Presidents Message

2026 VPESG Presidents Message

As President of the Victoria Police Games Federation (VPGF), it is my pleasure to invite all police and emergency services personnel to participate in the 2026 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games, which will be held across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

For those of us working in the emergency services sector, maintaining a healthy balance between work, family, friends, and personal wellbeing can be challenging. The Games provide an invaluable opportunity to prioritise physical and mental health, reconnect with colleagues, build new friendships, and enjoy the unique sense of community that has become a hallmark of this event.

In 2026, we celebrate the 45th year of the Games, featuring 40 sports and more than 175 events, with approximately 3,000 participants competing across age groups ranging from 18 to 80 years and over. It is pleasing to see participation numbers remain strong, and we look forward to welcoming even more competitors across all sports.

I extend my congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2025 Games. The outstanding sportsmanship, camaraderie, and support shown between agencies highlighted the true value of the Games and reinforced their importance to our emergency services community.

The VPGF Committee, our stakeholders, and our dedicated event coordinators are already working hard to deliver another successful Games in 2026. Building on the successful introduction of Pickleball in 2025, we continue to explore opportunities to bring new and exciting sporting experiences to participants with a sporting hub in Ballarat to host several sports.

I also acknowledge and sincerely thank our valued corporate partners for their continued support. Gold sponsors ESSSuper, and silver sponsors APS Benefits Group, and BankVic remain committed supporters of the Games, and their contributions play an important role in ensuring the ongoing success of this event.  We are also excited to announce and welcome a new additional gold sponsor in Kinetic IT and thank them for their commitment.

To the Chiefs, CEOs, senior executives, and leaders of our participating agencies, thank you for your ongoing encouragement of staff to engage in activities that support their health, wellbeing, and professional connections.

Most importantly, the Games are about bringing people together. They provide an opportunity for members from across our participating agencies to compete, connect, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes this event so special. Whether you register to compete, join a team, encourage a colleague, or volunteer your time, every contribution helps strengthen the success of the Games.

I look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games and encourage everyone to get involved in what promises to be another memorable year of competition, friendship, and fun.