Welcome to the first edition of the Surf Life Saving Australia standalone Rescue Water Craft (RWC) Training Manual. It is the key educational resource used to deliver the Surf Life Saving Australia RWC Operators Award providing key information, instructional videos and links necessary for completing the eLearning and practical requirements of the course. Surf lifesavers throughout Australia will learn from it, teach from it and ultimately contribute to it.
Since the introduction of the RWC in the early 2000s, knowledge and experience of RWCs has grown considerably. This manual has been compiled to reflect the latest advancements, best practices, and operational guidelines for the effective use of RWCs in rescue and patrol operations. Our goal is to ensure that all Operators are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties safely and efficiently.
This is the first time that the RWC manual has had a dedicated standalone resource separate to the previous Powercraft manuals that focused heavily of IRBs. This new edition also includes instructional videos and links to assist learners.
The manual has been updated to meet current requirements following a Curriculum Review. The updates were informed by extensive consultation with SLS members, considering feedback from across the movement and content written and provided by subject matter experts and working groups.
This manual has been developed in a new digital format. This has improved accessibility, will make the members learning experience more engaging and allow for timely updates. Lifesavers can now access the manual on their devices at any time to refer to content, refresh their knowledge, share content and review updates to maintain the currency of their knowledge. The digital manual also complements new online self-paced training developed for the RWC Operators Award.
To all those dedicated surf lifesavers who contributed to the review and development of this manual and resources, your efforts are invaluable, and we extend our deepest appreciation on behalf of the movement.
 |
 |
| Chris Jacobson Chair, Lifesaving |
Tracey Hare-Boyd Chair, Education |