Counter-terrorism training exercise puts emergency crews through their paces

After recent terrorist stabbings in Sydney and Perth, the nation is on alert to the potential threat of a future event.

And when an incident occurs - minutes and even seconds matter.

To prepare for the next potential attack, Victorian emergency crews recently put themselves through their paces as part of Operation Restormel.

Fit with a crumbling apartment building, victims, injuries and even a bomb threat, the mock terrorist incident felt anything but fake.

Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner, Eddie Lacko said the simulated attack was made to be as real as possible.

"We try and make it as real as possible that includes injuries to patients - so that on scene when it is a real situation, unfortunately those things occur, we want to make it as real as possible so it's part of the memory bank of our crews," Lacko said.

Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Luke Klein said the exercise has been a year in the making, involving more than 200 participants.

"We've got New Zealand Police, police and firies from all over the country," Klein said.

The exercise scenario operates over a period of seven to nine hours in total, spread over two days, Victoria Police Counter-Terrorism Assistant Commissioner Mick Hermans said.

"It's very important. Police response is typically very efficient for these types of offences but minutes matter and the ability to practice in a multi-agency response is extremely important," Hermans said.

Watch the full video in the player above.