Late last year the NSW Firearms Registry called for those interested in being a part of the Firearms Licence Qualification Course (FLQC) Consultative Group. The purpose of this group is to update the existing framework that includes the current structure, approval and criteria for course materials and instructor accreditation.

The New South Wales FLQC was developed in 2006 in conjunction with various stakeholders, including the NSW Firearms Registry, and aligned with the standards outlined in ‘Minimum National Standards for Firearms Safety Training in Australia’. These minimum standards were published by the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department in 2006 and agreed to by all Australian States and Territories.

In 2014, a request was made seeking ownership of the FLQC so it could be updated due to numerous legislation amendments that had occurred since its development. In December 2014, this request was approved. Currently, four versions of the FLQC are approved by the NSW Firearms Registry:

• Safe Shooting Course Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW).
• Firearms Registry Firearms Licence Qualification Course.
• DPI Hunter LEAP Firearms and Hunting Safety (Long-arms) Course.
• Firearm Safety & Training Council.

Most recently SSAA NSW were asked to present our course material and processes to NSWFR who sought the following clarification.

• History of the SSAA NSW course – changes / developments.
• Current Learning Resources and method of delivery.
• Current Assessment requirements and method of delivery.
• Criteria and process for approval of SSAA NSW course instructors.

Other than course content (Theory and Practical components), it is envisaged that there will be some focus placed on the instructor accreditation, I will keep you updated as matters progress.

Should your Branch require assistance from SSAA NSW in accrediting fresh Firearms Safety Trainer Instructors please be sure to call SSAA NSW on (02) 7900 1555 or email admin@nsw.ssaa.org.au requesting assistance.

SSAA NSW RANGE OFFICER / RANGE OFFICER TRAINER WORKSHOP.

During the past 12 months I have traveled NSW assisting SSAA NSW Branches with Range Officer (RO) accreditations and reaccreditations. During this time, I have been fortunate to reacquaint with old friends and make new ones along the way which has been very fulfilling.

This experience has also given me the opportunity to gauge a better sense from those who undertake the RO role in terms of what they (you) see as being important going into the future. To this end in coming months (as mentioned in the field) I will be seeking those likeminded people who wish to be a part of a working group that undertakes to review our current RO and RO Trainer curriculum and accreditations.

I am confident that this process will serve to update our current teachings and learnings which are more relevant to current times and look forward to those of you who are willing to lend a hand.

See you on the range.

Peter Szaak.

The post Range/Branch Matters – March 2024 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

The conversation focussed on what advantages to public safety were being served by New South Wales Firearms Registry (NSWFR) stipulating, that each individual match which was required to be recognised by NSWFR then added to an SRA prior to it being shot at the range.

SSAA NSW concerns relating to this requirement were that the process of adding and or removing matches was time-consuming and unnecessarily added extra workload to NSWFR staff.

Adding to SSAA NSW concerns it was raised that the process of making an amendment to the SRA involved having to send a request to NSWFR, and await a response seeking approval, not before then having to further wait for the updated SRA to be sent to a Branch, which at times based on other NSWFR priorities took time and impacted on the ability for members to shoot matches which SSAA NSW deemed to be safe.

To support SSAA NSW’s view, the following was offered.

*When the NSWFR defines a range, it does so by determining the size of the land, topography other factors such as, are their neighbouring properties, etc. Once this has been established the range is then classified, which is itemised on the SRA as the No Danger Area etc.

*From this point the NSWFR Range Compliance Officer then determines what ammunition can be used on the range, which again is stipulated on the SRA as approved ammunition.

It was further suggested that once this process was completed by the range compliance officer, in that they had determined what was the type of range (range danger area employed) and what ammunition is to be used (approved ammunition), this information met the threshold of range safety which could then be applied by SSAA NSW Branches across the state, who could review match rules and determine what matches could be shot on the range safely.

After some deliberation, NSWFR agreed to remove matches which has led to a redesign of the Shooting Range Approval, which no longer defines what matches can be shot and has permitted Branches (Range Approval Holder) to consider whether they would like to introduce other approved matches to the range.

Whilst I am very pleased with this outcome for this to occur, the Branch Committee (Range Approval Holder) must ensure that all matches being shot at the range have been sanctioned by SSAA NSW.

To complement this agreed position with the regulator the SSAA NSW Board of Directors has agreed to endorse a process that permits a consideration, that allows for side matches to be introduced. This process involves the relevant state Discipline Chair, state Discipline Coordinator, and the state Firearms Regulatory & Compliance Manager who sit and review the match rules and course of fire being proposed. Once this process has been undertaken and if the match is approved, this then allows for the match to be shot at an SSAA NSW range that is consistent with SSAA NSW’s commitment to our members and public safety.

