Squad Accreditation
Is the NSW Cave Rescue Squad accredited?
The NSW Cave Rescue Squad Inc is the only Squad in New South Wales currently accredited to do cave rescue.
Squad members are trained by ‘Specialist Cave Rescue Instructors’ within CRS who follow the Squads cave rescue training manual.
The Squads’ cave rescue training manual incorporates and exceeds the guidelines as set by the State Rescue Board (SRB) for vertical land rescue. As no policy has been set for cave rescue training\rescuers, the SRB acknowledges CRS training in cave rescue.
Who accredits a rescue squad?
The State of New South Wales is divided into regions and each region has an ‘accredited’ primary response ‘general land’ rescue unit from one of the five emergency services –
- Police,
- Fire Services,
- Ambulance,
- State Emergency Services (SES), and
- Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA).
The State Rescue Board accredits the rescue squad after undergoing extensive training and auditing in accordance with guidelines as set by the Board.
State wide cave rescue policy
In 1997, the CRS submitted to the State Rescue Board a ‘draft’ policy for cave rescue. To date (2005) the State Rescue Board has not set policy for cave rescue.
Who can respond to a cave rescue?
Response to a cave rescue can only be undertaken by the local area primary response general land rescue unit, and/or CRS. The local area rescue squad may call upon other region units as back up if required.
