News

AUAVS recently made presentations to Australian Airforce Cadets - 326 Squadron Lismore and students from Bremer State High School. The presentations outlined some of the amazing work SLS and AUAVS members do in the UAV space and included information for the participants on volunteering and employment pathways for flying UAV's in Surf Life Saving missions.

The Australian UAV Service (AUAVS) recently had the privilege of being represented by three outstanding members, Emma, Angela and Brent, at the NSW State Emergency Service (NSWSES) Flood Rescue Symposium held in Penrith, Sydney.

In a pioneering collaboration, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) School of Aviation (UNSW Aviation) and AUAVS are excited to announce a thrilling opportunity for aspiring young aviators. UNSW Aviation is partnering with AUAVS to introduce a ground-breaking Bachelor of Aviation majoring in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. 

On the first weekend in August, Emma Gale from Hunter Branch attended a Volunteer Leadership Program, held by the Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience (AIDR) in Newcastle. As a Branch UAV Coordinator, Emma is always keen to improve engagement and retention of the volunteer UAV pilots and operators, and this program provided her with some insight, knowledge, and new ideas to implement. 

On the first weekend in August, Emma Gale from Hunter Branch attended a Volunteer Leadership Program, held by the Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience (AIDR) in Newcastle. As a Branch UAV Coordinator, Emma is always keen to improve engagement and retention of the volunteer UAV pilots and operators, and this program provided her with some insight, knowledge, and new ideas to implement. 

In early July, Paul Hardy and Emily Francis travelled to Japan to provide UAV OIP Training to a group of volunteers from the Japan Lifesaving Association. This marked the first time in over 30 years that the association had international trainers.

In June, the Long Range UAV Trials took place in Evans Head. Four vendors showcased their cutting-edge UAVs and participated in a series of rigorous tests. The trials encompassed a wide range of scenarios, including shark spotting, fire spotting, and search and rescue missions both inland and on water.

AUAVS is excited this year to have introduced the annual AUAVS Awards, our annual recognition program honouring outstanding individuals in the field of UAV operations. The awards aim to acknowledge members who demonstrate exceptional conduct, performance, and adherence to safety protocols. They embody our service objectives and uphold the core beliefs of Surf Life Saving NSW.

The management team took some time to visit the casual pilots who were on duty at various beaches in Sydney, South Coast, and Central Coast. It was great to see everyone in action during the autumn operating period, and the team thoroughly enjoyed saying hello and catching up with everyone.