State Operations Group Updates

6 May 2024

Marine Rescue NSW is expecting delivery of its remaining flood vessel and support vehicle fleet in May and June. This coincides with the delivery of remaining 2023-24 planned SOG Induction and externally run, flood-rescue specific training. This is expected to  provide MRNSW with approximately 130 fully trained and State Rescue Policy compliant On-Water Flood Rescue Operators, known in MRNSW as SOG Field Operators .  These members will be capable of deploying anywhere in the state if requested by NSWSES to provide direct on-water flood rescue or support operations capability and assist flood affected communities with any of our 16 SOG vessels, 10 support vehicles and flood-rescue specific equipment and PPE.

To date 90 members have successfully completed the Land-based flood and swift water self-rescue course, with another 39 due to complete this by June 30. These course have been delivered by our partner agencies NSW SES and F+RNSW across multiple natural environment locations from Bermagui in the south to Tweed Heads in the north, as well as Penrith White Water Stadium in Sydney.

A prerequisite for undertaking the self-rescue course has been the SOG Fit-For-Role assessments comprising swim and physical assessments. To date 114 Members have successfully completed these assessments so far and Members are encouraged to consider undertaking them if they feel up to it, regardless of their involvement in SOG. Your Unit Training Officer can assist in the scheduling of the swim tests and fitness assessments with your Zone Training Manager.

Other required trainings our SOG members undertake include the online Flood Rescue Awareness (FRA) and Electrical Safety modules which has seen a much wider uptake than expected.  So far 223 of the 339 Members enrolled have completed FRA, and 82 of the 191 enrolled have completed the Electrical Safety. If you’re a SOG member who hasn’t completed your online modules don’t delay; the sooner you do the sooner you may be Endorsed as a SOG Field Operator! If you are just interested in expanding you knowledge in this space you may enrol at any time via the Member’s Learning Portal on our web page.

Vessel Rated Members still interested in being part of the SOG should contact capability@marinerescuensw.com.au for more information on requirements and training opportunities.

5 February 2024

Marine Rescue NSW continues to develop its On-Water flood rescue capability through progression of our Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) and IRBs builds, and the recruitment and training of its State Operations Group (SOG) members.

To date, MRNSW has had 41 Members successfully complete the Perform land based swift water and flood water rescue and recovery course (PUASAR001) at Penrith White Water Stadium or an approved natural environment, with another 10 expected by the end of February.  There will be further opportunities for Members to undertake this course in coming months through to June, when courses will suspend over the winter months, recommencing in September.

In line with the State Rescue Board’s hierarchy of flood rescue response and training requirements, this course is required to be completed by all Land-based and On-Water Flood Rescue Operators (FRO).  It is therefore sometimes referred to by NSW SES as the ‘Land Based’ flood rescue course.  It is also commonly referred to as simply ‘Penrith’, though other courses such as the In-Water FRO are also conducted there.  

The Penrith course is but one of the requirements under State Rescue Policy to be deployed as an On-Water FRO.  All MPV and IRB operators (Crew and above) deployed into a flood operation will be trained to On-Water FRO level, and therefore need to undertake this once-off training. This training applies to all FROs regardless of which agency you belong to; MSW SES, NSW Police Force, Fire+Rescue NSW, RFS, etc 

Whilst the other components of SOG training continue to be refined, developed and rolled out, it is the ‘Penrith’ course that has generated most discussion, and raised some questions from interested Members and observers across our Units.

The main issues raised have been around the swimming ability and fitness level required to undertake the Penrith course and perform SOG duties, and just how physically and mentally challenging the course actually is. Questions like; Why are these assessments being introduced? Am I fit enough? Am I strong enough, Am I too old? Will I pass the course?

To place into context this course and its true value to SOG members, it should be appreciated that the operating environment for SOG members may see them performing many tasks of physical repetition or other challenges such as:

• loading and unloading during resupply operations,
• improvised launching and retrieving including winching, etc., of trailered vessels in challenging environments,
• assisting evacuated persons or animals into and off vessels,  
• recovering persons or animals from flood water (flood rescue), and if things go badly wrong,
• self-rescuing from flood water.

It is this last point that, on risk assessment by NSWSES and State Rescue Board working groups, the Penrith course is designed to provide On-Water FRO’s the skills to deal with unexpectedly finding themselves in fast flowing flood water – always a potential risk when operating in such an environment.  

There is NO age limit for attending the Penrith flood rescue course, but there are minimum standards of fitness and swimming capability.  There is also a self-appraisal on physical suitability to ensure we do not place Members at unnecessary risk of physical injury. When undertaking any higher-level physical activity there is always the potential for injury. Everyone’s individual capacity to recover from physical injury – be it a strain or worse – is informed by many factors which includes their current medical and physical health & condition, their medical and injury history, and, their age.     

What can you expect the Penrith flood rescue course to look like? Check out this video.

