For over 55 years, the Perisher Volunteer Ski Patrol (PSP)(https://perisherskipatrol.org.au/who-we-are/ has been the backbone of safety in the Kosciuszko National Park, especially in the Perisher Ranges. This group of dedicated volunteers—including paramedics, fire brigade members, medical professionals, and retired paid patrollers—has tirelessly provided essential first aid, rescue, and educational services to thousands of visitors, mostly at their own expense.

Now, in a move that threatens to erode the very fabric of Australian volunteering, Vail Resorts has made the shocking decision to ban the PSP - a specialist squad of VRA Rescue NSW (Volunteer Rescue Association) from operating. This unjust action not only discredits the integrity and skill of our volunteer patrol but also places the safety of the public at significant risk.

Who is Impacted? The immediate victims are the countless visitors to the Perisher Ranges who will no longer benefit from the exceptional, volunteer-led rescue services that have been a hallmark of the region for decades. Additionally, the selfless members of the PSP, who have devoted their time to the safety and well-being of others, are being cast aside without a valid justification.

What is at Stake? The role of the Perisher Volunteer Ski Patrol goes beyond just rescue operations. It’s about community safety, education, and the preservation of a proud tradition of service that has defined this area for generations. These volunteers embody the spirit of Australian mateship, providing a sense of security and fostering a culture of mutual support that paid staff alone cannot replicate.

Eliminating the PSP is not just a loss of a service—it’s an assault on the community’s trust, unity, and shared responsibility. While Vail Resorts may increase paid patrols, they can never replace the unique personal commitment of our volunteers who have prevented countless accidents and saved lives.

Why is Now the Time to Act? The time to act is now because Vail Resorts has already begun enforcing these changes, effectively locking out the very patrollers who built and maintained these crucial rescue services. The PSP, a registered charity, has been denied access to facilities they designed, constructed and funded through government grants, public donations, and relentless fundraising efforts.

We must rally together to defend our values and protect the Perisher Volunteer Ski Patrol. We cannot stand by while a foreign corporation dismantles the long-standing tradition of volunteering that is so deeply embedded in Australian culture.

Please sign this petition to demand that Vail Resorts reverse their decision and allow the Perisher Volunteer Ski Patrol to continue their vital work in the Perisher Resort and Perisher Ranges of the Kosciuszko National Park.

PLEASE NOTE the donation request you receive is from change.org, NOT PSP. Once you’ve signed the petition, you’ll be asked to chip in. If you’d like to promote the petition, click the “Yes, I’ll chip in…” button!

Please be aware PSP does not get any of this.

It is used by change.org to promote the petition to a wider audience. You DO NOT  have to donate any funds unless you wish change.org to promote the petition further, in doing so you’re ensuring that the petition will be displayed to a wider network of people, so more people can sign it. The choice is yours, however, PSP appreciates just your signature to this petition greatly.

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