Page updated: 27 November 2020
To activate a SAR resource, you need to identify the SAR resource you need and communicate with the SAR organisation responsible for the resource.
Your SAR organisation's readiness plan should include detailed information about SAR resources that are available for SAR responses. Your readiness plan should also include information on the capability of each SAR organisation.
SAR resources that should always be available include:
These resources include:
SAR resources that are always available (dedicated SAR resources) include:
You need to let the SAR organisation know that you may need the resource. You also need to let the SAR organisation know:
All requests for SAR resources should include an effect request that describes the effect you want.
If you are part of a SAR coordinating authority and you request a resource from someone at a SAR partner agency, you need to give detailed information to the SAR partner agency.
You need to let the SAR partner agency know:
When discussing the use of the SAR partner agency's resources, you need to let the SAR partner agency know:
SAR resources that are always available should be activated at the earliest opportunity. Activating dedicated SAR resources early will minimise the time between Awareness and tasking, and reduce the time it takes to mobilise the resource.
Your SAR organisation's readiness plan will contain information on situations where you can immediately activate SAR resources (so before an Incident Controller is appointed).
This will minimise the risk of too many or too few SAR resources being available for each incident.
If you request a resource from another SAR organisation, you should let the organisation know the effect you want from that resource. This will help the SAR organisation to get you the right resource.
When you ask another SAR organisation for resources, focus on the effect you want the resource to achieve. Avoid requesting a specific resource. You should send further information about the incident with the effect request.
For example, you could say 'I need a SAR resource to check the launching ramp at XYZ location to see if a car and boat trailer are still there.' This doesn't specify the resource you want. Instead, it focuses on what you want the resource to achieve.
For example, don't say 'Dispatch the North Shore incident car to the launching ramp at XYZ location to see if a car and boat trailer are still there.' This names a specific resource, not the effect you want from the resource. By naming a specific resource, you may not be requesting the best resource the organisation has available, and the resource you request may not be available at all.
SAR organisations know their resources best. They have access to their internal record system which tells them:
They'll look at all the information in your request to see if they have a suitable resource available. If they do, they will select the best resource available for the job.
SAR partner agencies have the right to decline requests if they:
SAR coordinating authorities always have the right to decline requests for operational reasons.