Advanced Awards
There are a number of awards that Active Members can complete upon gaining their Surf Rescue Certificate and/or Bronze Medallion.
These include:
Contact our Advanced Awards Coordinator via email or register your interest here for Higher Awards 24/25.
You can find links to SLS Pathways to Participation and SLS NSW Education Pathways at the bottom of this page.
These include:
- First Aid
- Advanced Resuscitation
- IRB Crew
- IRB Driver
- Patrol Captain / Vice Captain
- Pain Management
- Aquatic Rescue
- SSV Operator
- Offshore Rescue Boat
- Jet Rescue Boat Crew
- Rescue Water Craft Operator
- Duty Officer
- Helicopter Crew
- Trainer, Assessor &/or Facilitator
Contact our Advanced Awards Coordinator via email or register your interest here for Higher Awards 24/25.
You can find links to SLS Pathways to Participation and SLS NSW Education Pathways at the bottom of this page.
Provide First Aid (HLTAID011)
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to help you to gain the knowledge and skills to deliver emergency care and deal with injuries at an incident scene. This is a nationally recognised award.
This course is typically delivered via a pre-course online workbook and one weekend day workshop.
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:
Entry Requirements:
The purpose of this course is to help you to gain the knowledge and skills to deliver emergency care and deal with injuries at an incident scene. This is a nationally recognised award.
This course is typically delivered via a pre-course online workbook and one weekend day workshop.
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
Advanced Resuscitation Techniques
Course Overview
The aim of the Advanced Resuscitation Techniques course is to develop your skills and knowledge to use oxygen, airway management devices, and automated external defibrillators during resuscitation, and to administer oxygen to conscious or unconscious breathing casualties.
This course is typically run over a week with training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights, all day Saturday and Sunday morning.
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:
The aim of the Advanced Resuscitation Techniques course is to develop your skills and knowledge to use oxygen, airway management devices, and automated external defibrillators during resuscitation, and to administer oxygen to conscious or unconscious breathing casualties.
This course is typically run over a week with training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights, all day Saturday and Sunday morning.
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
IRB Awards
Course Overview
Want fast access in the water? Learn to crew and drive the Inflatable Rescue Boats through the surf and carry out some quick rescues.
For more information or to register for an IRB Course please contact our IRB Education team.
IRB Crew
This is typically a two week course with training sessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 6am, and one night per week. Members who hold this award may patrol in the role of an IRB Crew. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.
Certification: Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised PUASAR015 Crew a small power craft in a rescue operation unit of competency. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.
Entry Requirements:
Course duration: A minimum of 20 hours*. This is made up of 30min-3.5 hour sessions covering 7 topics that include several different IRB Crew techniques.
*Additional training sessions may be required to reach required competency levels and crew an IRB safely in a variety of surf conditions prior to assessment.
IRB Driver
This advanced course is one of the most demanding in Surf Life Saving. You will be taught how to negotiate a high profile rescue craft through the surf to complete advanced rescues. This is a 3-4 month course with training sessions on Saturday from 6.00am, and one night a week.
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:
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 IRB Patrol Standard Operating Procedure can be found here.
Want fast access in the water? Learn to crew and drive the Inflatable Rescue Boats through the surf and carry out some quick rescues.
For more information or to register for an IRB Course please contact our IRB Education team.
IRB Crew
This is typically a two week course with training sessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 6am, and one night per week. Members who hold this award may patrol in the role of an IRB Crew. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.
Certification: Upon successful completion, members also qualify for the nationally recognised PUASAR015 Crew a small power craft in a rescue operation unit of competency. Proficiency in this award is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance.
Entry Requirements:
- Financial Member
- Minimum Age of 15 years
- Proficient SLSA Bronze Medallion
Course duration: A minimum of 20 hours*. This is made up of 30min-3.5 hour sessions covering 7 topics that include several different IRB Crew techniques.
*Additional training sessions may be required to reach required competency levels and crew an IRB safely in a variety of surf conditions prior to assessment.
IRB Driver
This advanced course is one of the most demanding in Surf Life Saving. You will be taught how to negotiate a high profile rescue craft through the surf to complete advanced rescues. This is a 3-4 month course with training sessions on Saturday from 6.00am, and one night a week.
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
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 IRB Patrol Standard Operating Procedure can be found here.
Other Awards
There are many other awards you can achieve in Surf Life Saving. Please check the SLS NSW Education Pathways website for more information.
Silver Medallion Patrol Captain
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:
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.
Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue
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:
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.
- Gold Medallion
- Training Officer/Assessor
Silver Medallion Patrol Captain
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.
Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue
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.
