Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) owns and operates its own wide-area digital radio network to enable instant communication between all of its operational personnel. SLSQ maintains coverage from Port Douglas in North Queensland to Point Danger on the Gold Coast.

PURPOSE
To outline club/service radio communications requirements for lifesaving operations in QLD

POLICY STATEMENT
All clubs/services/branches shall meet the SLSQ radio/communication requirements when undertaking lifesaving operations, including:
− SLSQ approved radio equipment (types/models)
− SLSQ approved radio frequencies (channels)
− Coordinating through SLSQ approved SurfCom’s

• All SLS clubs/services/branches shall utilise and operate within the SLSQ approved radio network. No service shall undertake lifesaving operations on alternative networks or establish their own alternative radio communications networks unless authorised by SLSQ.
• All Surf Life Saving clubs/services in QLD shall utilise an SLSQ endorsed SurfCom communications/coordination centre for lifesaving operations. No Surf Life Saving service shall implement their own ‘SurfCom type’ entity without the authorisation of SLSQ.
• SLSQ radio frequencies are licensed and managed by SLSQ. No Surf Life Saving service in QLD shall apply for or implement frequencies through the ACMA for lifesaving operations outside of the SLSQ frequency plan.
• All SLSQ radios shall be serviced regularly by a licensed and SLSQ endorsed technician/service agent.
• Only SLSQ approved, licensed agents/service technicians may service or program SLS radios.
• All services must be contactable via radio if conducting lifesaving operations within regular patrol areas.
• All SLSQ radios must meet the minimum SLSQ radio specifications as outlined in this document.
• Only approved club/service officers/personnel (current members/lifeguards/staff) shall utilise and operate lifesaving radio equipment and monitor lifesaving frequencies. External partner agencies/stakeholders shall require written permission to hold, use or monitor SLSQ radio frequencies.

PURPOSE
To outline minimum radio specifications for SLS radios used in QLD.

DEFINITIONS

POLICY STATEMENT
1. Only SLSQ approved radio makes or models shall be utilised for lifesaving operations.
2. Radios for lifesaving operations shall be purchased only from SLSQ approved suppliers/dealers and must be Australian type-approved radios.
3. Only SLSQ approved radio service agents shall be authorised to service or program SLSQ radios.
4. Radios shall only have the SLSQ schedule of radio frequencies/channels programmed into them (additional frequencies must have SLSQ written approval and subsequent records updated on the SLSQ frequency schedule).
5. No one other than authorised SLSQ personnel shall provide SLSQ frequencies to other parties. No other radios other than SLSQ radios shall hold SLSQ frequencies without SLSQ approval in writing.
6. External services with authorisation to hold SLS frequencies shall reapply to SLSQ annually.
7. Clubs/services shall service all radio equipment regularly.
8. Only those ‘special functions’ approved by SLSQ and provided to endorsed radio suppliers/service agents shall be activated on SLS radios.
9. SLS services shall utilise only radios which meet the following specifications to ensure optimal working ability within the SLSQ radio network for lifesaving operations.

PURPOSE
To outline the recommended maintenance procedures for SLS radios.

POLICY STATEMENT
All radio equipment shall be regularly serviced by an SLSQ endorsed service agent – to ensure the integrity of equipment and lifesaving service provision.

Radio Programming/Frequencies
All radios shall be programmed only by SLSQ endorsed licensed technician/agent as per SLSQ specifications and allocations. Radio frequencies schedules are maintained by SLSQ and are provided only to approved radio service agents. They shall not be provided to other clubs/services or other bodies/ persons. No alterations to radio programming shall be undertaken without SLSQ authorisation – to ensure adherence to licenses and to ensure radio channels are correctly documented (SLSQ).

Club and Branches must ensure that radios are kept in an appropriate condition so that services can operate effectively.

PURPOSE
To outline SLSQ parameters of radio use in lifesaving operations.

POLICY STATEMENT
Use of radio codes is not mandatory for lifesaving operations, but if used, shall adhere to the following.

PROCEDURE
• Users must utilise prowords wherever possible, keeping transmissions concise.
• If in any doubt, services/personnel should always revert to standard English (clear and concise sentences).

PROWORDS

Duress Alarms
• Radio Duress should be activated when members are in immediate danger or seek urgent assistance in an endangering situation or when members feel threatened or unsafe by interacting with the public.
• All members should feel assured that an appropriate response will be triggered in their activating a duress alarm.
• Members must not advise all clear unless they can visibly see that the associated radio members are safe.
• All duress alarms should be treated as legitimate until demonstrated false.

General Rules
• Do not transmit personal information over the network
• Do not use the radio for social conversation
• Listen before transmitting, ensure you do not cut off higher priority messages
• Never use poor language/profanities
• Cease comms when told to standy unless urgent

Chanel Usage
• Members should remain contactable on repeater channels whenever on patrol.
• Roving services should remain on repeater channels, especially when out of site of the Patrol.
• If a patrolling member wishes to talk in depth about a local issues they may switch to a local (simplex) or chat channel. Once the conversation is completed they will switch back to the repeater channel.

REFERENCE
Radio Guide
Channel Guide

Training Exercises
Surfcom must be notified via phone before conducting exercise over live radio channels.
Training Exercises must be prefixed with:
All Stations, please be advised we will be conducting a training exercise located at [Location]. This is estimated to last approximately ten minutes.
Training exercises must be finalised with the following transmission:
All Stations, be advised the training exercise at [Location] is now complete.
If simulating a serious scenario please transmit “Practise, Practise, Practise” before starting scenario.
Example: Practise, Practise, Practise – SurfCom this is Burleigh Patrol we have a …

NOTE: If you require assistance during the training exercise, use the term “No Duff” this tells SurfCom that there is a real incident occurring during a training exercise.

PURPOSE
To ensure a consistent and standardised form of communication across QLD, the following call signs are used by and for all radio communications.

PROCEDURE
Callsign: ‘SurfCom’ – All communication Centres

Club

Additional units assigned numbers. i.e. “[Club Name] IRB 1” and “[Club Name] IRB 2.”

Lifeguards

Duty Officers

I.e., Brisbane 10 is the Duty Officer in command in Brisbane

State

Helicopter/s

Additional Units

PURPOSE
To outline the process and roles/responsibilities of lifesaving services and service providers in resolving radio network issues.

POLICY STATEMENT
A fully operational and effective radio network is essential to the provision of lifesaving services across the state. The resolution of radio problems must be undertaken in a coordinated manner to achieve the most time-efficient and effective outcome.

PROCEDURE
Radio Network Responsibilities
The following parts of the radio network are managed by the following parties:
a) Base sets, handheld radios – Clubs/Services/Lifeguards
b) Operation Support Handheld Radios, Vehicle Radios – SLSQ
c) SurfCom facilities/equipment – SLSQ
d) Radio Network Repeaters/VOIP – SLSQ
e) Radio Frequencies – SLSQ
f) Radio Network SOPs/Procedures – SLSQ

RADIO NETWORK MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE
1. A service identifies a problem with their radios.
2. Lifesaving service undertakes radio checks within its own area on at least 2 handhelds and or base set.
3. Lifesaving service undertakes radio checks with SurfCom.
4. Lifesaving service records the results of these radio checks and advises an authorised person. (Club Captain, Radio Officer, Lifeguard or Services Supervisor, Service Coordinator)
5. Authorized Person provides details to the State Operation Centre at socc@lifesaving.com.au or via the phone at 07 5631 7400.
6. State operation Centre adds to maintenance register and relays to contact as appropriate.