Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland

Volunteering with MRQ

Marine Rescue Queensland’s volunteers are the lifeblood of the service, carrying on a proud tradition of more than 50 years of service to their community in keeping people safe on our oceans and waterways.

MRQ volunteers are the trusted and reassuring support that boaties can depend on in an times of difficulty or emergency. Their skill and determination helps thousands of lost or stranded boaties to return home safely every year and their work during weather events and natural disasters supports the state’s disaster and emergency management command activities.

Volunteer roles and training

Volunteers can assist in a number of roles such as boat crew, radio operator, or coxswain. Even if you don’t have boating or emergency service knowledge, you can provide administrative support or work on education or community focused activities.

MRQ provides professional training courses that have beenspecifically designed to give volunteers the skills and qualifications they’ll need.

This could include first aid, sea survival, a marine radio operator’s certificate of proficiency and, on completion of the relevant training and sea time requirements, a Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal AMSA (AMPA) certificate of competency.

MRQ guarantees full coverage of operational costs, ensuring our members can focus on their crucial roles and spend more time engaging with the community.

MRQ is growing

MRQ is progressively transitioning units from the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland (VMRAQ) into our service, so we can only accept applications for units which have moved into MRQ.

Visit the MRQ Rescue Units page and search for your local unit. If your closest unit is still with AVCGA or VMRAQ, follow the links to find out about volunteer opportunities. If your local unit has joined MRQ, express your interest in becoming a volunteer.