Education Pathways

The SLS First Aid course and its aligned units of competencies provides members with the skills and knowledge required to effectively manage emergency first aid situations and deliver emergency care until the arrival of advanced medical care personnel.

Members who hold this award may patrol as SLS First Aid Officers. Proficiency in this award is renewed every 3 years by participating in a SLS First Aid course.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised:

• HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (12-month validity)
• HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support  (3-year validity)
• HLTAID011 Provide first aid (3-year validity)

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 14 years

Course duration:

Approximately 8 Hours

The SLSA Advanced Resuscitation Techniques course and its aligned unit of competency provides members with the skills and knowledge required to effectively use specialised equipment during an emergency and deliver advanced resuscitation until the arrival of advanced medical care personnel.

Members who hold this award may patrol as SLS Advanced Resuscitation Operators. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised HLTAID015 Provide Advanced Resuscitation unit of competency with a 3-year validity.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 15 years
• A current First Aid / HLTAID011 unit of competency

Course duration:

Approximately 8 Hours

The SLSA Bronze Medallion and Certificate II Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) provides members with skills and knowledge related to workplace safety, radio operations, surf awareness, aquatic rescue operations, resuscitation, emergency care, communication, teamwork, spinal management and patrol operations.

Members who hold this award may patrol in the role of an entry-level lifesaver on patrol and as water safety personnel for SLS events. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

This award includes and builds upon the SLSA Surf Rescue Certificate.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised PUA20119 Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) which includes the following units of competency:

1. PUAOPE013 Operate communications systems and equipment
2. PUASAR012 Apply surf awareness and self-rescue skills
3. PUASAR013 Participate in an aquatic rescue operation
4. HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support (3-year validity)
5. PUACOM001 Communicate in the workplace
6. PUATEA001 Work in a team
7. PUATEA004 Work effectively in a public safety organisation
8. PUAWHS001 Follow defined work health & safety policies & procedures

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 15 years
• Complete an unaided swim of 400m in 9 minutes or less (goggles and masks permitted) in a swimming pool of not less than 25m, or over a measured open water course which will be observed before participating in any aquatic training.

Course duration:

A minimum of 6 full days*. This may be completed during 2-3 hour sessions over several evenings and weekends or through a series of full-day sessions.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach the required competency levels before assessment.

The SLSA Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue provides members with skills and knowledge to participate in search and rescue (SAR) operations during a search and rescue incident.

This includes knowledge and skills related to the different stages of a Search and Rescue incident, the Australasian Inter-agency Incident Management System (AIIMS), SMEAC plans, creating search areas, police-handover and advanced water-entry techniques.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members receive the SLSA Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 16 years
• Complete an unaided swim of 400m in 8 minutes or less (goggles and masks permitted) in a swimming pool of not less than 25m, or over a measured open water course which will be observed before participating in any aquatic training.

Course duration:

A minimum of 2 full days*. This may be completed during two 3-hour sessions and a full-day session or through a series of two full-day sessions.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach required competency levels before assessment.

The SLSA Gold Medallion provides members with a benchmark of fitness and endurance that meets the minimum requirements for work with the Australian Lifeguard Service in NSW.

This benchmark includes:

1. Swim 800m in under 14 minutes in an open-water course not more than 400m in length or a swimming pool of no less than 25m in length, unaided and in freestyle.
2. Complete a mission test of a 400m swim, 800m run, 400m board paddle, and 800m run in under 25 minutes.
3. Complete a tube rescue of an unconscious patient 100m out at sea
4. Complete a board rescue of a novice swimmer 200m out at sea.
5. Perform a complex patient rescue, including selecting equipment, returning the victim to shore and treating the victim appropriately, and completing post-operational requirements.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members receive the SLSA Gold Medallion. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 17 years
• Proficient SLSA Bronze Medallion
• Proficient SLS First Aid award
• Proficient Advanced Resuscitation Techniques certificate
• Proficient Silver Medallion Beach Management or Silver Medallion Patrol Captain (v2022)

Course duration:

A minimum of 1 full day* to complete the fitness benchmarks.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach the required competency levels before assessment.

The SLSA Silver Medallion Inflatable Rescue Boat Driver (SMIRBD) award and its aligned units of competencies provides members with skills and knowledge to effectively drive and manage an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) in rescue operations and as part of a water safety team.

Members who hold this award may patrol in the role of an IRB Driver. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised PUASAR014 Operate and maintain small power craft and motor for rescue operations and PUAEQ001 Prepare, maintain and test response equipment units of competency.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum age of 17 years for assessment
• Minimum age of 16 years to commence training
• Proficient SLSA Bronze Medallion
• Proficient in IRB Crew

Course duration:

A minimum of 30.5 hours*. This is made up of 30min-4 hour sessions covering 10 topics that includes several different IRB driver techniques.

Note: This course also includes the completion of a pre-course workbook/ theory assessment to ensure that you meet the NSW marine licencing requirements during training. This allows you to drive an IRB for Surf Life Saving activities only and is an exemption agreement between SLSNSW and NSW Maritime.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach required competency levels plus prepare an IRB and drive it safely in a variety of surf conditions prior to assessment.

The SLSA Rescue Water Craft (RWC) Operator award and its aligned units of competencies provides members with skills and knowledge to effectively drive and manage a RWC in search and rescue operations and as part of a water safety team.

Members who hold this SLSNSW State and Branch delivered award may patrol and support operations in the role of an RWC Operator. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised PUAEQ001 Prepare, maintain and test response equipment and PUASAR016 Operate and maintain a personal watercraft for rescue operations units of competency.