Regards Peter Szaak NSW Firearms Regulatory & Compliance Manager See you on the range.

As always, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter@nsw.ssaa.org.au

See you on the range.

Pete Szaak JP
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – December 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

Fair to say that I couldn’t have been made to feel any more welcome whilst delivering these workshops, which from all accounts based on the feedback received very positively.

To assist further, I thought it may help by providing information that would allow Branches (seeking RO
training) to consider how they would like to undergo this process.

As you would know, to better inform our Range Officers in terms of current safety processes, there is a
requirement for Range Officers and Range Officer Trainers to complete a reaccreditation every 5 years.

This process is being delivered within an adult learning environment and to better assist me in assisting those Branches that require the training (you), I have two options to choose from.

Whilst in certain circumstances there may be an opportunity to provide this training online
via teams or Zoom, in most instances it is preferred that the training is conducted in person.

Options:

i.

(a) Target Audience:

1. Reaccreditation for Range Officers, Range Officer trainers, OR those nominated (via Branch committee) in becoming a Range Officer Trainer.

(b) Session delivery timings:

1. Approx. 3.5 hours.

(c) Assessment criteria: (candidates are required to.)

1. Complete the theory exam 100% pass mark.
2. Demonstrate safe handling of firearms.
3. Range Officer Trainers able to demonstrate knowledge of course curriculum and course outcomes.

i.

(a) Target Ausience:

1. Range Officer – reaccreditation.
2. Candidates – nominated to become a Range Officer.
3. Or both.

(b) Session delivery timings:

1. approx. 6.5 hours.

(c) Assessment criteria:

1. Range Officer Trainers to deliver the course as per the session plan.
2. RO Trainers are required to demonstrate that they can communicate effectively.
3. RO Trainers understood and can apply the current RO Course curriculum to gain course outcomes.

Once qualified members will be issued the credential as a card, with now some improvements inclusive of
Range Officer Trainers now being identified and the card having an expiry date.

Looking forward to your like-minded company….

See you on the range.

Peter Szaak JP.
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – October 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

If it is the case that this has lapsed, please contact SSAA NSW as soon as possible via admin@nsw.ssaa.org.au allowing for arrangements to be made to assist. We are very happy to assist and are organising reaccreditation around NSW.

In recent times whilst being present, assisting Branches during an NSW Firearms Registry club/range review, several topics relating to Club Approvals, Shooting Range Approvals, and P650 requirements became discussion points.

As I listened to the questions being asked by the Branch officials, I thought it may be useful for the answers to be more broadly communicated.

Did you know…

1. That when applying for a Shooting Range Approval (SRA) renewal, which comes around every 5 years, providing the Branch has forwarded the renewal application before the expiry of the existing SRA, the range has a continuing authority to operate. When the SRA is due for renewal the NSW Firearms Registry will forward the range approval holder all the necessary documentation allowing 90 days to submit the required information. IMPORTANT Please be sure that you complete this requirement, as failing to do so may result in the range having to cease its operations.
2. If your Branch has club firearms, NSW Firearms Registry requires that a register be used to track the movements of these firearms. Please ensure that you retain this register and maintain its currency.
3. When a person is shooting on the range under the authority of a P650, it is a mandatory requirement that this person is supervised one on one. Please ensure that this requirement is always strictly maintained.
4. Please check that the version of the P650 form you are using at your Branch is the most recent version as it has changed, the current version is, version 1.7 Jan 2021.
5. When NSW Firearm Registry Compliance Officers attend your Branch to review the club record, branch officials may be asked to provide the following: A copy of the club P650 forms from the last two (2) years, any “attendance” registers, and any ‘Sighting in’ registers. Please ensure that these documents are maintained accurately and readily available should they be requested by either NSW Firearm Registry or Police.
6. If your Branch Club Approval has licenses attached to it such as Hunting and or Collecting, you may be asked to evidence the membership against each of these categories. To maintain these licenses, the requirement is that the membership has a minimum of 10 persons. (Note if your Branch is in a small populated Local Government Area, there is the capacity for the Commissioner to consider lowering the number to 5, however, this must be evidenced.)

