Coastguard Northern Region - 2018 Performance Report

More documents

Recommendations

Info

OUR PEOPLE Banu’s story Banu Pashutanizadeh Role: In-Flight Coordinator, Coastguard Auckland Air Patrol Age: 27 Time with Coastguard: 4 years Banu Pashutanizadeh is flying high with Coastguard’s Auckland Air Patrol as she aims to make a difference in her community. Having discovered Coastguard in 2014 while studying mechatronics at university, Banu initially joined the Auckland Air Patrol as a Flight Observer while also taking lessons at a flying school near the unit’s Ardmore base. For Banu, the reward of flying search missions and helping boaties in distress is complemented by the thrill of flying privately. With training and time in the air, Banu gained the experience and skills necessary to grow her airborne responsibilities, moving forward in the aircraft to the In-Flight Coordinator’s seat. As an In-Flight Coordinator she is now responsible for mission planning and managing communications between the aircraft, rescue vessels and the Coastguard Operations Centre. Keen to contribute further, Banu also gives her time and makes the most of her organisational skills as the Air Patrol’s Equipment Officer, ensuring the plane is mission ready at all times. As a member of the unit’s committee she has gained yet another perspective on the challenges of leading a unit, enabling people and ensuring high quality, consistent operations. Banu enjoys the multi-faceted challenges she faces every day with Coastguard; not only has volunteering with Coastguard given her opportunities to grow and extend herself while pursuing her passion, but she has also had the chance to give back to the community that welcomed her so warmly 10 years ago. 10 IN FINDING THE PERFECT WAY TO SUPPORT HER COMMUNITY, BANU HAS TRULY FOUND HER WINGS
Accelerating trainee progress Giving volunteers greater choice of training options Increasing safety support in a boating haven Investment in the North pays dividends for the community When it comes to training, Coastguard units have often faced challenges creating training schedules that meet the busy lives of their volunteers and the availability of instructors and vessels. Faced with the need to increase training capacity and find ways of giving volunteers greater choice, the concept of the Trainee to Operational Course was developed to offer an alternative means of training progress. The first Trainee to Operational Course, modelled on approaches taken by other rescue organisations around the world, took place in November 2016, allowing already skilled trainee volunteers to accelerate their training to operational status through an intensive six-day course. Since then, three more of these courses have been held across the Northern Region, progressing the Coastguard careers of 60 volunteers. The latest course, held in April 2018, brought together 16 volunteers at the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre for a week of in-classroom theory work, mixed with on-the-water development of their practical skills. Students came together from units across the region and beyond it, with a place taken by a trainee from Coastguard’s Eastern Region. Funding for the course was provided by the Stevenson Trust, whose generosity prevented cost being a barrier to our volunteers’ progress. At the end of the intensive week, 13 attendees had passed outright, with the remaining three needing only minor additional assessments to become operational. Darren Arthur, CNR’s Education Manager is pleased with the impact the course is having. He says, “While the course isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution, almost every volunteer who has undertaken the course has embraced the immersive training style.” Darren observes that once students return to their units, many of the attendees continue to commit more voluntary time than those who haven’t undergone the intensive course, indicating an extra commitment to Coastguard. As a tool in the toolbox of getting volunteers to operational standard, the Trainee to Operational Course has allowed volunteers to quickly hone their skills, encouraged them to succeed, and enabled them to be better prepared to save lives at sea. As a result, Coastguard Northern Region has now adopted the course as a regular fixture in its training curriculum. The picturesque Bay of Islands is one of many boating hotspots in Northland enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. The beauty of the area is a drawcard for those wanting to get away from it all, and boating activity takes off during summer months as tourists come from far and wide to enjoy all that the area has to offer. The combination of a small fixed population and large seasonal variation in visitor activity presents challenges for organisations such as Coastguard, placing a strain on local volunteers to cope with increased call-outs during summer months. Faced with the challenge of meeting demand in 2017, Coastguard Northern Region leadership has taken steps this year to address the issue by increasing support for its Northland units, including the Bay of Islands. The training and assessment of Coastguard volunteers is provided by Coastguard Instructors attached to units or employed by a Coastguard region such as CNR. Faced with the challenge of strengthening volunteer numbers in Northland, veteran Coastguard volunteer and experienced tutor Robb Henry has been seconded to the region for the first six months of the year. With only a handful of Coastguard Instructors in the area, Robb’s first job was to assist units with analysing their training plans, before working with volunteers to develop quickly implemented training strategies to progress their volunteer journey. A series of recruitment drives led by the Region has helped bolster numbers across Northland. This drive to build capability has been reinforced with the first combined training exercise to be held in Northland in several years, bringing together Coastguard units from Tutukaka, Bay of Islands, Whangaruru and Whangaroa. The trainex was designed to test the response of volunteers to a series of simulated incidents, as well as developing teamwork between the units. As well as people-focused activity, the smart use of rescue assets around the region is helping to improve Coastguard’s ability to save lives in Northland. With a Coastguard vessel now permanently stationed at North Kaipara and the former North Shore Rescue vessel ready to deploy at Houhora, being smart with our onwater assets will pay dividends in these more remote communities. By taking a collaborative approach that addresses all aspects of the readiness process and working closely with its units, Coastguard Northern Region aims to better prepare its Northland volunteers to respond for their communities when they’re needed. WHILE THE COURSE ISN’T A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION, ALMOST EVERY VOLUNTEER HAS EMBRACED THE IMMERSIVE TRAINING STYLE 11 Darren Arthur, CNR Education Manager
Page 1 and 2: Coastguard Northern Region 2018 Per
Page 3 and 4: It’s been a year of outstanding t
Page 5 and 6: Navigating a true course Callum Gil
Page 7 and 8: Delivery of boating education and c
Page 9: Living to tell the tale A cautionar
Page 13 and 14: Lifejacket campaign still going str
Page 15 and 16: Equipping our region with the right
Page 17 and 18: Where does our funding come from? F
Page 19 and 20: Consolidated Statement of Financial

Coastguard Northern Region - 2018 Performance Report

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?