This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to act as crew under direction of a skilled operator in a small powercraft during rescue operations in a surf and/or aquatic environment. It includes a range of open water rescue situations crewing small boats.

The unit is applicable to personnel from emergency services and/or volunteer organisations or organisations where additional support on a powercraft is required during surveillance and rescue operations in a surf, aquatic environment and/or open water.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare powercraft for operations

1.1

Logbooks are reviewed for previous operational feedback and pre-use information is completed, as directed, by the operator, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

1.2

Pre-launch checks to ensure operational readiness of craft and safety features are conducted at the direction of the operator, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

1.3

Prelaunch operational checks of auxiliary equipment are completed and equipment is safely stowed

1.4

Personal protective clothing and equipment is obtained, applied or safely stowed, as required

2

Assist operator to transport powercraft

2.1

Safe manual handling techniques are used to assist operator to transport powercraft to launch site

2.2

Operator is assisted to unload and position powercraft at water's edge

3

Launch and stabilise powercraft through surf aquatic environment

3.1

Level of competence is conveyed to operator in relation to review of surf and/or aquatic environmental conditions

3.2

Powercraft is lifted and dragged into water, as directed by operator

3.3

Powercraft is secured and positioned, as required, for surf or aquatic environmental conditions

3.4

Powercraft is boarded safely on operator command and a secure position is assumed

3.5

Position in powercraft is changed at operator's direction to assist with maintaining trim and negotiating surf or aquatic environmental conditions

3.6

Lookout for hazards in surf or aquatic environment is maintained and information concerning objects in the water is communicated to operator

3.7

Assistance with beaching and stabilising powercraft is provided on return to shore, as directed by operator

4

Participate in emergency

4.1

Emergency procedures are implemented safely, as directed by the operator

4.2

Assistance is provided with safe manoeuvring of powercraft without operational motor

5

Participate in rescue

5.1

Casualty and/or object is retrieved using appropriate retrieval techniques, as directed by operator

5.2

Patient care of casualty is performed, as required

5.3

Casualty and/or object is secured for return to shore, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.4

Casualty is lifted and object is removed safely from powercraft, as directed by operator

6

Assist with powercraft recovery and restore

6.1

Safe manual handling techniques are used to assist operator with transport of craft to storage

6.2

Powercraft is cleaned and stored, in accordance with organisational procedures and as directed by the operator

6.3

Ancillary equipment is cleaned and stowed, in accordance with organisational procedures and as directed by operator

6.4

Operational documentation is completed, as specified

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Not applicable

Search and Rescue