The Volunteer Marine Rescue Program

The Goal of the Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) program is to:

"DEVELOP COORDINATION AND STANDARDISATION AMONG VOLUNTEER MARINE RESCUE ORGANISATIONS IN QUEENSLAND".

The main objectives of the VMR Program are:

To increase the professionalism of VMR;
To achieve standardisation in operations and training in VMR;
To assist with the provision of added protection to members of VMR Units through service wide insurance policies;
To develop and maintain the Department of Community Safety (formerly Department of Emergency Services) Accreditation Guidelines for VMR Units, which require VMR Units and their members to meet certain minimum standards;
To develop and maintain Competency Based Training Programs which supplement the Accreditation Guidelines. Such programs are at certificate level and accredited on the national framework for the recognition of training;
To develop a closer working relationship with the Queensland Police Service - the State Search and Rescue Authority;
To coordinate State Government input into VMR policies;
To improve government funding provisions for VMR organisations;
To develop public awareness programs in conjunction with the VMR organisations; and
To review existing rescue services to identify areas of overlap and under-servicing.

The Queensland Government is responsible for ensuring adequate facilities and practices are in place for marine search and rescue. In order to fulfill its commitment, the Government realised the need for members of VMR organisations to meet minimum standards for training and operation to ensure that the most efficient and effective safety service is provided to those who utilise the marine environment in Queensland.

The Volunteer Marine Rescue Support Package (VMRSP) forms an overarching document which reflected the initiatives that have been implemented for volunteer marine operations in Queensland. The aim of the VMRSP is to promote and support partnership between the Department of Community Safety (DCS) and volunteer marine rescue organisations in providing a safer marine environment.

Other documents within the Support Package are:

Department of Emergency Services, Queensland Volunteer Marine Rescue Blue Water Accreditation Guidelines;
Department of Emergency Services, Queensland Volunteer Marine Rescue White Water Accreditation Guidelines;
Department of Emergency Services, Queensland Volunteer Marine Rescue Accreditation Administration Procedures; and
Service Agreements.

Last updated 12 May 2009