National search and rescue engagement

The National Search and Rescue (NATSAR) Council is a cooperative body responsible for national search and rescue response arrangements in Australia.

The annual meeting of the NATSAR Council allows State and Territory SAR authorities to meet and discuss relevant issues within the SAR community, and to develop common operational protocols and standard operating procedures.

We facilitate the role of Chair and provides the secretariat function.

Read more about the NATSAR Council.

We host the AMSA SAR Consultative Forum annually.

Members represent commercial and recreational organisations from the maritime, aviation and land environments actively involved in the national SAR service.

The AMSA SAR Consultative Forum provides a fundamental link between members and AMSA to discuss:

• current activities
• topical issues
• key developments occurring in the greater Australian community.

The forum proactively engages the main user groups of the SAR system and creates opportunities for feedback.

This helps us understand what is happening in the industry and assist with service delivery. It allows us to communicate relevant updates and information to the industry.

ANZSBEG was established in 1994 following a national review by us into safe recreational boating and boating safety education.

The objective of the group is to:

• identify national safe boating issues
• address issues through coordinated public education strategies
• provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

The group brings together:

• organisations responsible for implementing government policy on boating safety
• organisations responsible for implementing national/ international training standards
• small craft search and rescue organisations
• organisations with direct communication links with the recreational boater.

The members of ANZSBEG are representatives of:

• State and Northern Territory government boating authorities
• AMSA
• Maritime New Zealand
• Yachting Australia
• Boating Industries Alliance Australia
• Bureau of Meteorology
• Australian Communications and Media Authority
• Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia.

The Chair, administration and secretariat functions for the group’s bi-annual meetings are determined by agreement.

Read more about ANZSBEG

The Australian and New Zealand SAR Conference brings together leading search and rescue practitioners to discuss the challenges of preparing, deploying and operating search and rescue services.

This conference is dedicated to advancing effective and integrated search and rescue capabilities.

Read more about the  Australian and New Zealand SAR Conference