These notes provide general information on callouts for Bush Search and Rescue Victoria.

If you want to report a lost person in Victoria, please call 000.

Bush Search and Rescue has assisted Police with search and rescue in Victoria for sixty years, as a community service provided by Bushwalking Victoria Inc. Our members are volunteers. Over 200 members are available for callout to search for lost people missing in bushland areas or snowfields. All our searchers are highly experienced bushwalkers/cross country skiers who have had specialist training in search and rescue techniques. They are capable of operating independently in the field, for several days if necessary.

Callout Initiation and Timing

• Police Search and Rescue (SAR) contact Police Liaison Officer (PLO) or Field Organiser (FO), by working down the callout list. A callout will be initiated by the PLO if required. Alternatively, an alert may be issued.
• A callout is initiated by Police SAR to the PLO preferably by 6pm. Members are then called by club contacts after 7pm, usually for a transport rendezvous the same night. The best time for BSAR to arrive at the search location in most circumstances is first light.
• If a party is missing overnight in snow and/or inclement weather conditions, Police SAR should consider calling out BSAR immediately.
• BSAR is available for remote or urban bushland searches that require additional personnel. BSAR is particularly suited to remote area searching. However, members are also available to assist in other areas.

General Callouts

• Police Search and Rescue initiate by contacting BSAR Police Liaison Officer from Callout List.
• BSAR Field Organiser is then selected by PLO and full BSAR member callout proceeds using club contacts.
• Transport for BSAR searchers on a general callout is by Police coach. Stops are arranged en route to pick up country or suburban-based members as required.
• Parking for members cars is usually arranged by Police at pickup locations such as Dawson Street

Local Callouts

• Local Police Operations Commander initiates by contacting local BSAR club contact directly.
• Local Police Operations Commander notifies Police Search and Rescue of local callout in progress.
• BSAR Field Organiser is appointed locally, in acting capacity if necessary.
• Local BSAR club notifies BSAR PLO of local callout in progress
• Escalation to general BSAR callout is at the discretion of local Police Operations Command, in consultation with Police Search and Rescue.
• Transport for BSAR searchers on local callouts is preferably by local Police 4WD vehicles. However, members can travel by private car if authorised by local police.

Note: Use of private cars for BSAR transport on searches is strongly discouraged

Reimbursement

• Reimbursement for use of private cars is uncertain. Claims may be submitted to BSAR committee for consideration.
• Claims for loss of or damage to equipment are to be reported in writing to both the Officer in Charge at the Search and Field Organiser for consideration of reimbursement.