Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:41 PM AWST
22/07/2026 7:41 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Crew small powercraft in a rescue operation
Crew small powercraft in a rescue operation
Unit of competency
National Code
PUASAR015A
PUASAR015A
State Code
D5520
D5520
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/08/2011
Field of Education
031705 - Marine Craft Operation
Original Release Date
18/08/2011
Nominal Hours
20
Description
This unit covers the competency required to act as crew under direction of a skilled operator in a small powercraft during a rescue in a surf/aquatic environment.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare powercraft for operations
- 1.1 Relevant logbooks are reviewed for previous operational feedback and pre-use information is completed as directed by operator in accordance with organisational 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 manufacturer's guidelines.
- 1.3 Prelaunch operational checks of auxiliary equipment are completed and equipment is stowed.
- 1.4 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is obtained, applied or 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.
- 2.3 PPE is secured, checked and stored correctly in powercraft.
3. Launch and stabilise powercraft through surf aquatic environment
- 3.1 Own level of competence is conveyed to operator in relation to surf/aquatic environment 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/aquatic environment 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/aquatic environment conditions.
- 3.6 Lookout for hazards in surf/aquatic environment is maintained and information concerning objects in the water is communicated to operator.
- 3.7 Assistance with beaching and stabilising craft is provided on return to shore as directed by operator.
4. Participate in emergency drills
- 4.1 Emergency procedures are implemented safely as directed by operator.
- 4.2 Assistance is provided with safe manoeuvring of powercraft without operational motor.
5. Participate in rescue
- 5.1 Casualty/object is retrieved using appropriate retrieval techniques as directed by operator.
- 5.2 Basic patient care of casualty is performed as required.
- 5.3 Casualty/object is secured for return to shore.
- 5.4 Casualty lift/object is removed 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 line with organisational procedures and as directed by operator.
- 6.3 Ancillary equipment is cleaned and restowed in accordance with organisational requirements and as directed by operator.
- 6.4 Operational documentation is completed as specified.
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Relevant logbooks may include:
Equipment service logs
Patrol/service logs
Powercraft operations logs
Operational feedback may include:
Equipment damage
New or variations to hazards in the local environment
Operational readiness of equipment
Pre-launch checks may include:
Checking handles and footstraps are secure
Checking pressure of inflatable pontoons
Ensuring no sharp areas
Ensuring no wear
Auxiliary equipment may include:
Knife
Paddles
Rescue tube
Tow rope
Whistle
Transport may include:
Carrying craft
Moving on a beach trolley
Towing with an ATV or 4WD
Surf/aquatic environment conditions may include:
Calm water
Choppy
Large surf/aquatic environment
Plunging shorebreak
Small surf/aquatic environment
Secure position includes:
Grasping appropriate handles and placing feet in footstraps as required
Position in powercraft may include:
Crouching, standing when negotiating green or broken waves
Laying on bow to avoid capsize
Leaning in or out of craft to assist with turning
Sliding back in craft when negotiating waves on return to shore
Standard sitting position
Hazards may include:
Adverse weather
Choppy water surface condition
Large surf/aquatic environment
Marine creature
People swimming
Rocks
Seaweed
Emergency procedures may include:
Abandoning powercraft drill
Acting as an outrigger in the event of motor failure in the surf/aquatic environment zone
Fire on board powercraft drill
Powercraft capsize drill
Manoeuvring of powercraft without operational motor may include:
Holding onto ropes while in the water to stabilise the craft and to avoid capsize
Surfing the powercraft to shore with operator and crew acting as outriggers
Swimming and repositioning the craft
Using paddles
Retrieval techniques may include:
Leaving the powercraft for a swimming rescue with a rescue tube
Reaching over the edge of the craft to haul casualty/object on board
Basic patient care may include:
Maintaining open airway
Reassuring the patient
Supporting the patient on return to shore
Relevant logbooks may include:
Equipment service logs
Patrol/service logs
Powercraft operations logs
Operational feedback may include:
Equipment damage
New or variations to hazards in the local environment
Operational readiness of equipment
Pre-launch checks may include:
Checking handles and footstraps are secure
Checking pressure of inflatable pontoons
Ensuring no sharp areas
Ensuring no wear
Auxiliary equipment may include:
Knife
Paddles
Rescue tube
Tow rope
Whistle
Transport may include:
Carrying craft
Moving on a beach trolley
Towing with an ATV or 4WD
Surf/aquatic environment conditions may include:
Calm water
Choppy
Large surf/aquatic environment
Plunging shorebreak
Small surf/aquatic environment
Secure position includes:
Grasping appropriate handles and placing feet in footstraps as required
Position in powercraft may include:
Crouching, standing when negotiating green or broken waves
Laying on bow to avoid capsize
Leaning in or out of craft to assist with turning
Sliding back in craft when negotiating waves on return to shore
Standard sitting position
Hazards may include:
Adverse weather
Choppy water surface condition
Large surf/aquatic environment
Marine creature
People swimming
Rocks
Seaweed
Emergency procedures may include:
Abandoning powercraft drill
Acting as an outrigger in the event of motor failure in the surf/aquatic environment zone
Fire on board powercraft drill
Powercraft capsize drill
Manoeuvring of powercraft without operational motor may include:
Holding onto ropes while in the water to stabilise the craft and to avoid capsize
Surfing the powercraft to shore with operator and crew acting as outriggers
Swimming and repositioning the craft
Using paddles
Retrieval techniques may include:
Leaving the powercraft for a swimming rescue with a rescue tube
Reaching over the edge of the craft to haul casualty/object on board
Basic patient care may include:
Maintaining open airway
Reassuring the patient
Supporting the patient on return to shore
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
perform a rescue
safely load and manoeuvre a vessel
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over one or more exercises, scenarios or incidents to develop confident boat crewing.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed by completing rescue boat operations, exercises or scenarios.
Exercises, simulations, or a series of tasks is required to demonstrate competence in this unit. This may involve setting scenarios to be completed by a rescue boat crew.
Evidence may be supplemented by questioning during and after an exercise, scenario or incident, hypothetical questioning and written or oral descriptions, or discussions or feedback during a debriefing.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
equipment used in rescue boat operations
open water
range of challenging surf/aquatic environment conditions relevant to the area of operations
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
perform a rescue
safely load and manoeuvre a vessel
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over one or more exercises, scenarios or incidents to develop confident boat crewing.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed by completing rescue boat operations, exercises or scenarios.
Exercises, simulations, or a series of tasks is required to demonstrate competence in this unit. This may involve setting scenarios to be completed by a rescue boat crew.
Evidence may be supplemented by questioning during and after an exercise, scenario or incident, hypothetical questioning and written or oral descriptions, or discussions or feedback during a debriefing.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
equipment used in rescue boat operations
open water
range of challenging surf/aquatic environment conditions relevant to the area of operations
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAX78 | PUASAR015 | Crew small powercraft in a rescue operation | Unit of competency |
