Get Certified in Rescue Support

When someone finds themselves in an unsafe and dangerous location and needs a helicopter rescue or evacuation, the chopper pilot is just one link in an important list of specialised crew members.

The crew provides vital mission support in a wide range of specialties, from rescue operations such as hoisting operations, casualty retrieval, and providing first aid, to operational tasks such as monitoring refuelling, cargo loading, maintaining situational awareness, and managing the general safety of the aircraft and its passengers.

These are just the basics of the comprehensive nationally accredited aviation crew qualifications offered by the Public Safety Training & Response Group.

These helicopter rescue crew qualifications can lead to a range of exciting and valuable career roles with rescue operators and emergency first responders such as the Police, private companies and surf-lifesaving.

In short, helicopter rescue crew members help save lives.

“Emergency situations involving tricky locations arise without warning, whether it’s a climber stuck on a mountain, a medical emergency on a ship, an urgent bushfire evacuation, or many other circumstances, the rescue helicopter crews need to work skilfully and efficiently together as a team to bring those in danger back to safety,” says Trevor Arnold, General Manager Operations at the Public Safety Training & Response Group.

“Air crew members are a vital part of such missions, requiring expertise in various technical and physical abilities – winch operations is just one of them – as well as generally monitoring the needs and circumstances of the mission and maintaining skilled communications with the pilots.

“To be involved in the rescue of those in desperate need, helping to save lives, is an honourable and respected role but it requires the highest levels of skill, dedication and professionalism – and that’s the level of training we provide.”

Get your Cert III or IV  in Aviation

The Public Safety Training & Response Group offers AVI30519 Certificate III in Aviation (Rescue Crew Officer)  and AVI40119 Certificate IV in Aviation (Air Crew Officer). Visit our website for more details.

The AVI30519 Certificate III in Aviation (Rescue Crew Officer) recognises the roles of flight crew personnel in performing every day and emergency rescue crew duties in support of aviation operations.

This qualification forms some of the requirements for certification as flight crew member by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as described in Civil Aviation Orders.

The AVI40119 Certificate IV in Aviation (Air Crew Officer) reflects the roles of flight crew personnel performing normal and emergency air crew officer duties in support of commercial or Defence aviation operations.

Individuals working at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and limited responsibility in known or changing contexts within established parameters. This generally involves conducting hoist operations or Front Left Seat duties as part of non-pilot duties in the aircraft

This qualification forms some of the requirements for certification by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a task specialist or other aerial work operations as directed by Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 138 Aerial work operations.

Among the topics covered in the courses are down the wire (winch) activities (potentially requiring the winching of medics, rescue personnel and injured members of the public), communications, loading and securing cargo, underwater escape and survival, situational awareness, and maintaining the safety of people and the aircraft.

The Certificate IV also includes units in applying aircraft safety procedures, managing disruptive behaviour and unlawful interference with aviation, correct handling of dangerous goods and hazardous substances, radio operations, maintaining an aircraft’s radio communications, providing first aid in an aviation environment, implementation of aviation fatigue risk management processes, utilising the emergency breathing system, conducting quality control operations during refuelling and defueling, demonstrating leadership and more.

The aviation courses are comprehensive and provide valuable qualifications in aviation operations support, with expert instructors.

“Helicopter crewing is a niche vocation, requiring a wide variety of knowledge from the basics through to technical understandings, combined with a general ability to think on your feet, and gaining skills in all those areas is specialised but rewarding,” says Mr Arnold.

“There’s a high interest in these courses, which open doors to some amazing career pathways in a dynamic sector of aviation – I encourage anyone who is keen on such work to enquire now with our team at Public Safety Training & Response Group and get the training you can trust.”

Recognition in prior learning

A Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) assessment is an essential process for individuals looking to leverage their existing skills and experience toward obtaining Certificate III and IV in Aviation, particularly for aircrew and rescue crew officers. RPL allows you to demonstrate your current competencies gained through previous work experience, training, or other relevant activities, potentially reducing the time and resources needed to achieve formal qualifications. For those already involved in aviation or emergency services, RPL can recognise skills such as flight operations, emergency response, and teamwork, facilitating a smoother transition into more advanced roles within the industry. This pathway not only acknowledges the valuable experience individuals bring but also enhances your qualifications for a successful career in helicopter operations and rescue missions.

Our training facilities at our head office at Oxley, Brisbane, includes two training rooms, fully-equipped incident control room, a media/TV recording and live-streaming studio, helicopter rescue crew training hardware, and support offices and facilities. The company is veteran owned and delivers a wide range of training options for first responders, including CPR courses, First Aid training, helicopter pilot training, CASA-approved Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAS) drone pilot training, and more.