Radio communication

For people whose volunteer role may involve using or listening to a radio. These sessions introduce how a VHF radio is used, and the words, habits and call types, so the real training makes more sense.

Radio pocket card

Further reading (optional)

Sources: Transport WA – Marine radios (opens in a new tab) · NT Government – Distress and urgency calls (opens in a new tab) · Transport WA – Logging on and off (opens in a new tab) · Marine Rescue NSW – Log On (opens in a new tab) · Australian Maritime College (opens in a new tab)

On the water

For people whose volunteer role may involve boats or working near the water. These sessions introduce common terms and how to get yourself ready.

Rules vary by state and territory

Distress beacons

Source: AMSA – Beacon owners (opens in a new tab)

Why volunteer?

Volunteers help keep communities running and people safe. Most have no background in the work when they start. What matters is being reliable, willing to learn and a good team member.

Learn: what volunteers do

Roles, names and pathways differ between organisations. Your group will explain its own structure.

Learn: what you can get out of it

1. Skills you can use anywhere: communication, first aid, teamwork and staying calm under pressure.
2. Recognised training: some roles lead to formal training and qualifications. This varies by organisation.
3. Community: you'll join a team of people who look out for each other and for the community.
4. Purpose: the work directly helps people in your community.

Do: what's your why?

Recall

Being a great volunteer, and looking after yourself

Emergency service teams run on trust. People need to know you'll turn up, follow instructions, keep information private and speak up about safety.

Learn: the basics

1. Be reliable. If you can't make a shift or training, tell the right person as early as you can.
2. Keep it confidential. Information about incidents, callers and people you help stays within the organisation. Don't post it or discuss it outside.
3. Think before you post. Check your organisation's rules before sharing photos or videos of your workplace, equipment or people.
4. Speak up about safety. If you see a hazard or damaged equipment, report it. Everyone is responsible for safety.
5. Fit for duty. If you're overtired, unwell or affected by alcohol or medication, you shouldn't be on shift. Tell someone. That's the professional choice.
6. Look after yourself. Some situations can be upsetting. It's normal to be affected. Talk to someone. Your organisation will explain the support available to you.

If you ever need to talk to someone urgently, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Do: what would you do?

Clear communication in a team

In any structured team, from emergency services to events to workplaces, most mistakes come from messages that were unclear, half-heard or assumed. A few simple habits prevent most of them.

Learn: closed-loop communication

The person receiving an instruction confirms it, then reports back when it's done. Nobody has to wonder whether the message landed.

1. Instruction given. “Please check the training room is clear and report back.”
2. Receiver confirms. “Checking the training room is clear.”
3. Action completed.
4. Completion reported. “Training room checked and clear.”

Learn: other habits that help

• Listen before responding. Let the other person finish.
• Be clear and brief. Say who, what, where and what you need.
• Check, don't assume. If you're not sure, ask. It's faster than fixing a mistake.
• Speak up respectfully. If something seems unsafe or wrong, say so, whatever your experience level.
• Take feedback well. Correction in training is how everyone improves.

Do: what's missing?

Recall

Getting to know a VHF radio

Marine very high frequency (VHF) radios all look a little different, but most share the same handful of controls. Knowing what each one is for makes hands-on training much easier.

Learn: the main controls

This is a simple, generic handheld. Radios vary by make and model, so the buttons on yours may be in different places or have different names. Your trainers will show you the radio you'll use.

Radios have a dedicated international distress and calling channel. Your trainers will show you where it is on your radio. Pressing push-to-talk on a real radio transmits for real, so practise with your trainers, not on a live channel.

Do: match the control to its job

Recall

Bring it to training

Which control were you least sure about? Note it down and ask your trainers to show you on the real radio.

Sound it out: the phonetic alphabet

On a radio, letters like B, D, P and T sound almost the same. The phonetic alphabet gives each letter a word that is hard to mishear.

Learn

Tap any letter to hear it spoken (sound depends on your device).

Numbers are usually spoken one digit at a time. For example, 125 is “one two five”. Many operators say “niner” for 9 so it isn't confused with “five”. Your trainers will confirm local practice.

Do: spell it out

Recall

Bring it to training

Practise spelling your own name out loud three times this week, without looking. Can you do it without hesitating?

Radio language and good habits

Radio is one-way at a time. Only one person can talk on a channel, so short standard words (called procedure words, or “prowords”) keep conversations clear and quick.

Learn: common procedure words

Learn: tips when operating a radio

1. Listen first. Before you speak, listen to make sure you won't talk over someone, especially an emergency.
2. Think, then press. Know what you're going to say before you press the button.
3. Press, pause, speak. Wait about a second after pressing so your first word isn't cut off.
4. Speak clearly at a normal pace. Don't shout. Hold the microphone a few centimetres from your mouth, slightly to the side.
5. Keep it short. Say what's needed, then release the button so others can reply.
6. Write it down. Accurate notes matter. If you missed something, say “Say again” rather than guessing.

