Coogee Award Holders Program
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The Coogee Award Holders Program makes surf lifesaving accessible to people who are are unable to complete the practical component of the Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate. This may be for any reason, including but not limited to, people who haven’t learnt to swim, have low confidence in the surf, or have a disability or injury.
The course will provide participants with the knowledge of surf awareness, first aid and advanced resuscitation needed to patrol at Coogee Beach. The course outcomes will be adjusted based on each individuals abilities. This pathway is available to anyone interested in volunteering, patrolling and joining our community. If you are not sure if this is the right course for you, please email [email protected] to discuss. To qualify for the course, you must be:
Course fees: $300* *If you are already a General Member of the Club a reduced rate is available To complete the course you must, at a minimum, achieve your Radio Officers Award. People with this Award patrol the beach as key members of the communication team. This includes liaising with and managing the public, and watching the water. If progressing beyond the Radio Officers Award, participants can achieve their Provide First Aid certificate and Advanced Resuscitation Techniques certificate. People with these certificates can respond to first aid incidents on the beach in addition to the tasks of a person with a Radio Officers Award. |
More Information
Who can do the course?
Anyone.
The 2024-25 course is a pilot for the Club. This course aims to change the narrative of what a surf lifesaver at Coogee is. While a large component of what surf lifesavers do is water based, we spend an equal amount of time responding to land based incidents and applying first aid. That on-land contribution is vital and aquatic skill isn’t a requirement to be a contributing member on land. The course is structured so that you are able to complete whatever is within your abilities. For example, if you are not physically able to complete compressions as part of CPR, you can achieve your Radio Officers Award and an Observers Award.
While CPR is a mandatory competency for a First Aid Certificate*, we would still encourage you to attend the first aid course and Emergency Care Application in Surf Lifesaving Sessions. In First Aid, knowledge of an intervention is extremely important. By attending these sessions you will learn about how to respond to various incidents so that you can provide guidance and support while patrolling. It also allows us to work together to build confidence in responding to incidents.
*Provide First Aid (HTLAID011) is a nationally set competency we are unable to deviate from
What competencies will I have when I finish the course?
The competencies you leave the course with will depend on which aspects of the course you complete. Below is a summary of all that are on offer:
What if I want to work towards my Bronze Medallion?
Fantastic. To be able to complete the Bronze Medallion, you need to be able to swim 400m in the ocean in under 9 minutes. If this is already you, please see the Bronze Medallion information page.
If you need to build your skill in the water, the Club will be able to provide you with some resources for you to independently build your water confidence.
I have a disability, how can I be confident that I can patrol?
This is something we will work through together. 2024-25 is a pilot year for the program and we have a lot of learning to do. By working together we are confident that we can find a way forward.
In 2019/20 Coogee SLSC partnered with Muscular Dystrophy NSW for the Project Libertas program. In this program participants achieved their Radio Officers Award and continue to patrol at Coogee. The Club also has plans in place to renovate the downstairs area of the Surf Club which will convert the area into a much more accessible space.
Only 20 people can do the course?
The course numbers are capped for a number of reasons:
Because it is a pilot program, initially the Club will prioritise:
Who will I patrol with?
Coogee has 17 patrol teams and all active members are allocated to a patrol. Each patrol is rostered approximately once per month and patrol between 3-5 hours. If you have concerns about your ability to patrol for 5 hours, this does not exclude you. We can work together to plan what patrolling looks like for you.
What will my patrolling obligations be?
Your patrolling obligations will be the same as our Bronze Medallion members, 30 hours per season. The season runs from September- April each year.
Can equipment be made adaptive?
A lot of what we do and use can be adapted, but we don’t know what may need to be adapted until we look into it. This is a pilot program and we don’t have a lot of experience in adaptive practices, but are eager to seek guidance and work with you to understand your needs and solve problems as they arise.
I already have a Provide First Aid certificate, do I need to re-do it?
No you don’t, please send through a copy of your certificate and you will not need to repeat the course. If your Provide First Aid certificate expires within the next 9 months, we recommend you jump onto the course to save you having to renew later in the season. Advanced Resuscitation Techniques certificate requires a current Provide First Aid certificate.
Do I need to maintain my skills?
Yes you do. Each year the Club will run skills maintenance sessions/proficiency. The aim of these sessions is to refresh the knowledge of all patrolling members and make sure we are all working to the same standard.
During skills maintenance you will need to complete the components that correspond to the awards you hold. E.g. Radio, CPR, ART. In addition, Provide First Aid certificates have a 3 year expiration. The course will need to be re-done every 3 years to keep it up to date.
