Information

In Queensland, Australia, there are currently two groups which provide on-water rescue and assistance.  The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (AVCG) is one of these and they have a network of bases strategically located along the Queensland Coast.  Daily they provide assistance to their members and other boaters in need.  A requirement of our laws is that their operations are conducted under commercial standards as opposed to recreational.  This means their vessel are commercially registered and the crews need to be commercially trained.

To facilitate this training, the AVCG has been registered as a Training Organisation allowing them to conduct various courses toward obtaining qualifications recognised.  All commercial crews in Australia are required to have at very least training that is the equivalent of "Elements of Shipboard Safety" also called "Occupational, Health & Safety at Sea".  AVCG conduct this course which is Nationally recognised.

The Brisbane AVCG, QF2, recently conducted a course for new members.  The course was conducted over several nights, and two full days.  About twelve 'recruits' attended and the course covered things such as; Facility layout and Operations, the AVCG policy, guidelines and charter, how to increase your chance of survival in the water, how to select and use portable fire extinguishers, how and when to use a range of flares, and of course practical sessions.

The ESS course needs to accommodate people who have never been to sea, as it forms the basis for all other training.  At the end of the day members, and their skippers, can be confident that in an emergency the team will have a better chance of dealing with it and surviving.  The course relates to the operators vessel, however provides a good understanding to allow members to appreciate what may need to be done on a vessel in distress under direction of their more experienced skippers.

Highlights of the course were seeing members who had never fired a flare before, actually 'pop' them in controlled circumstances.  The actual 'in-water' activities also provided some anxiety, but provides the benefit of knowing that you can survive if you need to in the water without your boat.

The members who complete this course are accepted as probationary members of AVCG and are assigned a roster.  They then enrol in further courses offered by AVCG, so that they can be more useful to the organisation.