About Us
Who Are We?
Marine Rescue Bribie Island is a volunteer organisation that comprises two teams working together to protect our community.
Our operational unit is part of Marine Rescue Queensland, and is known as "MRQ Bribie Island".
Our locally-based supporters association is known as "Marine Rescue Bribe Island".
Together we are dedicated to:
- Providing and supporting a 24/7 volunteer based on-water rescue and assistance service to the boating community.
- Promoting, fostering and supporting boating safety amongst members and the boating public
- Supporting the volunteers who provide a 24/7 marine rescue and assistance service to the boating community.
What We Do Together
Our objective is to make boating safe in our community.
We do this principally through a number of channels:
- We provide a 24/7 "search and rescue" service, with our three rescue vessels and qualified crew available at all times.
- We provide a radio monitoring and logon/logoff service 365 days a year, from 5am-6pm, and monitor our emergency telephone 24/7
- We offer community information sessions and seminars on boating safety, and we attend community functions to encourage boating safety.
- We encourage interaction amongst the boating community through social and community functions
We also work with Police, Ambulance, Fire and other disaster agencies to keep our community safe on the water. We support community maritime activities, providing safety boats where appropriate.
Our priority is always the safety of lives at sea, including that of our members, the community and our crews. Recovery of property is secondary, however we will always act with common sense and compassion.
While towing disabled or stranded vessels is a part of our work, our focus is on the people aboard the vessel. We are not permitted to undertake salvage work or to tow unseaworthy, uninsured or unregistered vessels - other than where there is life at risk.
For further information, check out our Breakdowns and Assistance page.
How did we evolve?
The unit arose from the Bribie Island Boating and Fishing Club, which in 1970 assumed responsibility for assisting mariners in distress.
We became Bribie Island Air Sea Rescue in 1982, and we changed our name to Volunteer Marine Rescue Bribie Island Inc in March 1997.
In August 2025, our operational rescue unit became a unit of Marine Rescue Queensland, which is a statewide marine rescue organisation.
Marine Rescue Bribie Island continues, as it has for over 50 years, as a local incorporated association supporting our boating community.
Structure of Marine Rescue Bribie Island
Our operational unit, "MRQ Bribie Island", is one of 45 units operating under the umbrella of Marine Rescue Queensland, which is a Queensland Government entity.
Our supporters association, Marine Rescue Bribie Island Supporters Association Inc, is an independent, incorporated association, with our own local management structure and decision making.
Every person involved with Marine Rescue Bribie Island is a volunteer - whether operational or in a supporting role.
While MRQ has paid staff to manage the statewide organisation, our local unit is 100% volunteer-operated.
MRQ Bribie 'self-activates' at the request of members and the public requiring assistance, as well as being activated by MRQ or Water Police as required.
We liaise with the Water Police for many operations, particularly major Search and Rescue (SAR) activities which are controlled by the Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator (SARMC) who is a police officer. We also work with QAS for medevac work, and QFES for fire support work. We are a part of the Moreton Bay Region disaster management structure.
Primary emphasis is placed on safety, with the safety of crew members and members of the public being the first priority in all we do. The master of each Rescue Vessel has responsibility for his crew and vessel as the primary consideration before carrying out rescue work.
How are we Funded?
MRQ Bribie Island (which is our operational unit) is funded by the Queensland Government. This means that the state pays for the capital and operating costs of our vessels, radio operations and base, and also pays for the training and equipping of our crews.
Marine Rescue Bribie Island - our local supporters association - provides services to our volunteers, community and members that are not funded by the state. We receive no regular Government funding.
This is the same association that has been supporting our community on Bribie Island for 50 years.
The majority of funding we receive is through memberships, fundraising, donations and sponsorships, and the occasional special purpose grant.
We also receive support from local businesses. Busy Fingers Fundraisers, who are an amazing group of volunteers, make a regular contribution to a range of projects. Sandstone Point Hotel generously allows us to undertake fundraising activities at their major functions. Marting Jonkers Motors generously provides a vehicle for use by the supporters association.