SLSNSW Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum age of 18 years for assessment
• Minimum age of 17 years to commence training
• Current SLSA Bronze Medallion and Certificate II Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue)
• Hold a current and valid driver’s licence with towing capacity (minimum green Ps)

Note:

• SLS RWC Operators in NSW are required to complete the SLSNSW Rescue Services Member Application Form
• After completing the RWC Operator Course, SLS members in NSW are required to go through a Probationary RWC Operator period as per the latest SLSNSW Rescue Services MemberAppointment Procedure.
• Some SLS Branches in NSW may have additional pre-requisites. Please check with your Branch Director of Education and Lifesaving if this is the case for your branch.

Course duration:

A minimum of 15-20 hours*. This is made up of 1-4+ hour sessions covering 5 topics that include several different RWC operator techniques.

Note:

This course also includes completing a pre-course workbook/theory assessment to ensure that you meet the NSW marine licencing requirements during training. This allows you to drive an RWC for Surf Life Saving activities only and is an exemption agreement between SLSNSW and NSW Maritime.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach the required competency levels to prepare an RWC and drive it safely in a variety of surf conditions prior to assessment.

The Side-by-Side Vehicle (SSV) Operator Induction award provides members with skills and knowledge to drive and operate a Side-by-Side Vehicle in SLS operations and as per the manufacturer’s guidelines for their club’s SSV.

Members who hold this award may drive the club SSV included in their induction during SLS operations. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through the sighting and updating of your Australian driver’s licence on SurfGuard.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members receive the SLSA SSV Operator Induction award for the club SSV included in their induction.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 17 years
• Hold a valid driver’s licence

Note: Provisional driver’s licence holders should be aware of any towing restrictions and display their ‘P Plates’ at the front and areas or any SSV when driving the SSV.

Course duration:

Approximately an hour.

The SLSNSW UAV Pilot Operator Induction Program (UAV OPI) provides members with the knowledge and skills to operate 2 different types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Surf Life Saving use within NSW in the sub 2kg Commercial Excluded Category.

It also provides them with knowledge of shark identification, SLS-specific AVCRM workflow and SLSNSW Standard Operating Procedures related to UAVs.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum age of 16 years
• Proficient SLSA Radio Operators Certificate (this award is included within the SRC and BM)

Course duration:

A minimum of 16+ hours*. This is made up of online and offline sessions covering 9 different topics.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach required competency levels. Refer to your SLSNSW Branch Director of Education for more information.

Refer to the SLSNSW Become a UAV Pilot webpage for more information, to express your interest in becoming a UAV pilot and to find out about upcoming training in your area.

The SLS Silver Medallion Patrol Captain (v2022) award provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to confidently manage a beach and patrol as a Surf Life Saving Patrol Captain.

Members who hold this award may patrol in the role of a Patrol Captain. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Minimum Age of 17 years
• hold an SLSA Bronze Medallion or have held an SLSA Bronze Medallion and currently hold a patrolling award
• Hold a current patrolling award
• Have a minimum of 2 years patrolling experience

Course Duration:

Approximately 2 days plus self-paced learning and the completion of an on-the-job component*.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach the required competency levels.

The SLSNSW Training Officer Certificate (TOC) provides members with the skills and knowledge required to professionally train nationally recognised units of competency and SLS awards using SLSA and SLSNSW resources.

The TOC allows members to train other SLS members in the role of Training Officer for the award they are endorsed by SLSNSW to deliver.

Proficiency in this award is renewed each year by completing all items on the TAF Re-Endorsement Checklist, which helps trainers follow the SLSNSW Education SOPs.

Certification:

Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the following nationally recognised units of competency:

1. TAEDEL311 Provide work skill instruction
2. BSBCMM411 Make presentations

Entry Requirements:

• Financial Member
• Proficient in the SLS Award you wish to train
• Meet suitability requirements
  • be proficient in the award(s) in which you wish to train
  • have held the award(s) for a minimum of 12 months
  • commit to attending the virtual classroom sessions
  • have access to reliable internet, a laptop/computer and a video recording device (e.g. smartphone)
  • have an SLS Members Area account for accessing the SLS Document Library
  • hold the required digital literacy skills, specifically including viewing PDFs, using Microsoft Word to complete templates, conducting online research and navigating the internet
  • possess a minimum of Year 10 level of literacy and numeracy skills
  • share our commitment to strong ethics and professional principles around fairness, equality, inclusion and diversity
• Commitment to:
  • maintaining your proficiency in the SLS award you wish to train
  • maintaining currency in the latest units of competency and/or qualification you wish to train
  • training at least one SLS award annually
  • participating in professional development activities for SLSNSW trainers

Course duration:

A minimum of 6 weeks*. This comprises a new self-paced online learning module released each week for 4 weeks, 2 virtual training sessions and 3 practical assessment tasks.

*Additional training sessions may be required to reach the required competency levels before assessment.

More information:

For more information, visit the SLSNSW Become a Trainer, Assessor or Facilitator webpage for more information.

And let your SLSNSW Branch Director of Education know you want to receive an application form when the next course intake opens.

Speak with your Club regarding the cost of training for the award you are interested in completing.

Contact your Club Chief Training Officer or administrator for next steps on enrolment.

Not to worry, SLS courses are delivered all over Australia and are nationally recognised.

Speak with your Club Chief Training Officer or Branch Director of Education to learn about the opportunities available to complete your training and/or assessment at another Club or within your Branch.

No. There are many ways you can volunteer and become a member of a surf lifesaving club.

Refer to the SLSNSW website for more information on volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved with Surf Life Saving in the water, on the sand, and in the club.