International Maritime Rescue Federation Australia Regional Seminar and Women In SAR course wraps

by Marine Rescue NSW 27 Aug 21:16 BST

Sonia Teston on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Port Jackson 31 following the on water exercise © Marine Rescue NSW

The International Maritime Rescue Federation's (IMRF) Women in Search and Rescue (SAR) training course and IMRF Australia Regional Seminar has just been completed following five successful days in Sydney.

Marine Rescue Port Macquarie volunteer Alison Cameron-Brown and Marine Rescue Merimbula's Sonia Teston were selected to attended the training.

150 guests attended the two-day IMRF Australia Regional Seminar at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Below are key details of the Women in SAR and Regional Seminar.

This exclusive training session forms part of the IMRF's Women In SAR initiative, launched in June 2019, which aims to increase the representation of women in the maritime sector generally and to provide support for, and raise the profile of, women in the maritime SAR sector specifically.
Fifteen female participants (2 from Marine Rescue NSW - Alison Cameron-Brown Marine Rescue Port Macquarie and Sonia Teston Marine Rescue Merimbula), representing 10 search and rescue organisations from eight countries (Ireland, Estonia, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and SOS Mediterranee) took part in the intensive three-day Women in SAR course, which was held outside the northern hemisphere for the first time.
This is the third time Women in SAR has been held
The Women in SAR training is a landmark opportunity for women in maritime search and rescue to advance their leadership and communication skills as they progress through the ranks
For female coxswains, or those working towards that role, it offers hands-on experience in mission handling, vessel operations, and unit leadership.
Participants took part in both facilitated classroom sessions and practical exercises on Marine Rescue NSW vessels, including an offshore search and rescue drill off Sydney Heads.
The Women in SAR course was facilitated at Marine Rescue Middle Harbour and at the Australian Institute of Police Management, Manly.
All Women In SAR participants then attended the IMRF Australia Regional Seminar, at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Darling Point which was attended by 150 delegates from Australian and International organisations.
Speakers at the Regional Seminar included
Jacob Tas - Chair IMRF and CEO The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM)
Kaylene Dale - CEO Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Caroline Jupe, CEO, IMRF
Jo Fisher, Principal Advisor, Response Division, Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Jaakko Heikkilä, International Programme Manager, IMRF
Joe McNulty, Commander, Marine Area Command, NSW Police Force
Nico Stadeler, Managing Director, German Maritime Search and Rescue Service
Cia Sjöstedt, Vice Chair, IMRF & Former CEO Swedish Sea Rescue Service
Rongjun Zhang, Deputy Director-General of Donghai Rescue Bureau of China Rescue and Salvage
Tony Wulff, Chief Officer, Marine Rescue Queensland
Dr Paul Luckin, Medical Advisor to Police Search and Rescue & SAR Training Australia Medical Consultant
Steph Weisse and Elliott Foote, survivors, surfers lost at sea for 36 hours in Indonesia
Clay Evans Retired Canadian Coast Guard
Trevor Arnold, Manager Operations and Safety, Public Safety Training Group
John Martin ONZM, Group Business Development, The Whiskey Project Group
Damien Weber, General Manager at FLIR Maritime Asia Pty Ltd (t/a Raymarine)
Dallas Hersey and Matthew Bergmansons, Suzuki Marine
Mike Hammond, Superintendent, Marine Rescue NSW
David Lange, Associate Professor & Fire Safety Engineering, University of QLD
Jori Nordström, CEO, Finnish Lifeboat Institution

Marine Rescue Port Macquarie Deputy Unit Commander Alison Cameron-Brown during the on water exercise - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Topics discussed at the seminar included:

The Future Maritime Search and Rescue (MSAR) landscape around Australia and the world
MSAR at an agency level with a focus on funding, capability, vessel design initiatives and organisation reform to better serve community
Medical factors affecting survival in water
Special guest speakers, Elliott Foote and Steph Weisse - They were in Indonesia on a surfing trip to the remote Banyak Islands in Sumatra in 2023 celebrating Elliot's birthday with friends Will Teagle and Jordan Short when their boat encountered severe weather and capsized, leaving the group stranded at sea and wondering when or if, help would arrive.
Mass rescue operations
Private sector innovation - training, vessel design, technology and propulsion
Adapting to new boating technologies
Battery fires at sea
Sustainability