Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR)

A national centre was established by the Federal Government in 1997 for coordination of Australia's civil search and rescue (SAR) activities. Australia, as a signatory to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, and the Convention on International Civil Aviationis responsible for search and rescue over a vast area of the Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has merged the former aviation SAR responsibilities of Air Services Australia with its' own maritime SAR responsibilities to a centralised Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Airservices formerly operated aviation search and rescue coordination centres in Melbourne and Brisbane responsible for civil aircraft operating within the Australian SAR region (53 million square kilometres - over one-tenth of the earth's surface). AMSA coordinated maritime rescues, over the same area.

When announcing the establishment of the new centre, the then Minister for Transport and Regional Development said the effectiveness relied on the successful coordination of a wide range of Federal, State and Territory agencies including the Defence and Police Forces as well as industry and volunteer rescue groups.

Operational and management structures have been consolidated into the new centre to bring a unified, strategic focus to Australia's civil search and rescue operations.

AusSAR will strengthen Australia's already formidable international reputation in search and rescue. The new centre has a staff of about 60 and operates 24 hours a day utilising the latest satellite distress and communications technology.

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are the prime source of distress alerts. Using the international COSPAS-SARSAT satellite-aided search and rescue system, AusSAR greatly improves the early detection of distress signals and the chances of saving lives.

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Further information

Postal Address:

Australian Search and Rescue
GPO Box 2181
Canberra City ACT 2601
Australia

Location:

Australian Search and Rescue
Level 3
25 Constitution Avenue
Canberra City ACT 2601
Australia

Phone: (02) 6279 5777
Fax: (02) 6279 5757

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last updated: 13 May 2003