Award Requirements

IRB Crew Certificate

The aim of this course is to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively crew an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) in rescue operations.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must meet ALL of the following conditions:

• be at least 15 years of age on the date of final assessment
• be currently proficient in Bronze Medallion*
  

*NOTE: Some states may allow the delivery of the IRB Crew Certificate alongside the Bronze Medallion. Please confirm with your SLS State/Territory Centre if this is the case.

IRB Crew training alongside the Bronze Medallion is subject to meeting specific criteria including:

• Must be a registered member and commenced a Bronze Medallion course.
• Member must have successfully undertaken the prerequisite of the 400m pool swim.
• Member must successfully complete the signal component, induction and safety components of the Bronze Medallion before commencing any in-water IRB Crew activity.
• The IRB Crew Assessment may be undertaken immediately after the member has been deemed competent in the Bronze Medallion.
  

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of an IRB Crewperson including:
  • List the duties of an IRB Crewperson and obligations as a vessel crew
  • Demonstrate knowledge of regulatory maritime safety requirements and exemption requirements relevant to vessel crew
  • Demonstrate an understanding of common IRB tasks and operating environments
  • List the safety considerations and key risks when crewing an IRB
  • Communicate effectively with IRB Driver, patients, and external emergency service personnel in the performance of duties

• Crew an IRB
  • Prepare the components of an IRB and auxiliary equipment
  • Contribute to the safe and efficient launching of an IRB
  • Demonstrate safe crewing positions while negotiating the surf
  • Identify key risks in the operating environment and clearly communicate them to the driver
  • Perform rescues, including conscious and unconscious patient pick-ups
  • Perform emergency procedures
  • Assist with the safe deployment of a single buoy, line and anchor arrangement.

• Prepare and Maintain an IRB
  • Perform pre-operational checks and preventative maintenance of the IRB hull and auxiliary equipment
  • Perform post-operational maintenance of the IRB hull and auxiliary equipment
  • Complete organisational documentation as required, including reporting major equipment wear or damage or personal injury

• Introduction to Search and Rescue techniques
  • Understand search and rescue techniques and search patterns
  • Demonstrate search and rescue techniques in a patrol environment

ELECTIVE MODULES*

• Advanced Search and Rescue Techniques for Powercraft
  • Contribute to preparation activities for search and rescue operations for powercraft
  • Perform complex patient rescue, including search and rescue of a missing person in a Powercraft
  • Working as a part of a multi-vessel SAR and supporting in water SAR teams
  • Awareness of flood water environments and impacts on powercraft
  • Demonstrate recovery and stand down procedures

• Buoy and Can Laying
  • Demonstrate an understanding of complex buoy systems
  • Contribute to preparation activities for the commissioning of a water competition arena
  • Perform the set up and retrieval of a water competition arena

*NOTE: Both modules above require the redemonstration of the 4 learning outcomes of an IRB operator in the context of the optional module subject matter.

ASSESSMENT

Prior to assessment, participants should complete 8 nominal hours of practical demonstration (where the participant is actively performing tasks as a trainee IRB Crewperson) with at least 50% of the nominal hours to be sea time over at least 3 separate days in a variety of conditions.

Assessment is through demonstration, presentation, and application of all elements of competency in the workplace with a qualified IRB Driver*. Participants will be required to complete activities that may include role-plays, oral and written questioning, practical demonstrations and performing scenarios.

*NOTE: The preferred requirement for conducting an IRB Driver course is that one (1) qualified IRB Driver must be on-board the IRB at all times whether acting as the driver or crew. If this is not achievable, it is expected that Trainers, Assessors or Facilitators have undertaken a risk assessment, and mitigating strategies have been implemented and documented to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

SKILLS MAINTENANCE

For this award to remain current candidates must complete at least one of the following:

• perform an annual skills maintenance check; or
• demonstrate at least 3 hours of sea time over the previous 12 months and undertake a familiarisation and demonstration of any pre-season updates relevant to the award.
  

Silver Medallion IRB Driver

The aim of this course is to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively drive and manage an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) in rescue operations.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must meet ALL of the following conditions:

• be at least 16 years of age to commence training
• be at least 17 years of age on the date of final assessment
• hold and be currently proficient in:
  • Bronze Medallion and
  • IRB Crewperson Certificate
• meet local state/NT marine licensing requirements where required
• Completion of the ‘Entry Requirements Confirmation’ form verifying a minimum of eight (8) operational hours as a qualified crewperson or similar experience
  

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of an IRB Driver, including:
  • List the duties of an IRB Driver and obligations as the vessel master
  • Demonstrate knowledge of regulatory maritime safety requirements and exemption requirements
  • List the safety considerations and key risks when operating an IRB
  • Provide direction to an IRB Crewperson in all their operational duties
  • Demonstrate an understanding of common IRB tasks and operating environments
  • Communicate effectively with crewperson, patients, the public and external emergency service personnel in the performance of duties.

• Drive an IRB
  • Identify the components of an IRB motor
  • Launch an IRB safely and efficiently
  • List key risks when operating in the surf environment
  • Safely and efficiently negotiate the surf environment while driving an IRB
  • Perform emergency procedures
  • Demonstrate the safe deployment of a single buoy, line and anchor arrangement

• Perform rescues in an IRB as a Driver
  • Perform conscious and unconscious patient pick-ups
  • Perform complex rescue operations
  • Liaise effectively with other emergency response services as required

• Prepare and maintain an IRB motor
  • Perform pre-operational checks and preventative maintenance of the IRB motor
  • Perform post-operational maintenance of the IRB motor
  • Perform motor re-start procedure after immersion in the surf
  • Complete organisational documentation as required, including reporting of major equipment wear or damage or personal injury.

• Introduction to Search and Rescue techniques
  • Understand search and rescue techniques and search patterns
  • Demonstrate search and rescue techniques in a patrol environment

ELECTIVE MODULES*

• Advanced Search and Rescue Techniques for Powercraft (IRB/RWC)
  • Contribute to preparation activities for search and rescue operations for powercraft
  • Working as a part of a multi-vessel SAR and supporting in water SAR teams
  • Perform complex patient rescue, including search and rescue of a missing person in a Powercraft
  • Understand flood water environments and impacts on powercraft
  • Demonstrate recovery and stand down procedures

• Buoy and Can Laying (IRB)
  • Demonstrate an understanding of complex buoy systems
  • Contribute to preparation activities for the commissioning of a water competition arena
  • Perform the set up and retrieval of a water competition arena

*NOTE: Both modules above require the redemonstration of the 4 learning outcomes of an IRB operator in the context of the optional module subject matter.

ASSESSMENT

Prior to assessment, participants should complete 12 nominal hours of practical demonstration (where the participant is actively performing tasks as a trainee IRB Driver) with at least 50% of the nominal hours to be sea time over at least 5 separate days in a variety of conditions.

Assessment is through demonstration, presentation, and application of all elements of competency in the workplace with a qualified IRB Driver*. Participants will be required to complete activities that may include role-plays, oral and written questioning, practical demonstrations and performing scenarios.

*NOTE: The preferred requirement for conducting an IRB Driver course is that one (1) qualified IRB Driver must be on-board the IRB at all times whether acting as the driver or crew. If this is not achievable, it is expected that Trainers, Assessors or Facilitators have undertaken a risk assessment, and mitigating strategies have been implemented and documented to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

SKILLS MAINTENANCE

For this award to remain current candidates must complete at least one of the following:

• perform an annual skills maintenance check; or
• demonstrate at least 5 hours of sea time over the previous 12 months and undertake a familiarisation and demonstration of any pre-season updates relevant to the award.