The ever-popular Australasian Water Rescue Challenge and the Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge are now locked in for 4-5 September 2026. ARO will again provide a professional development day along with separate water rescue and rescue boat challenges to again crown Australasia’s champions in this space. So, save the date!
We would like to acknowledge the extraordinary work that member agencies have undertaken over the past 12 months. Communities across Australasia have faced devastating fire and flood disasters, and many of these remain in either the operational phase or the recovery phase. ARO places members’ welfare, safety and fatigue management at the forefront of its core principles.
Noting these ongoing emergencies and the significant draw on member resources, ARO has chosen, along with its partner agency, to postpone the 2026 Australasian Road Crash Rescue Challenge and the Industrial and Domestic Rescue Challenge, planned to be held in Townsville in June.
To all communities affected by these disasters, we wish you a safe and swift recovery. We will share the rescheduled date as soon as it’s appropriate, and we thank everyone involved for their significant efforts and the amount of work undertaken to date.
Further exciting news, and also by popular demand, ARO will now facilitate a formal Industrial and Domestic Rescue Challenge. This rapidly evolving field is becoming increasingly important for rescuers worldwide. As with all ARO challenges, the IDR Challenge will bring together expertise, education, and world‑leading rescue practices. This event is scheduled to take place around June 2026.
Rounding out what promises to be a landmark year, and again resulting from feedback from its members, ARO will gather Australasia’s best vertical rescue practitioners for Australasia’s inaugural Vertical Rescue Symposium, proudly held by ARO in the iconic World Heritage–listed Blue Mountains on 20-22 November 2026.
Remain informed by logging into your member profile on our website or follow us on social media. We would love to see you at these events as we continue growing this incredible community together!
Australasian Water Rescue Challenge and the Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge
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Vertical Rescue Symposium
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