OPS Support

operations support

Elevate your lifesaving skills

Operations Support also plays a vital role in coordinating responses to major incidents, ensuring seamless communication and support during emergencies.

RESCUE WATERCRAFT

Operations Support also plays a vital role in coordinating responses to major incidents, ensuring seamless communication and support during emergencies.

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The State Operations and Communication Centre (SOCC)

SOCC is the backbone to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s frontline services, keeping beachgoers safe & ensures the safety of lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers.

The SOCC operates 365 days of the year and is operated by both staff and volunteers. It is supported on weekends and public holidays during the patrol season by the Sunshine Coast SurfCom which is manned solely by volunteers.

For those looking to elevate their lifesaving skills and contribute even further, Surf Life Saving Queensland offers a range of specialized Operations Support services across the state. These dedicated services play a crucial role in enhancing beach safety, providing additional patrols in high-risk and unpatrolled coastal areas.

Operations Support also plays a vital role in coordinating responses to major incidents, ensuring seamless communication and support during emergencies. Additionally, the service provides after-hours call-out assistance to local police and emergency services, reinforcing our commitment to protecting the community beyond standard patrol hours. Whether responding to critical situations or extending coverage to remote locations, Operations Support is an essential part of keeping Queensland’s coastline safe.

If one of the below operations sparks your interest, click the dropdown to learn more!

RESCUE WATER CRAFT

Looking for the next challenge? Give your rescue skills a high-octane boost, and save lives as a Rescue Water Craft operator.

The Rescue Water Craft Operator or RWC (jetski) service works closely with on-beach lifesavers to conduct roving patrols, surveillance and rescue missions along the coastline. As an RWC operator, you will use your training and skills to manage and operate this vital piece of lifesaving equipment to watch over and protect beachgoers.

Requirements

RWC Operators must:

be a minimum of 18 years of age on the date of final assessment, and
hold a current marine licence.
Works Based assessment + Fitness assessment
Personal Water Craft License
Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) (Bronze Medallion)
Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (HLTAID015 or equivalent).
Provide First Aid (HLTAID011 or its successor or equivalent).
C Class drivers license (or interstate equivalent)

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State Operations Communications Centre (SOCC) Operators

The State Operations and Communication Centre (SOCC) is the backbone to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s frontline services.

Not only does it assist in keeping beachgoers safe but it also ensures the safety of lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers.

Operator Prerequisites:

• Be a minimum of 16 years old;
• Completion of a works based assessment
• SLSA Bronze Medallion or a SLSA Radio Operators certificate;
• Minimum 25 hour over the last 3 patrolling seasons. Or other experience as deemed acceptable OCS.

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Contact Details:

Address: 178 Hedges Avenue Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Phone: 07 5631 7400
Email: socc@lifesaving.com.au

DUTY OFFICERS

A unique and exciting opportunity to work in high pressure situations as major incidents unfold. Your communication skills will be put to the test as a key coordinator of emergency services and volunteer personnel working together to effect an outcome.

The Duty Officer role is a voluntary position, primarily performing rostered duty across SLSQ’s designated patrol season. The position is designed to use suitably qualified members to enhance delivery of lifesaving services across South East Queensland.

Duty Officers provide vital support to surf life saving clubs and patrol captains each weekend, ensuring that services are rolled out effectively and efficiently across South East Queensland. As a Duty Officer, you will be responsible for liaising with a wide range of key stakeholders including clubs, patrol captains & their patrol groups, emergency service organisations, SurfCom operators, individual members and media outlets to ensure that beach-goers are offered maximum protection and the best possible outcome is achieved for all parties.

Requirements

Duty Officers must:

Be a minimum of 18 years of age; and
Have completed a minimum of five years patrol experience.
You must also hold the following: SLSA Radio Operators Certificate, SLSA Bronze Medallion, Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (ART) Certificate, SLSA Apply First Aid Certificate, SLSA Silver Medallion Basic Beach Management Award, open driver’s licence & SLSQ 4WD endorsement and a valid Blue Card.