To assist in ensuring that the P650 form is being completed correctly, I thought that it may be useful if I provided the following information which has been set out in the same order that the form is:

COMPLETING A P650 FORM

Section A – Personal Details

The ‘Name’ box should show your full legal name. This should be the name on your birth certificate, marriage certificate, change of name certificate, or passport. Complete address and date of birth. Insert the details of the photographic identification supplied and the photo ID number. In the case of a minor, photo identification of the parent or legal guardian completing the consent in section D must be supplied.

Section B – Personal History

The questions in section B of the form relate to your personal history. It is an offence to provide information that is false and misleading, and you must answer all the questions honestly and correctly.

Section C – Declaration

The declaration form must be signed and dated by the applicant. By signing the declaration, you are confirming that: You understand it is an offence to supply false or misleading information and you certify that all the information contained in the declaration is true and correct; You agree to the NSW Police Force making inquiries to establish that the information you have supplied about the application is true and correct.

Section D – Minor

Written consent is required for a person aged between 12 – 18 years (a minor). This section must be completed and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor. The photographic identification of the parent or legal guardian must be supplied to the club official, range official, or instructor and this is written in section A.

Section E – Certification

Section E is completed by the club official, range official, or instructor. The box will be marked showing whether the applicant is authorised to shoot and whether the section is completed and signed by the official or instructor. Remember once a P650 form has been completed, if you are in doubt about the applicant’s ability to participate, it’s your call as to whether the person is permitted to shoot or not.

As always, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter@nsw.ssaa.org.au

See you on the range.

Pete Szaak JP
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – April-May 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

The responsibility of a Registry Range Compliance officer is to determine whether your range is fit for purpose. In other words, is your range safe to accommodate the shooting disciplines and activities your Branches/clubs intends to host.

This assessment of safety is not only limited to the activities of members within your range. It must also consider the safety of your neighbours; those who occupy the surrounding areas.

In terms of the branches, Compliance Officers are also there to conduct a review of how it is being managed. In short, this ensures that it complies with the approvals and licences that underpin its authority to operate consistent with NSW firearms laws and regulations.

When these important boxes have been ticked, the compliance officers can issue a Shooting Range Approval (SRA), which generally is effective for 5 years and further support the continuance of an approval.

Your SRA comes with a “range report” that provides all the inspection results, including any matters that need to be sorted out by the branch (such as improvements to current safety measures, or recommendations to introduce further safety measures).

When your branch is preparing for a range/Branch inspection, it is recommended that the range approval holder and committee review the previous range report to ensure that any items that required rectifying have been addressed.

Generally, the Compliance Officers want to leave your range certain that the conditions of the current SRA are being followed, and confident that the Branch and range are being maintained appropriately to host the expressed activities and disciplines as endorsed by SSAA NSW.

Items that compliance officers review include the following:

Range:

•             Gates, warning signs (public safety requirements).

•             The current range approval and compliance with conditions, matches, ammunition, etc.

•             Range Standing Orders.

•             Emergency actions.

•             Authorised firearms, ammunition, and practices.

•             Clearly identified lanes, targets and firing points.

•             Back splash and ricochet hazards.

•             Required safety signage displayed and safety equipment.

•             Access / egress

•             Visibility of required mantlet face from all firing points.

•             Full exposure of all targets from all firing points.

•             Ground, free of ricochet inducing material/s.

•             Firing point dimensions, construction, alignment, and profiles.

•             Clearance over mantlet crest board.

•             Bullet catcher, scooping / tunnelling.

•             Quadrant elevation.

•             Template alignment.

•             Intermediate target mantlet profile, height, and width.

•             Fixed arc markers.

•             Movement box markers.

•             Safety templates

•             Sidewall height and construction.

•             Pattering board and skeet tower location and condition.

•             Location of trap house.

•             Pads not raised.

•             Target distance marker.

•             Target crossing point.

•             Shooting cage.

Branches:

•             Current approvals.

•             Current Firearms licence.

•             Club firearms and safe storage.

•             Club armourer.

•             Club executives.

•             Club approval holder.

•             P650 declarations (completion).

•             Club ‘active’ membership (numbers).

•             Participation requirements and submission of annual returns.

•             On-boarding to, usage of ‘Gun Safe’ for transactions.

•             Maintenance of attendance registers and validation of bona-fides.

The NSW Firearms Registry has recently commenced the roll out of an improved Shooting Range Approval template that no longer lists the events (that is, matches and disciplines). The new SRA focuses more on the range danger area employed and the approved ammunition.

This now allows branches to host matches and disciplines that are sanctioned by SSAA NSW (that is, it has match rules) without requiring the match to be added to the SRA, providing that we have a clear understanding that the match being conducted meets the authorised ammunition as shown on the Shooting Range Approval.

