Is AUSSAR not the org with full responsibility for SAR in Oz? If so, it is up to them to provide enough training funds whether it be for ground, sea or air SAR. That responsibility comes from international conventions.
Here in Canada, SAR falls under the responsibility of National Defence and Coast Guard. Along with these full-time boys are the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. Both receive extensive funding through National Defence and the National Search & Rescue Secretariat.
I can't speak on currency training with the CGAux, but CASARA train virtually every weekend or two, with at least 2 full-blown Sarex's every year in each region.
Seems from what you say, that either the Oz government is not allocating enough SAR funds, or that Aussar isn't using those funds properly.