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WESTPAC LIFESAVER RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE

SLSQ’s Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service is manned by both fulltime and volunteer crew members. This structure ensures a rich blend of experience across the service, while also providing a clear pathway for volunteer surf lifesavers to up-skill and transfer their patrol experience from the beach to the sky. Helicopter crew members are highly trained, qualified and motivated members of the surf lifesaving movement. Helicopter crew can be both part-time or fulltime, depending on the requirements of the service and the individual.

The service is also used for emergency response, searches and rescues, working in conjunction with emergency service organisations including the Queensland Police Service, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and Queensland Fire & Emergency Services.

Key roles performed include:

Sea-based search and rescue, delivered through coastal surveillance patrols
Land search and rescue
Fire service support
Winch rescues and Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) tasks
Disaster response deployment when required

As with each of the 13 Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter bases across Australia, the Queensland services work out of the Carrara and Caloundra bases. This is a free service to our community. No one has ever been charged to be rescued.

REQUIREMENTS

Anyone applying for a casual crew position, as an aircrew person or rescue crew person with the helicopter service must:

be a financial member of a surf life saving club
be recommended by the club for duties on the helicopter
hold a current SLSA Bronze Medallion (or higher)
have completed a minimum of three (3) years patrol service or be approved by the Chief Pilot and helicopter advisor
be a minimum of 21 years of age at the date of application
have an acceptable body weight
hold a current Senior First Aid certificate or equivalent
hold a current Advanced Resuscitation Techniques Certificate
hold a current open driver’s licence
hold an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) drivers licence
provide an initial medical certificate of fitness similar to the criteria of the certificate required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for a student pilot licence
be able to pass the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service fitness test

The crew fitness test applies to all helicopter crew personnel (except pilots and specialist crew where the role does not require them to enter the water).

Crew fitness testing requirements include:

Run 2.4km in 12 minutes
Swim 500 metres in 11 minutes (wearing fins, wetsuit & harness)
Patient recovery swim, 300 metres in 10 minutes (wearing fins, wetsuit & harness). This comprises a 50 metre swim, dive to bottom of pool, recover patient & return with patient 50 metres (must be completed 3 times).
Strength: 30 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, 10-second arm flex (hold weight with elbows bent to 90 degrees only. Knees raised to 90 degrees perpendicular to torso)
Survival: 12 minutes tread water in flight suit/overalls (initial applicants only)
Total time: the test must be completed in entirety within a 2-hour window.

Testing is undertaken on initial application and at least one test every six (6) months (individual crew members may be tested at any time) or after a serious illness or injury has occurred.

EXTRA REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

DRONES

SLSQ utilise UAVs with the SharkSmart Patrols at 10 locations around Queensland in Partnership with the Queensland Government. We also conduct safety flights for events and can assist with Search and Rescue Operations in Emergencies.

UAVs provide a birds-eye-view of a large area to enhance surveillance. With developments in technologies, the cameras on some of our UAVs have strong zoom functions and infrared capabilities that can help with Search and Rescue operations.

SLSQ aims to enhance drone capabilities in training and government programs, expand the volunteer club drone program, and improve the search and rescue operations to strengthen the emergency response division.

Drone Operators Prerequisites:

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age
• Be a current financial and proficient member of a Surf Life Saving Queensland affiliated Surf Life Saving Club
• Have completed a minimum of three years SLS beach patrol service
• Have no limiting disabilities
• Hold a current vehicle driver’s license
• Have a current Working with Children Check
• ARN (Aviation Reference Number)
• Be proficient in the minimum awards as outlined above

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Our Pilots require a CASA Remote Pilot’s Licence (RePL) and then complete additional training with SLSQ to adhere to our policies and procedures. SLSQ Pilots are trained by our own (CASA Approved Training Academy): Uncrewed Aviation Australia.

More Information

operations support

Elevate your lifesaving skills

RESCUE WATERCRAFT

The State Operations and Communication Centre (SOCC)

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