To support our Members in making informed personal decisions on their suitability to undertake SOG training and duties, we have rolled out the SOG Fit-For-Role Self-Assessment Declaration, the SOG Fitness Assessment and the SOG Swim Test, all of which are prerequisites for SOG Members before attending Penrith or a natural environments flood rescue course, and may be found on Otter under MR Training>SOG. These measures also provide all Members – and their MR and external agency colleagues with whom they may deploy – an assurance that they can have the same expectation of other SOG members fit-for-role capability in any deployment they encounter, or be capable of self-rescue should the need arise.

To date, over 70 members and staff have successfully completed the Fitness Assessments and Swim Tests – some of whom are not SOG members – with many expressing the benefit of the assessments to their personal their health and fitness levels and regime.

Fitness Kits have been rolled out and are now located at key SOG asset locations across the state in coming weeks; your Zone staff will be across these locations, and they may be moved about between Units to support requests.  If you are interested in knowing more or undertaking the Fitness Assessments or Swim Test, or just learning more about SOG contact your Zone staff or Capability directly at capability@marinerescuensw.com.au

16 January 2024

MRNSW continues to develop its On-Water flood rescue capability through progression of our Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) and IRBs builds, and the recruitment and training of its State Operations Group (SOG) members.

As of this Newsletter’s publication, MRNSW has had 41 Members successfully complete the Perform land based swift water and flood water rescue and recovery course (PUASAR001) at Penrith White Water Stadium or an approved natural environment, with another 10 expected by the end of February.  There will be further opportunities for Members to undertake this course in coming months through to June, when courses will suspend over the winter months, recommencing in September.

In line with the State Rescue Board’s hierarchy of flood rescue response and training requirements, this course is required to be completed by all Land-based and On-Water Flood Rescue Operators (FRO).  It is therefore sometimes referred to by NSW SES as the ‘Land Based’ flood rescue course.  It is also commonly referred to as simply ‘Penrith’, though other courses such as the In-Water FRO are also conducted there.  

The Penrith course is but one of the requirements under State Rescue Policy to be deployed as an On-Water FRO.  All MPV and IRB operators (Crew and above) deployed into a flood operation will be trained to On-Water FRO level, and therefore need to undertake this once-off training. This training applies to all FROs regardless of which agency you belong to; MSW SES, NSW Police Force, Fire+Rescue NSW, RFS, etc.  

Whilst the other components of SOG training continue to be refined, developed and rolled out, it is the ‘Penrith’ course that has generated most discussion, and raised some questions from interested Members and observers across our Units.

The main issues raised have been around the swimming ability and fitness level required to undertake the Penrith course and perform SOG duties, and just how physically and mentally challenging the course actually is. Questions like; Why are these assessments being introduced? Am I fit enough? Am I strong enough, Am I too old? Will I pass the course?

To place into context this course and its true value to SOG members, it should be appreciated that the operating environment for SOG members may see them performing many tasks of physical repetition or other challenges such as:

• loading and unloading during resupply operations,
• improvised launching and retrieving including winching, etc., of trailered vessels in challenging environments,
• assisting evacuated persons or animals into and off vessels,  
• recovering persons or animals from flood water (flood rescue), and if things go badly wrong,
• self-rescuing from flood water.

It is this last point that, on risk assessment by NSWSES and State Rescue Board working groups, the Penrith course is designed to provide On-Water FRO’s the skills to deal with unexpectedly finding themselves in fast flowing flood water – always a potential risk when operating in such an environment.  

There is NO age limit for attending the Penrith flood rescue course, but there are minimum standards of fitness and swimming capability.  There is also a self-appraisal on physical suitability to ensure we do not place Members at unnecessary risk of physical injury. When undertaking any higher-level physical activity there is always the potential for injury. Everyone’s individual capacity to recover from physical injury – be it a strain or worse – is informed by many factors which includes their current medical and physical health & condition, their medical and injury history, and, their age.     

To support our Members in making informed personal decisions on their suitability to undertake SOG training and duties, we have rolled out the SOG Fit-For-Role Self-Assessment Declaration, the SOG Fitness Assessment and the SOG Swim Test, all of which are prerequisites for SOG Members before attending Penrith or a natural environments flood rescue course. These measures also provide all Members – and their MR and external agency colleagues with whom they may deploy – an assurance that they can have the same expectation of other SOG members fit-for-role capability in any deployment they encounter, or be capable of self-rescue should the need arise.

To date, over 70 members and staff have successfully completed the Fitness Assessments and Swim Tests – some of whom are not SOG members – with many expressing the benefit of the assessments to their personal their health and fitness levels and regime.

Fitness Kits will be located at key SOG asset locations across the state in coming weeks; your Zone staff will be across these locations, and they may be moved about between Units to support requests.  If you are interested in knowing more or undertaking the Fitness Assessments or Swim Test, or just learning more about SOG contact your Zone staff or Capability directly at capability@marinerescuensw.com.au