Our Name
Our group is called MARINE RESCUE BUSSELTON
What we do!
Marine Rescue Busselton is an approved volunteer marine rescue organisation providing a service to the boat users of Geographe Bay.
The primary objective of Marine Rescue Busselton is KEEPING THE BAY SAFE for for all boat users, whether they be:
- Big or small
- Powered, sailed; or paddled
- Private or commercial
Our Mission
Our mission is to minimise the potential for lives to be lost within the Geographe Bay area by providing prompt response to boat users in need of assistance.
The type of assistance that is offered includes:
- Search and rescue
- Towing disabled vessels into the boat ramp
- Medical evacuations
- Assisting with firefighting
- Assisting helicopter rescue operations
Other “safety at sea” activities Marine Rescue Busselton is also involved in, includes assisting with the safety aspects related to:
- Yachting regattas
- Outrigger races
- Busselton Jetty Swim
- Ironman WA
- Whale rescues
- Firework displays from the Busselton Jetty
Relationship to DFES
Marine Rescue Busselton is one part of the emergency services in Western Australia that includes:
- All Marine Rescue groups across the state of WA
- Bushfire Service (BFS)
- Fire and Rescue Service (FRS)
- State Emergency Service (SES)
- Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services (VFES)
- Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS)
Marine Rescue Busselton and all of the above groups, come under the umbrella of the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services, commonly known as DFES.
Marine Rescue Groups in WA
There are 39 Marine Rescue WA groups situated along Western Australia’s 13,000 kilometre coastline from Rockingham in the west to Esperance in the south to Kununurra in the north, including Christmas and Cocos (Keeling ) Islands, all with one central aim: “to protect and save lives at sea.”
Other Marine Rescue groups based near Busselton are:
- Dunsborough: Marine Rescue Naturaliste, located at Quindalup, Dunsborough
- Bunbury: Marine Rescue Bunbury, located at Casuarina Harbour, Bunbury
- Margaret River: Marine Rescue Margaret River, located at 1-3 Salter Place, Gracetown
- Augusta: Marine Rescue Augusta, located at Augusta Boat Harbour, Leeuwin Rd, Augusta
Dunsborough
Bunbury
Margaret River
Augusta
Area of Responsibility
The primary area of operation for the group is the Busselton area of Geographe Bay which is generally defined as north of Peppermint Grove Beach to Siesta Park but there is liaison with both Marine Rescue Naturaliste and Marine Rescue Bunbury to ensure all Geographe Bay is covered.
Our Location
The Marine Rescue Busselton operations are managed from a building that sits on Geographe Bay Rd, next to the Georgette St beach boat ramp. The building is commonly called “Marine House”
889 Geographe Bay Road, Busselton
How do we operate?
Volunteer Organisation
We are a totally volunteer, incorporated organisation. A management committee is elected each year by the financial members, at the AGM. The group operates under a constitution and standing orders that is electronically available to all members.
The management committee consists of:
- Commander (Chair of the management committee)
- Vice Commander (Vice Chair of the management committee and Commander of Operations)
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- General committee members (5), including:
- New Member Liaison
- Safety Officer
- Training Officer
- Maintenance Officer
- PPE/Uniform Officer
Support from DFES
We operate under the auspices of DFES who provide and set standards on:
- Values and ethics
- Technical advice
- Training
- Financial assistance
Training courses and competency standards are generally set by DFES but must meet the requirements of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), with the aim of having a standard approach across Australia.
Funding for major capital items such as vessels, radar, radios etc – is assisted through funding from DFES as are general operational/running costs.
Internal Lines of Reporting
When carrying out operational duties on the rescue vessels, all crew are responsible to the skipper of that rescue vessel. The skipper is responsible to the Vice Commander - Operations.
A volunteer working in the Control Room is also ultimately responsible to the Vice Commander – Operations.
External Lines of Reporting
All Marine Rescue groups within WA, including the Busselton group – report to DFES.
There is a requirement to follow DFES training standards and overall protocols, which also relate to the other emergency organisations in the State.
On a general operational level however, any given member of the Busselton group will generally not be impacted by the requirements of DFES, and as mentioned elsewhere, they will follow the directions of their skipper and carry out their duties within their training.
Ethics & Values
DFES do dictate a number of policies and protocols to be followed by all emergency organisations, including Marine Rescue groups. These cover areas such as:
- Mental well-being
- Standards of conduct
- Managing inappropriate behaviour
- Dealing with conflict
- Occupational health and safety
Our meetings
The AGM and election of all Management Committee positions is held in August each year.
The Management committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month.
The general meeting is held:
When: The second Wednesday of each month
Where: Marine House, 889 Geographe Bay Road, Busselton.
Time: 7:30pm
At these meetings, the Management committee will:
- Communicate what decisions the management committee has made
- Discuss any upcoming calendar events that the group has been invited to assist with
- Advise of any changes to operating protocols that have occurred and the reasons for those changes
- Seek feedback and ratification from the members on certain issues
