Unifying Public Safety Communications within Surf Life Saving New South Wales (Australia): Seamless Integration and Interoperability between agencies using DMR and P25.

Since 1907 Surf Life Saving New South Wales (SLSNSW), Australia's most populous state, has provided essential lifesaving services to the bathing public. However, with the more recent move to the roll of an emergency services (support) organisation, SLSNSW now provides search and rescue and flood responses to New South Wales Government Emergency Services Control agencies including Police, Ambulance, Fire and SES. This recognition required the upgrade of communications systems and the integration to connect to the New South Wales P25 Public Safety Network PSN via CSSI.During large-scale emergencies, the SLSNSW State Operations Centre coordinates with other NSW emergency service organisations where NSW State Emergency Response multi-agency responses are required, to provide the most appropriate Search and Rescue assets to the scene of coastal incidents and emergencies.

The integration project commenced in January 2023 and was completed late 2024, requiring a coordinated effort from multiple stakeholders including SLSNSW, NSWTA, CartGIS, Omnitronics, BAI and Motorola. 

This case study will take a closer look at the integration pathways and project successes including the ability to provide interworking between P25, DMR and PTT/MCX technologies.