Surf Life Saving South Australia modernises mission‑critical communications with omnicore Express dispatch

CASE STUDY | omnicore Express Dispatch

Overview

Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSA) operates a complex, safety‑critical communications environment supporting volunteer and professional lifesaving crews across South Australia’s extensive coastline. From coordinating rescues and patrols to managing large‑scale incidents and inter‑agency responses, the organisation depends on reliable, flexible, and interoperable radio dispatch technology.

A long‑standing Omnitronics customer since 2012, SLSA has progressively evolved its communications capability from early RediTALK and RediTALK-Flex deployments through to a modern Omnitronics omnicore Express dispatch environment. Today, omnicore dispatch sits at the heart of SLSA’s State Operations Centre (SOC), enabling seamless interoperability between coastal DMR radio networks, the South Australian Government Radio Network (P25), VHF Marine channels, GIS systems, the Eventide recording platform, and remote operations.

Growing Complexity

The Problem

Surf Life Saving South Australia operates in a uniquely demanding communications environment. Its operations span a vast coastline supported by a distributed radio network, while incident response frequently extends beyond the coverage of its own infrastructure. This requires constant interaction with external agencies, including government radio networks and marine services, often under time‑critical conditions.

Historically, SLSA relied on console‑level audio patching to bridge networks during incidents. While functional in emergencies, this approach introduced limitations such as audio dropouts and inconsistent performance during short transmissions. As operational complexity increased, these constraints became more apparent.

Compounding this challenge was the diverse operator base. The State Operations Centre (SOC) supports highly technical users alongside volunteer operators who may only use the system intermittently. SLSA needed a dispatch solution that could scale in capability without increasing operational risk or training overhead, while also supporting remote access outside normal staffed hours.

Defining the Brief

Requirements

To support its evolving operational model, Surf Life Saving South Australia defined a clear set of requirements for its next‑generation dispatch environment. At the core was the need for true network‑level interoperability, allowing operators to seamlessly patch and manage communications across the Tait DMR Tier II, Motorola Phase 1 and 2 trunked P25 government radio networks, and VHF Marine channels.

The organisation also required a dispatch interface flexible enough to support both advanced users and volunteers, without compromising reliability or situational awareness. Integration with existing systems, particularly Esri ArcGIS for geospatial intelligence and external recording platforms, was essential.

Equally important was resilience. SLSA wanted the ability to operate without a dedicated backup control room, relying instead on secure remote access and network‑centric architecture. Wherever possible, the solution needed to leverage existing Omnitronics infrastructure to protect long‑term investment and support gradual system evolution.

omnicore Express

The Solution

Surf Life Saving South Australia implemented Omnitronics omnicore Express as the central dispatch platform within its State Operations Centre. The system is deployed across four permanent operator positions and forms the operational hub for radio, mapping, recording, and interoperability functions.

Designed and commissioned by CartGIS, the solution integrates SLSA’s coastal DMR Tier II radio network with the South Australian Government Radio Network (P25) and standard VHF Marine channels via Omnitronics gateways. Network‑level voice recording is handled by an Eventide recorder, while real‑time location data is visualised through Esri ArcGIS.

A key architectural decision was to remove physical radios from operator desks. Instead, operators connect directly into the radio networks via IP, improving reliability and simplifying workstation design. Touch‑screen consoles, foot pedals, and wireless headsets (via omnihub2) support multiple operating styles, while the network‑centric design allows the SOC to be relocated quickly if required.

Real-World Impact

Benefits

Interoperability across agencies and networks

omnicore Express enables SLSA to dynamically patch disparate radio networks in real time. This capability has proven invaluable during after‑hours and remote operations. In one example, an on‑call officer located outside the surf radio coverage area successfully patched a P25 government talkgroup into the coastal Tait DMR network, maintaining full operational control from home.

Faster, simpler response

By consolidating dispatch control within omnicore and moving away from tablet‑based workflows, SLSA significantly reduced response times. Operators can now establish patches, access audio, and manage incidents with a single action, which is particularly critical during urgent callouts.

Operator‑focused design

The system supports a wide range of operator preferences. Advanced users can customise screen layouts and workflows, while volunteers can rely on simple, tactile controls such as foot pedals. One‑touch switching between speakers and headsets further reduces friction during incident escalation.

Advanced control and messaging

SLSA makes extensive use of omnicore’s operational tools, including instant recall playback, text messaging to radios, and remote radio stun and revive. Text messaging is frequently used to identify unknown radios detected via AVL, while stun functionality supports lost, stolen, or stuck‑PTT radios without permanent or temporary deactivation.

Resilience without complexity

Rather than maintaining a dedicated backup control room, SLSA relies on omnicore’s IP‑based architecture and secure remote access. Dispatch operations can be re‑established quickly from alternate locations using minimal hardware, aligning with the organisation’s broader business continuity strategy.

Customer Testimonial

Building Confidence

Training

Training within Surf Life Saving South Australia must accommodate both professional staff and volunteers who may operate the system infrequently. omnicore’s intuitive interface reduces the initial training burden, while dedicated intercom channels allow realistic training scenarios without impacting live operations.

As part of a broader review of SOC training, SLSA is also exploring Omnitronics’ omniacademy online training resources to support both operator refreshers and technical upskilling.

Partner Testimonial

Omnitronics Testimonial

The Dispatch Solution

Network Diagram