Go beyond being a technician, become a scholar!

Swiftwater Scholar® is a unique academic experience for existing swiftwater rescue technicians to take them to the next level through an intensive programme covering a wide range of contemporary theory  modules including:

1. Introduction to Swiftwater Responder
2. Introduction to Swiftwater Technician
3. Introduction to Swiftwater Vehicle Rescue
4. Swiftwater Breathing Apparatus (SWBA®) Awareness
5. ECHO risk assessment tool
6. Targeted Incident Planning System (TIPS™)
7. Animal Emergency Management Fundamentals
8. Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Command (in development, available mid-2026)
9. And completion of a capstone assignment.

Developed by Dr Steve Glassey, this proprietary programme is exclusive to Public Safety Institute is delivered fully online.

Co-requisite:

Participants must hold a recognised and current swiftwater rescue technician certification and upload this for verification before completing submission of the capstone assignment.

For the purposes of Swiftwater Scholar®, the following are acceptable on a case-by-case basis:

• IPSQA DefraPass Module 3 Flood & Swiftwater Technician
• IPSQA Certificate in Public Safety (Swiftwater Technician)
• PUASAR002 Australian Competency - swiftwater technician
• Rescue 3 Swiftwater Rescue Technician
• DEFRA Module 3 Flood Rescue Technician
• NFPA 1006 Swiftwater or Flood Rescue Technician

Target Audience:

This course is ideal for team leaders, technical advisors, subject matter experts, instructors from both civilian and military units who are seeking professional development that is both academically and practically challenging.

Duration:

The course is normally taught with 40 hours of self-directed online learning, followed by capstone assignment (20-60 hours).

Capstone:

The capstone assignment is the final assignment where the student must submit one of the following:

1. Technical report
2. Literature review
3. Academic journal article (such as Journal of Search & Rescue)
4. Two (2) Magazine articles (such as Technical Rescue or Wilderness SAR magazine) to meet minimum word count

The submission must be that of student's own work, provided in English, word count 1500-3500 words, meet the standard of a year 1 university level assignment including meeting academic integrity requirements. Capstone assignments are marked as either merit, pass, restricted pass, or fail.

Optional Merchandise:

Successful graduates of the Swiftwater Scholar® programme, are also eligible to purchase for their own use, the challenge coin and lapel pin pack.

Start now your online study to become a Swiftwater Scholar.

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