Australian Citizens Radio Emergency Monitors Inc.
Victorian Region
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Welcome to the ACREM-VIC Home Page
Welcome to the Victorian Region of the Australian Citizens Radio Emergency Monitors (ACREM). This site is still being constructed so please check back regularly as more will be added in the near future.
ACREM is a group of trained volunteers supplying a monitoring service on the CB band emergency channels, relaying calls for assistance from the community to the required services. Each year in Australia, despite the prevelence of mobile telephones, thousands of calls for help are received by volunteer emergency monitors on the CB bands and relayed to the required services.
What We Do:
ACREM's primary objective is to provide a voluntary monitoring service on the CB emergency channels, relaying calls for assistance from the community to the required services. This is considered especially important during major emergencies and other incidents when the emergency channels may be needed even more. ACREM does not provide support personnel to other services unless requested and volunteer monitoirng services will not be effected.
Monitors also broadcast Severe Weather Warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology in some regions, warning the community of impending severe weather events such as severe thunderstorms, strong winds, fire weather and flood warnings.
ACREM National also represents the interests of all CB enthusiasts to relevant government departments on important matters when needed. This is usually done through the National body and co-ordinated with other groups such as ACBRO.
ACREM Monitors are trained in emergency radio and monitoring procedures and volunteer their time and equipment to help their community. Even though mobile telephones are extremely common these days, CB is still fitted into almost every truck, and in many 4WD's and cars, and is often used to report incidents such as traffic accidents, fires, breakdowns, etc. UHF CB is very common in rural regions, especially in places where mobile phone coverage is poor or when conventional communications may fail due to storms or bushfires.
ACREM Members are covered by the public liability and volunteer workers insurance cover taken out by the National body. (visit the National website for more details on this coverage).
Emergency Channels
The Australian Government has legislated that certain channels on the CB Bands are reserved for emergency use only. This affects all radio equipment that utilises the Australian CB bands, including 27MHz and UHF CB, "Personal UHF Radio", 40 or 38 channel UHF Radio, "Licnece Free" UHF Radio, etc. As at January 2007 the maximum penalties for the misuse of the legally allocated CB emergency channels are:
- For general misuse - if an individual 2 years imprisonment, otherwise $165,000 (a $220 on-the-spot fine can be issued in minor cases); or
- For interference to an actual call - if an individual 5 years imprisonment, otherwise $550,000 (no on-the-spot fine can be issued, must go to court)
So, what are the Australian CB Emergency Channels?
UHF CB Band: Channels 5 and 35 (channel 35 is used as the input for emergency channel repeaters)
HF CB Band: Channel 9 (on 40 or 23 channel sets. Channel 5 on old 18 channel sets).
You can read more about this on our National website at http://www.acrem.org.au/info/emergency.php
