)
Calls are triaged by trained Communications Officers and immediately referred to the relevant emergency service, including Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, CFA, SES, or VicRoads, depending on the nature of the emergency.
Radio Infrastructure in Victoria
CREST Victoria manages a growing network of UHF Channel 5 repeater stations. These strategically placed repeaters significantly extend coverage in rugged and remote areas, allowing messages to reach first responders even when mobile networks fail.
New repeater sites are being assessed in conjunction with local authorities and Landcare groups to improve public safety and support the Victorian Government’s emergency communications framework.
Looking Ahead – The Future of CREST Victoria
CREST Victoria is more relevant than ever. As mobile networks become saturated during emergencies, and power outages threaten digital connectivity, the resilience of CB radio becomes critical.
We continue to support:
- Travellers navigating Victoria’s vast remote highways
- Farmers and regional communities during bushfires and floods
- Emergency services during blackouts and infrastructure failures
- Community events where temporary communications hubs are required
CREST Victoria welcomes new volunteers, partners, and supporters who share our mission: to provide clear, reliable, and accessible emergency communications, wherever and whenever they are needed.
This link will help you understand more about how the emergency repeater stations work, and how to contact CREST via your radio.