The Australian UAV Service

Name

The Australian UAV Service

Legal name

Surf Life Saving NSW – Australian UAV Service (AUAVS)

Website

https://australianuavs.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UAV Aerial Surveillance and Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• UAV surveillance services
• Coastal shark monitoring
• Emergency response drones
• Aerial spatial data
• UAV pilot training

Headquarters

HQ city

Belrose

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NSW Government Shark Surveillance Contract: AUAVS delivers advanced shark/marine coastal surveillance services on behalf of the NSW Government since 2017. From 1 July 2026, the NSW Government's significant investment will deliver the largest expansion of aerial shark surveillance in the world with year-round drone coverage across all Sydney beaches.
2. Managed Services and Consulting: Managed Services offering includes providing UAV services for various industries, regulations building and management (SOPs, ReOC Manuals, compliance, auditing), RePL training, asset provision and maintenance management. Consulting services include keynote speeches and reports on UAV technology applications.
3. Workforce for Hire: Provides expert workforce hire and operational services with over 200 RePL-qualified professionals. Services include UAV-related labour for hire, surge capacity (personnel and equipment on short notice), and flexible team configurations tailored to specific project needs.
4. Training Services: UAV training programs including Operators Induction Program (2-day practical course with online theory component) and Lifesaver Drone Outreach Program for schools. Customised courses available for specific client requirements. UNSW Bachelor of Aviation (RPAS) practical training component delivery.
5. Spatial Data Services: Spatial data services for various industries including rapid damage assessment for NSW SES flood-affected communities, infrastructure inspections following natural disasters for state government, asset management for local government, farm mapping with multispectral sensors, and environmental monitoring of sand dunes.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AUAVS operates and delivers UAV-based aerial surveillance, emergency response, spatial data, training, workforce hire, managed services, and research and development through Surf Life Saving NSW. It deploys a fleet of over 293 UAVs and 300+ pilots across every coastal LGA in NSW to provide real-time coastal shark surveillance, rip current identification, search and rescue, flood response, infrastructure mapping, and licensed pilot training.

Product overview

The Australian UAV Service (AUAVS) operates as a unified service platform delivering the largest coastal UAV surveillance program in the Southern Hemisphere through Surf Life Saving NSW. The core offering is a comprehensive UAV operations service that includes coastal shark and safety surveillance, emergency response, spatial data/mapping services, training programs, managed services, and research and development. The service is delivered through a fleet of over 293 UAVs operated by more than 300 pilots positioned across every coastal LGA in NSW, totaling approximately 40,000 flights annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coastal UAV Surveillance and Safety Real-time aerial shark surveillance, marine life detection, rip current identification, and swimmer safety monitoring across NSW beaches and sporting events. Delivered to NSW Government DPI, Surf Life Saving NSW, and event organisers including World Surf League, Surfing Australia, and Surfing NSW.
• Emergency Response Services Search and rescue, flood reconnaissance, and disaster situational awareness delivered to NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Police, and NSW Rural Fire Service. Uses all-weather capable UAVs with thermal sensors for night-time operations.
• Spatial Data and 3D Mapping UAV-based spatial data services using high-resolution cameras, LiDAR, RTK positioning, and multispectral imaging for detailed maps, 3D models, and environmental visualisations across infrastructure inspection, asset management, and agricultural mapping.
• UAV Training Programs Operator Induction Program (2-day practical course with online theory) for SLSNSW volunteers and staff, plus Lifesaver Drone Outreach Program for school students in partnership with She Maps. RePL training delivered for NSW Rural Fire Service members.
• Workforce for Hire RePL-qualified UAV pilots available on contract to external organisations with 200+ professionals positioned across every coastal LGA in NSW. Includes surge capacity, 24/7 State Operations Centre support, and flexible team configurations.
• Managed Services and Consulting End-to-end UAV capability outsourcing including regulations building (SOPs, ReOC Manuals, compliance, auditing), RePL training, asset provision, maintenance management, and consulting including keynote speeches and reports on UAV technology applications.
• Research and Development Collaborative R&D with academic institutions and industry partners to develop new UAV capabilities, including Drone in a Box remote operations, AI and computer vision integration, and innovative operational methodologies.
• UNSW Bachelor of Aviation (RPAS) Practical Training Delivery of 40 hours of RPAS flight training and commercial experience plus 40 hours of fixed-wing flight training for UNSW students in the Bachelor of Aviation (RPAS) program, including shark identification, search and rescue, photogrammetry, and EVLOS operational scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ flights completed since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNSW (University of New South Wales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS partnered with UNSW in the development and launch of the Bachelor of Aviation (RPAS) program - a first-of-its-kind degree preparing students for careers in the UAV industry. AUAVS provides industry insights, 40 hours of RPAS flight training and commercial experience, and 40 hours of fixed-wing flight training. The partnership includes practical training scenarios such as shark identification, search and rescue, photogrammetry, and extended visual line of sight operations.
• She MapscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS partnered with She Maps to deliver the Lifesaver Drone Outreach Program (LDOP) for school students in Years 5-11 in NSW and ACT. The program focuses on getting more girls involved in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Sessions teach students to fly drones and collect data for projects including the National Koala Monitoring Program.
• NSW State Emergency Service (NSWSES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS was tasked by NSW SES under existing partnership to provide emergency flood response. With pilots based out of every coastal LGA in NSW, AUAVS is capable of tasking UAV pilot teams on-call and sustaining ongoing taskings. Operations included real-time intel to State Emergency Operations Centre, road blockage assessment, and safety checks of on-water rescue crews during major flood events including Lismore, Gosford, Sydney, and regional Western NSW.
• NSW PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS provides Search and Rescue tasking support for NSW Police. With widespread pilot base and all-weather capable UAVs, AUAVS is activated on an on-call basis to continue searches when Westpac Rescue Helicopter cannot operate (night-time or adverse weather). Thermal sensors and LED spotlights enable identification of persons of interest in poor visibility.
• NSW Rural Fire ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS delivered four Operator Induction Programs (OIPs) to NSW RFS members across the state in Armidale, Dubbo, Queanbeyan, and Sydney. Members completed Remote Pilots License (RePL) in combination with OIP and learned about emergency response management with UAVs using DJI Flight Hub intelligence platform.
• AFAC (Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAUAVS participates in AFAC Conference - Australasia's largest emergency management conference and exhibition. AUAVS demonstrates capabilities to attendees including Drone in a Box solutions and hosts visitors at headquarters for live demonstrations of thermal imagery search scenarios.
• Sativus Pty LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAVS collaborated with Sativus Pty Ltd and Australian Citizen Science Association to deliver Lifesaver Drone Outreach Program sessions to students and staff from several schools at Paradise Country. Students learned to fly drones and collect data for the National Koala Monitoring Program.
• Australian Citizen Science AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AUAVS and Sativus Pty Ltd to deliver drone education sessions as part of National Koala Monitoring Program. The global citizen science story will be showcased by United Nations Environment Program and Citizen Science Global Partnership at UN Geospatial Network Conference in New York.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/slsnsw
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/surflifesavingnsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/surflifesavingnsw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-australian-uav-service
• Instagraminstagram.com/slsnsw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Australian UAV Service