A new Marine Rescue Training Academy has been opened on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
The new facility will train more than 1000 marine rescue volunteers.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the facility would act as a central hub for Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) training operations.
“The Academy is the first facility of its kind dedicated to marine rescue volunteer training in Queensland,” Mr Purdie said.
“The facility includes dedicated training rooms, shared office spaces, a secure hardstand area for vessel maintenance and practical exercises, and marina berths for 8, 10 and 14 metre vessels.”
The centre’s access to diverse navigational conditions, including multiple bar crossings and buoyage systems, would allow volunteers to undertake practical, real-world training in a range of maritime environments.
MRQ was established in 2024 to unite the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland into a single, state-funded marine rescue organisation under the Queensland Police Service.
The first official training event at the Academy started last week, with 20 volunteer trainers travelling from across the state to undertake training.