Nevertheless, please be vigilant in communicating this requirement to your members and Range Officers.

As always, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter@nsw.ssaa.org.au

See you on the range.

Pete Szaak JP
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – March 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

When you get down to the nuts and bolts of a club’s everyday operations, there are few roles as important as a confident, knowledgeable, and diligent Range Officer. Your Branch Committee leads the club, of course, but Range Officers provide important leadership for shooters on the range.

The current SSAA NSW Range Officer Information Booklet is clear on the matter: “Range Officers have the vital role of ensuring the safety of all users of the Range, while at the same time ensuring that all the Range Approval conditions are being met. Without Range Officers, we wouldn’t be able to open our Ranges. They are essential to the sport.”

It goes on: “The Range Officer has total control over range activities …”

Think about that. What a massive responsibility, and what a great opportunity to take your sports shooting to the next level. Qualified Range Officers develop deep knowledge of range protocols and procedures, good people skills, and a sense of pride and achievement in leading the daily operations of a safe shooting range.

Our booklet is a handy read. It covers nearly everything your branch needs to know, from the Range Officers Code of Conduct & Ethics to the full range of procedures for opening and operating your range.

But things change, laws are amended, and the way we do things evolve. In that context, Branch Committees know better than anyone how challenging it can be to convert policy into good practice.

So, how can the SSAA NSW continue to support people to step-up and become qualified in this vital role?

Rest assured, more opportunities to undertake Range Officer training is on the agenda. SSAA NSW wants volunteer Range Officers to have the training, capacity, and status to match their considerable responsibilities.

To that end, I intend to lead a review of the current SSAA NSW Range Officer policy, procedures, and related training courses, with a focus on maintaining the highest levels of safety for all members. We cannot do this alone and from ‘above’. SSAA NSW will need a working party of likeminded, credentialed members from the branches and membership to assist in this project. I will be seeking your expressions of interest.

On all matters, engagement with and input from the branches is essential.

I recently attended a committee meeting at a branch in a regional town to provide advice on the governance of branch meetings. This very positive meeting led to improvements in the administrative processes (meeting notices, agendas, minutes etc) and has helped the club to get on top of the fundamentals. If your branch is on top of the fundamentals, you can focus on the fun bit: sports shooting.

I’m keen to continue getting out to the branches and working with you on whatever it is you need. On behalf of SSAA NSW, do not hesitate to contact me for assistance.

I will be reaching out to support your branch in readiness for the scheduled NSW Firearms Registry Branch/Range Inspections.

Thanks to those who wrote to me, congratulating and welcoming me to my new role in the SSAA NSW.

As always, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter@nsw.ssaa.org.au

See you on the range.

Pete Szaak JP
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – February 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.

An important part of my role as the Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager for SSAA NSW is to provide direct support to those volunteers in your branch.

Many branch committee members would know me from my time as the Manager of Firearms Industry and Regulation at the NSW Firearms Registry where I worked with Peak Associations to assist with range, club, dealers, and permit compliance.

Prior to that, I worked in policing, mostly in rural and regional settings across the state. One of my many roles was to train other police and I have extensive experience and expertise in weapons instruction and procedures.

On a personal note, I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Bathurst and learnt to value firearms as a fundamental tool for primary producers. I have also been a keen recreational shooter for the better part of 37 years.

Wherever your branch is in its development, whatever firearm disciplines are your focus, my job is to draw upon my experience and support branch committees to lead well organised, compliant, and safe clubs.

I’ve already had the opportunity to visit several branches and talk with members about their clubs and the kind of support they need. While there are some issues that are specific to single branches, there are also common issues across all branches. In this context, I will be consulting with committees and working to establish a set of resources that are safety and compliance focussed which will save committees time whilst also maintaining a level of consistency across SSAA NSW.

As an example, I am currently engaged with several branches, at their request, to develop a template for Range Standing Orders which would support branches to comply with their operational and legal responsibilities more effectively.

Watch this space.

On that note, this is the first “Range / Branch Matters” column which will become a regular feature of the SSAA NSW ‘WHATS ON’ newsletter. The intention is to address current and emerging issues and provide an additional resource for branch committees and members.

I would like to thank President Lance Miller, the entire SSAA NSW Board, and CEO Jai Rowell for their leadership in creating this important role within the organisation, adding additional services to branches and members.

As always, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter@nsw.ssaa.org.au

See you on the range.

Pete Szaak JP
Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Manager

The post Range/Branch Matters – January 2023 appeared first on SSAA NSW.