LS10.3 RESPONSIBLE SAR AUTHORITY

Section: LS10 SAR Operations

Date: 20th September 2016

Purpose

To outline the responsible search and rescue authority.

Policy

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Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) provides the following search and rescue authority information for lifesaving service personnel.

Purpose

There are two levels of SAR response in Australia:

1. The Commonwealth level through AusSAR and the ADF; and

2. The State/Territory level through the Police.

Volunteer organisations such as Surf Life Saving work in close liaison with State Police and the Police retain overall SAR control in their jurisdiction.

It is common for a number of agencies to contribute to one SAR operation. In such circumstances it is vital that one agency has overall ‘control’ and other agencies involved cooperate with this agency to produce the best response possible within available resources.

Determination of Responsible Authority

In practice, the first agency to become aware of a distress situation is obliged to respond until the appropriate SAR authority with overall coordination responsibility is in a position to assume that responsibility. It is imperative that the appropriate SAR Authority is notified as soon as possible.

From time to time SAR operations may be commenced independent of a SAR authority. Once a relevant SAR authority is alerted to the incident it is their responsibility to coordinate the activities of the responding assets in order that the integrity of the search is maintained.

For lifesaving services this is evident and common through regular patrol duties and in emergency response situations where it is a period of time before NSW Police are on-scene.

Responsibility for SAR coordination and direction may be transferred between SAR authorities, whenever more accurate knowledge of the missing person or distressed craft’s position or movements comes to hand, or when it becomes apparent that a SAR authority other than the one initiating the action is more favourably placed to assume responsibility. This may be due to better communications, closer proximity to the area of search or more readily available facilities.