I am already a patrolling member at Coogee, can I become an Awards member?
Yes, that option is available to members who are no longer able to complete skills maintenance/proficiency. Please email [email protected] with a request, noting the awards that you currently hold, and they will advise of the process.
Anyone.
The 2024-25 course is a pilot for the Club. This course aims to change the narrative of what a surf lifesaver at Coogee is. While a large component of what surf lifesavers do is water based, we spend an equal amount of time responding to land based incidents and applying first aid. That on-land contribution is vital and aquatic skill isn’t a requirement to be a contributing member on land. The course is structured so that you are able to complete whatever is within your abilities. For example, if you are not physically able to complete compressions as part of CPR, you can achieve your Radio Officers Award and an Observers Award.
While CPR is a mandatory competency for a First Aid Certificate*, we would still encourage you to attend the first aid course and Emergency Care Application in Surf Lifesaving Sessions. In First Aid, knowledge of an intervention is extremely important. By attending these sessions you will learn about how to respond to various incidents so that you can provide guidance and support while patrolling. It also allows us to work together to build confidence in responding to incidents.
*Provide First Aid (HTLAID011) is a nationally set competency we are unable to deviate from
What competencies will I have when I finish the course?
The competencies you leave the course with will depend on which aspects of the course you complete. Below is a summary of all that are on offer:
- PUAOPE013 – Operate communication systems and equipment (Radio operators award)
- HTLAID011 – Provide First Aid
- HTLAID015 – Advanced Resuscitation Techniques
What if I want to work towards my Bronze Medallion?
Fantastic. To be able to complete the Bronze Medallion, you need to be able to swim 400m in the ocean in under 9 minutes. If this is already you, please see the Bronze Medallion information page.
If you need to build your skill in the water, the Club will be able to provide you with some resources for you to independently build your water confidence.
I have a disability, how can I be confident that I can patrol?
This is something we will work through together. 2024-25 is a pilot year for the program and we have a lot of learning to do. By working together we are confident that we can find a way forward.
In 2019/20 Coogee SLSC partnered with Muscular Dystrophy NSW for the Project Libertas program. In this program participants achieved their Radio Officers Award and continue to patrol at Coogee. The Club also has plans in place to renovate the downstairs area of the Surf Club which will convert the area into a much more accessible space.
Only 20 people can do the course?
The course numbers are capped for a number of reasons:
- Advanced Resuscitation Techniques can be a fun but involved course. Normally the Club caps this course at 10 people. By potentially extending it to 20 people we are already pushing the limits
- This is a pilot course for Coogee SLSC and numbers are capped to help us succeed.
Because it is a pilot program, initially the Club will prioritise:
- the family and friends of existing members
- potential for ongoing contribution to the Club and willingness to patrol.
Who will I patrol with?
Coogee has 17 patrol teams and all active members are allocated to a patrol. Each patrol is rostered approximately once per month and patrol between 3-5 hours. If you have concerns about your ability to patrol for 5 hours, this does not exclude you. We can work together to plan what patrolling looks like for you.
What will my patrolling obligations be?
Your patrolling obligations will be the same as our Bronze Medallion members, 30 hours per season. The season runs from September- April each year.
Can equipment be made adaptive?
A lot of what we do and use can be adapted, but we don’t know what may need to be adapted until we look into it. This is a pilot program and we don’t have a lot of experience in adaptive practices, but are eager to seek guidance and work with you to understand your needs and solve problems as they arise.
I already have a Provide First Aid certificate, do I need to re-do it?
No you don’t, please send through a copy of your certificate and you will not need to repeat the course. If your Provide First Aid certificate expires within the next 9 months, we recommend you jump onto the course to save you having to renew later in the season. Advanced Resuscitation Techniques certificate requires a current Provide First Aid certificate.
Do I need to maintain my skills?
Yes you do. Each year the Club will run skills maintenance sessions/proficiency. The aim of these sessions is to refresh the knowledge of all patrolling members and make sure we are all working to the same standard.
During skills maintenance you will need to complete the components that correspond to the awards you hold. E.g. Radio, CPR, ART. In addition, Provide First Aid certificates have a 3 year expiration. The course will need to be re-done every 3 years to keep it up to date.
I am already a patrolling member at Coogee, can I become an Awards member?
Yes, that option is available to members who are no longer able to complete skills maintenance/proficiency. Please email [email protected] with a request, noting the awards that you currently hold, and they will advise of the process.
