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Water & Boat Rescue

Rescue Capabilities

Water Rescue & Rescue Boats

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AUSTRALASIA’S 3rd WATER RESCUE CHALLENGE

4-5 September 2026 at Penrith Whitewater Stadium

Back by popular demand, we are delighted to bring the region’s best water rescue operators together for the Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC). Join us for these auspicious professional development opportunities that are the only events of their kind in the region!

Australasian Water Rescue Challenge

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AUSTRALASIA’S 2nd RESCUE BOAT CHALLENGE

4-5 September 2026 at Penrith Whitewater Stadium

Build upon the success from the Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC), we’re excited to bring the region’s only Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge (ARBC). Join us for these auspicious professional development opportunities that are the only events of their kind in the region!

Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

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Minute(s)

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Second(s)

Event Information

The Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC) and the Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge (ARBC) will be held on Friday 4 & Saturday 5 September 2026 at Penrith Whitewater Stadium (PWS).

These challenges provide an opportunity for all water rescue operators and their agencies to compete, learn and come together in a true Australasian Rescue Organisation (ARO) ‘spirit of the challenge’ format. Both events will feature multiple scenarios of varying complexities which have been recreated from actual rescues that water rescue teams have attended in past years. They are designed to emulate time critical rescues of persons from water. Each challenge scenario is timed with a large part featuring a water component.

Useful Documents

Here you will find information on the Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC) and the Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge (ARBC)

Agency Team Nomination

Please provide the following information to finalise your AWRC or ARBC team nomination registration. This must be completed by an authorised agency representative only. Click here to download the Agency Nomination Form.

Note: Registration and acceptance of the Liability Waiver is mandatory for all attendees and agencies, regardless of role.

Individual Registration Form

Please provide information to finalise your AWRC or ARBC individual registration (applies to all participants, agency representatives, sponsors and dignitaries). Click here to complete the Registration Form and accept the Liability Waiver.

AWRC Challenge Participant Team Configuration

  • 2 x Land Based Operator Roles: Must wear agency field uniform, PPE/PPC
  • 6 x In Water Operator Roles: Agency approved IWO wetsuit, PPE/PPC, Equipment
  • 1 x Team Reserve: Uniform/PPE as per above role
  • 1 x Team Manager: Agency uniform (not permitted to enter scenario zone)

ARBC Challenge Participant Team Configuration

  • 3 x Operator Roles: Agency approved boat operations PPE/PPC, PFD
  • 1 x Team Reserve: Uniform/PPE as per above role
  • 1 x Team Manager: Agency uniform (not permitted to enter scenario zone)

Note: Registration and acceptance of the Liability Waiver is mandatory for all attendees and agencies, regardless of role.

AWRC and ARBC Run Sheet

Information coming soon!

Professional Development

Information coming soon!

Awards

Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC)

  1. Challenge Champions (Individual) – Individual medallion awarded to all participants in the overall winning team.
  2. Challenge Champions (Team) – Team trophy awarded to the overall winning team.
  3. Best Team Leader (Individual) – This award is for an individual that received the highest sum of rank scored of all command assessors.
  4. Best Medic (Individual) – This award recognises the best medic who demonstrates both outstanding lifesaving skills and water rescue skills. The Medical Specialist reviews scores across all safety criteria to award this.
  5. Spirit of the Challenge (Team) – This award is determined by a popular vote of the team leaders to the team that best represents the spirit of learning and improvement in rescue service delivery through the Challenge and its activities.
  6. Champions of Safety (Team) – The Champions of Safety Award recognises the team that demonstrated excellence in safety excellence in the AWRC. Chief Safety Officer reviews scores across all safety criteria to award this.
  7. President’s Commendation (Individual or Team) – The President’s Commendation recognises a participant or team who has demonstrated exceptional performance, effort and/or positive behaviours, even if they did not achieve the top ranking, essentially signifying “honourable mention” or “highly commended” status within the challenge. This is awarded by ARO Executive on behalf of the organisation.
  8. Capability Excellence (Team) – This award recognises a team worthy of recognition for displaying and demonstrating excellence in operational capability as opposed to success in challenge scoring.

Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge (ARBC)

  1. Challenge Champions (Individual) – Individual medallions awarded to all participants in the overall winning team.
  2. Challenge Champions (Team) – Team trophy awarded to the overall winning team.
  3. Best Team Leader (Individual) – This award is for an individual that received the highest sum of rank scores of all command assessors.
  4. Best Medic (Individual) – This award recognises the best medic who demonstrates both outstanding lifesaving skills and boat rescue skills. The Medical Specialist reviews scores across all safety criteria to award this.
  5. Spirit of the Challenge (Team) – This award is determined by a popular vote of the team leaders to the team that best represents the spirit of learning and improvement in rescue service delivery through the Challenge and its activities.
  6. Champions of Safety (Team) – The Champions of Safety Award recognises the team that demonstrated excellence in safety excellence in the AWRC. Chief Safety Officer reviews scores across all safety criteria to award this.
  7. President’s Commendation (Individual or Team) – The President’s Commendation recognises a participant or team who has demonstrated exceptional performance, effort, and/or positive behaviours, even if they did not achieve the top ranking, essentially signifying “honorable mention” or “highly commended” status within the challenge. This is awarded by ARO Executive on behalf of the organisation.
  8. Capability Excellence (Team) – This award recognises a team worthy of recognition for displaying and demonstrating excellence in operational capability as opposed to success in challenge scoring.
Challenge Management Team and Support Members

Are you interested in short-term and/or long-term roles with ARO? Express your interest for positions on the Challenge Management Team (CMT), Event Planning Committee, and/or as a Support Member.

Roles may include:

  1. Assessor (i.e., Chief, Mentor, Command, Technical, and Medical)
  2. Safety (i.e., Chief, Mentor, Officer)
  3. Stand Manager
  4. Scenario Setter
  5. Team Liaison and Group Marshall
  6. Media and Production
  7. Registration and Sign in
  8. Logistics and Event Support

Note. Remember, you must be an Individual Member, and a member of a current Member Organisation.

More information and how to nominate, coming soon!

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) for participants, agencies and support members

Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in supporting the inaugural Australasian Water Rescue Challenge (AWRC) and the Australasian Rescue Boat Challenge (ARBC).

Find out how you can be a part of this event and support the development, resilience and leadership of the Water Rescue and Boat Rescue Industry.

Sponsorship Opportunities include:

  • Inkind
  • Educational Scholarship
  • Bronze
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Principle

For more information, contact the Business Development and Engagement Officer via email admin@AROrescue.org