Do: match the word to its meaning

Recall

Bring it to training

Which of these habits do you think would be hardest under pressure? Note it down to ask about.

Priority calls: Mayday, Pan Pan and Sécurité

Some calls take priority over everything else on the radio. Recognising them, and knowing which is which, is one of the most important things a radio operator does.

Learn

What a Mayday message contains

State marine safety agencies (for example in Western Australia and the Northern Territory) describe a distress call in this order. Recognising it helps you write it down accurately.

Sources: Transport WA – Marine radios (opens in a new tab) and NT Government – Distress and urgency calls (opens in a new tab). How your organisation receives, records and responds to these calls is taught at training.

Do: which priority is it?

Read each situation and choose the type of call it describes.

Recall

Bring it to training

Was there a situation above where you weren't sure? Write it down. Grey areas are great questions for your trainers.

Listen and log: taking a log-on

Boaters let a radio room know when they head out and when they're back, so someone knows to look for them if they don't return. Your job is to capture the details accurately.

Learn: how people contact the radio room

Callers may reach the radio room by marine radio, by phone, or through an app or online log-on. It varies by organisation, and yours will show you the ways it uses.

Learn: how callers identify themselves

Numbers are spoken one digit at a time.

Learn: what to find out when logging a vessel on

Learn: what a good operator does

1. Prompt for anything missing. Ask for it clearly, for example “Blue Heron, please give me the number of adults and children on board, over.”
2. Read the key details back. Ask the caller to confirm. This is closed-loop communication, the same habit as in the Core.
3. Say again if it's unclear. Never guess a detail you'll need to write down.
4. Record corrections. When a caller corrects something, the new information replaces what came before.
5. Log the vessel off when it returns. A vessel that hasn't logged off may need to be followed up.

Do: listen and write it down

Press Play and listen once, without reading the script. Fill in the log, then check. Write times as four digits (for example 0830), and write a spelled registration as letters and numbers. Leave a field blank if the caller didn't give it.

Recall

Bring it to training

Which detail did you find hardest to catch: names, registrations, numbers or times? Note it down and tell your trainers. That's where practice helps most.

Sources: Transport WA – Logging on and off (opens in a new tab) · Marine Rescue NSW – Log On (opens in a new tab)

Listen and log: phone, log-offs and poor reception

The same details can arrive in different ways, and not every call is clear. Here you'll practise a phone log-on, matching a log-off to the right vessel, and dealing with a call you can't fully hear.

Learn

• Phone log-ons cover the same details as a radio log-on. Write the contact mobile number down as digits and read it back.
• Log-offs tell the radio room a vessel is back. Match each one to the vessel you logged on earlier, then close it in your log.
• Poor reception: if part of a call is unreadable, don't guess. Say “Say again” and name exactly what you need.

Do: listen and act

Press Play and listen once, without reading the script, then complete the task and check.

Recall

Bring it to training

Which was harder: the poor reception call or the phone call? Note it down and ask your trainers how your organisation handles each.

Sources: Transport WA – Logging on and off (opens in a new tab) · Marine Rescue NSW – Log On (opens in a new tab)

Boat basics: speak the language

On a vessel, instructions need to be understood instantly. “Left” and “right” change depending on which way you face, so boats use words that don't.

Learn: key terms

Memory tip: “port” and “left” both have four letters.

Do: match the term

Learn: knots and lines

Crew handle ropes (called lines once they're in use on a boat) all the time: tying up, towing and securing gear. Knots commonly taught to crew include the bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches and the cleat hitch. Your trainers will show you the ones your organisation uses. Knots are best learned hands on, so there's nothing to memorise here yet.

Recall

Personal readiness and safety gear

Being ready before you step aboard keeps you, your crew and the people you're helping safe.

Learn: get yourself ready

1. Lifejackets: wear the lifejacket you're given and make sure it's fitted and fastened. Lifejacket rules are set by each state and territory, and your organisation may have stricter rules.
2. Sun and weather: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and layers. It's often colder and windier on the water than on shore.
3. Water and food: bring water and a snack. Dehydration affects concentration.
4. Seasickness: if you're prone to it, get advice before your first trip, and tell the skipper if you feel unwell on board.
5. Footwear: enclosed, non-slip shoes. Decks get wet.
6. Rest: turn up rested. Fatigue causes mistakes.

Learn: distress beacons

Many vessels carry an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). People may also carry a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). When activated, these send a distress alert that helps searchers locate the vessel or person. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says registering a beacon is free and, in some cases, mandatory by law. Source: AMSA – Beacon owners (opens in a new tab).

Do: pack your bag

Recall

Preparing for your first induction

A final review of the core sessions, and three things to bring to your induction.

Recall: mixed review

Bring it to training

Radio pocket card

A one-page summary. Print it or save it as a PDF (use your browser's Print option).