Purpose
To provide an overview of the key information management tools for lifesaving operations.
Policy
Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) is committed to the quality management of key lifesaving data and information.
SLSNSW supports alignment and adherence to the centralised lifesaving information management tools available through SLSA, namely SurfGuard and Members Area.
Procedure
The following provides a general overview of requirements. For specific milestones and due dates clubs/ members should refer to the relevant pre-season circulars/memos released annually.
SLSA SurfGuard
Surf Guard is Surf Life Saving Australia’s central system, in which all branch, club, equipment, operational and membership information is held, including:
- Branch/Club service profile (contact details and Office holders)
- Club/Service patrol teams/rosters/substitutions/patrol logs
- Branch/club teams created and updated, including:
- RWC Teams
- Duty Officer Teams
- Club Emergency Response (Callout) Teams
- Lifesaving Gear and Equipment information updated (pre- and post annual gear inspections)
- Skills maintenance, Awards & Assessments – All skills maintenance must be completed and entered into SurfGuard by December 31st annually. This includes junior activity members participation and competition skills evaluation.
- Personal member information
- Incident Logs, required to be entered into SurfGuard (IRD) within 24 hours of incident.
SurfGuard also provides group SMS and emailing function to assist Branch/Club/Service Officers in effective communication with their members
SurfGuard can be accessed at https://surfguard.sls.com.au/ by members who have been authorised to do so.
SLSA Members Area
The Members Area is an online self-service membership area for members of clubs and support organisations in Surf Life Saving. To have access members must create their individual Members Area account by clicking on to the logon screen (please see web address below) and follow the prompts. It is web-based and can easily be added to any suitable electronic device. It offers Members access to the following:
- Personal Information Summary (Home page)
- Membership (details, renewals, awards, SLSA online store)
- Patrols (roster, hours, swaps)
- e-Learning
- News and events
- Document library (Circulars, memos, guidelines, manuals, etc.)
- Transaction history
- Forms
The Members Area is located at https://members.sls.com.au/.
SLSA Operations App
The Operations App is the preferred means to manage all operational information of lifesaving frontline services including patrols, incidents, and support operations during the patrolling season. The app provides an electronic, mobile surface that, through its connection to SurfGuard, functions as display for and data entry layer into SurfGuard. Access to the Operations App is limited to members who:
- Hold roles as Patrol Captain, Patrol Vice-Captain or Patrol Application Captain;
- Have certain awards (e.g. SMIRBD) to perform certain entries, e.g. the powercraft log; and
- Where these roles have been entered into SurfGuard.
The SLSA Operations App’s functions include:
- Patrols (e.g. sign on/off, beach status, team roster, weather conditions, patrol stats, etc.)
- Gear and Equipment (list of club/service gear and equipment that has been entered into SurfGuard)
- Powercraft Logs
- Issues (with gear and equipment, e.g. damages, need for repair, etc.)
- Incidents
- Risk Assessments (should be conducted at least at the beginning of each patrol shift and then as needed)
Some information (e.g. patrol photos, beach status) may be shared and displayed in real time in linked systems like the Beachsafe App and the SurfCom Management System.
SLSA Beachsafe App
- Provides comprehensive information about weather and surf conditions as well as beach safety, e.g. rips, waves, sun safety, flags and signs, patrolled and unpatrolled beaches, etc.
- Covers all Australian beaches
- Is ideal for patrol preparations
The Beachsafe App can be accessed at https://beachsafe.org.au.
SLSA IT Helpdesk
SurfGuard training is available via Webinar or from SLSA by contacting SurfGuard IT Helpdesk . Training sessions ideally are run as group sessions.
The SLSA help home page can be accessed at https://help.sls.com.au.
A support ticket can be submitted at http://support.sls.com.au.
Online training ‘playpens’ may sometimes become available. These ‘dummy’ systems allow appropriately authorised personnel to practice using the systems without affecting information. Contact SLSA for more information and visit https://help.sls.com.au.
SLSA Members Online Store
The Members Online Store is available to all members who have activated their Members Area account through the SLSA Members Area at https://members.sls.com.au/.
For specific purchases on behalf of a club, e.g. through the Club Lifesaving Equipment Grant (CLEG) a specific and separate access for an ‘ordering delegate’ and a ‘financial delegate’ will be authorised by the club.
Surf Life Saving Services (NSW) Online Shop
The Surf Life Saving Services online shop is available publicly at https://services.surflifesaving.com.au/. First Aid, Lifesaving Equipment, Defibrilators, Oxygen Equipment and other SLS Branded items can be purchased via this storefront.