Island state to offer specialised flood rescue training

Surf Life Saving Australia President John Baker said the planned National Centre of Excellence would enhance its volunteer members' ability to save lives and support local communities.

"We are delighted to make this announcement and are excited to work closely with Surf Life Saving Tasmania to train and further develop these important and specialised skills," he said on Saturday.

The centre will draw on the Tasmanian organisation's experience to train lifesaving volunteers from around Australia to perform flood and swift water rescues.

Mr Baker said Tasmanian surf lifesavers had excelled in the specialised area in recent years and had been called on to assist flood victims in other states.

"The skills, experience and work undertaken to date by volunteer surf lifesavers in Tasmania is internationally regarded, and the natural and built environment provides amazing opportunities for quality skills training," he said.

Tasmania was devastated by floods in 2016 and surf lifesaving volunteers carried out rescues in swiftly moving bodies of water, at great risk to their safety.

Since then, Surf Life Saving Tasmania has invested in best-practice training, resources, and research, leading to recognition by emergency services and governments, at home and internationally.

"We recognised that our members possess transferable skills that can extend beyond the beach, enabling us to play a significant support and response role in flood rescue," Surf Life Saving Tasmania president Stuart Paine said.

He said securing the training facility showed a focused vision and deep commitment to service could "elevate a volunteer organisation to the forefront of disaster response".

Surf Life Saving Australia has set aside $150,000 per year across four years to fund training and buy equipment.

Australian Associated Press