EDUCATION

At the City of Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club, we place a strong emphasis on education. Whether it's preparing our members to perform rescues, teaching children how to make safe choices at the beach, or equipping the public with lifesaving skills like first aid and CPR, our commitment to education is unwavering.

Member education is essential to ensure our volunteers have the knowledge and confidence to fulfil the primary purpose of surf lifesaving: patrolling the beach. To support this, we offer a range of accredited courses, including:

Skills Maintenance

Skills maintenance checks are necessary to:

- Update and ensure the current ongoing competency of all members in their area of training and activities

- Maintain and grow the standards of knowledge and expertise of surf life savers

- Satisfy legal and statutory requirements

- Reinforce and maintain our service commitment to our community and the beach-going public.

Any member NOT proficient, or has not completed the appropriate awards shall not be allowed to:

•    perform and record patrol hours

•    operate rescue craft or

•    compete in surf lifesaving competitions. 

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (ART)

•    Resuscitation: online + face-to-face updates

•    Supplemental Oxygen: when to apply; use a pulse oximeter and understand its limitations

•    Oropharyngeal Airways (OP): indications, correct sizing & insertion

•    Control Life-threatening Bleeding: tourniquet application and wound packing

Bronze Medallion (BM)

•    Run, Swim, Rescue: 100 m run → 100 m swim with rescue tube in 3 min 30 s (fins may be worn). Conduct a tube rescue, then a 100 m tow to shore (not timed). Course set from waist-deep water; reasonable surf adjustments allowed.

•    Resuscitation (CPR): online + face-to-face updates

•    Radio Operation: theory + practical (pre-op checks, channels/uses, rescue requests & pro-words)

•    Spinal Management (team-based): walk-up care, extended-arm roll, board extrication & carry, log-rolls, secure to board; maintain alignment/airway and clear team comms

•    Signals: as per PSAR manual

•    Tourniquets

Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC)

•    Run, Swim, Rescue: 100 m run → 100 m swim with rescue tube in 3 min 30 s (fins may be worn). Conduct a tube rescue, then a 100 m tow to shore (not timed). Course set from waist-deep water; reasonable surf adjustments allowed.

•    Resuscitation (CPR): complete online modules and face-to-face CPR updates

•    Radio Operation: theory + practical scenario covering pre-op checks, channels/uses, rescue calls & pro-words

•    Signals: demonstrate knowledge per PSAR manual

WA Nipper Rescue Certificate (NRC)

•    200m swim in 6 minutes or less

•    Tube rescue as per the SRC requirements

•    Demonstrate all signals covered in the course (8)

Powercraft Awards

The requirements generally involve demonstrating:

•    Pre and post-operational checks

•    Driving or Crewing skills in the relevant power craft.

•    Rescues and return casualty to shore.

Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Awareness Module

A compulsory module requiring completion alongside your proficiencies each season.

Other Awards

Proficiencies for other awards will be established on a club needs basis. Please contact the Director of Education for further information.

IRB & RWC RE-QUALIFICATIONS

Please allow 2–3 hours for the requalification session. The process includes setting up and transporting boats and RWCs to the beach, as well as completing some theory and dry drills before getting in the water. Setting up and packing down the equipment is part of the requalification, so all participants are expected to assist from start to finish.

There is new content available for both IRB Driver and IRB Crew requalifications in the SLS Powercraft eLearning section in the Members’ Hub. You'll also find the updated IRB training manual, which includes new videos on techniques and renamed components.
Note: The eLearning is not compulsory, but it’s highly recommended and will definitely help you feel more confident on the day!