After successful events in Finland in 2022 and 2024, the IMRF travelled to the other side of the world in August as it held its first-ever #WomenInSAR training in Sydney, Australia.

The event showcased the truly global nature of the international maritime search and rescue (SAR) community as the IMRF welcomed 15 inspiring participants from Australia, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand, taking part.

Hosted at the Australian Institute of Police Management, the three-day event offered participants an extensive training and learning experience to advance their careers, learn from their peers and get a hands-on look at some of the more challenging elements of maritime SAR operations.

The training could not have been possible without the contributions of Marine Rescue New South Wales (MRNSW), who provided instructors, volunteers and vessels to make this a unique and positive experience for all. Our thanks go to the team at MRNSW for all their support inputting on this vital training.

The first day threw all our participants straight into the action as they got to understand the rescue vessels that they will be using as part of their training exercises. Volunteers from MRNSW took the time to fully train and brief our 15 participants on the nuances of the vessels. Following this, there were two classroom exercises. The first focused on navigation, including becoming familiar with the radios and electric charts that formed part of their training, as well as chart work that focused on the challenges of the Sydney Harbour area.

The day concluded with an informal dinner that included a brilliant speech from Jeanine Drummond, Chair of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), where she spoke about her career journey and experience working in the maritime sector. .

The second day was the hands-on training day. In total, there were five exercises, including an offshore search, a drifting vessel and a vessel with an empty battery. The full day of exercises, while tiring, were incredibly important as it gave the participants the opportunity to  work as a team in these exercises while giving them the chance to try local rescue boats and techniques.

The final day focused on the technical upkeep of vessels and looking after the mental health of crew members as part of the IMRF’s #SARyouOK? initiative. The classroom focused final day also included a number of guest speakers, including Megan Camponalla from AMSA; Dr Paul Luckin, who spoke about the challenges of treating hypothermia in humans rescued at sea; and Sergeant Paul Fordy, who showcased the SAR operation that was undertaken to rescue victims of a sailing vessel capsizing, including testimony from the two survivors.

The entire three-day events, just as those done in Finland in previous years, was a unique and worthwhile experience for all participants who took the opportunity to learn from some of the very best SAR professionals to improve their own skills and capabilities.

We want to thank everyone who made the training event possible, including our hosts and their teams, and all our guest speakers. Most importantly, we want to thank our incredible participants, some of whom travelled to the other side of the world, to learn from their peers. With certificates in hand and experiences gained, together, a new group of 15 women in maritime SAR have taken the next step to showcase the importance of women in key rescue operations.

The IMRF’s #WomenInSAR Training Seminar will return in 2026!