PURPOSE
To outline the lifesaving service requirements of Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW).
POLICY
LIFESAVING REGULATIONS
Each lifesaving service shall be responsible for patrolling the beach(es) or water areas in accordance with their Lifesaving Service Agreement/contract, the SLSNSW Standard Operating Procedures and SLSA Policies.
Local operations may set minimum requirements that apply to their local area of operations over and above State and National minimum requirements. No lifesaving service may set minimum requirements beneath the minimums set by State and National bodies (unless endorsed by the SLSNSW Board).
PROCEDURE
MINIMUM LIFESAVING SEASON – SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
SLSNSW affiliated Club/Services must provide lifesaving services on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from the first day of the Spring NSW public school holidays to the last Sunday of the Autumn NSW public school holidays (or ANZAC Day if it falls after and is endorsed by the SLSNSW Board). The specific days/dates for each season are outlined in the individual Lifesaving Service Agreements.
Clubs are encouraged to operate over and above the minimum requirements of the official patrol season where local conditions and visitations demand and should confirm the best means to achieve this within their Lifesaving Services Agreement and Patrol Operations Manual. Where relevant this should be done in consultation with local Council Lifeguard services.
Any alterations to a lesser minimum patrol season must be authorised by the SLSNSW Board. Extensions beyond the minimum patrol season must be authorised by the SLSNSW Board.
MINIMUM LIFESAVING SEASON – LIFEGUARD SERVICES
Lifeguard services seasons are stipulated with each individual contract schedule. These vary from contract to contract; however, all effort is made to ensure that times patrolled by volunteer lifesavers are consistent with that of lifeguard services.
Any alterations to the lifeguard contracted time must be dually authorised by the General Manager,
Public Safety and Emergency Management and the Contractee in writing (unless in an emergency).
LIFESAVING OPERATIONAL TIMES
Minimum lifesaving service times are determined by both the local level (i.e. Clubs, Branch/Council) in conjunction with SLSNSW, taking into consideration local hazards/risks/beach patronage/recreational activities and prevailing environmental conditions etc. The specific times of patrolling for each season shall be listed in the Lifesaving Service Agreement. Any reductions to patrol times set within the lifesaving service agreement must be approved by the State Director of Lifesaving.
LIFESAVING PERSONNEL/QUALIFICATIONS
All club patrols shall have on-duty, at a minimum, the following financially current and proficient personnel with the following qualifications, for the duration of the Full Patrol.
1 x Patrol Captain (see requirements below)
3 x Bronze (PSAR Cert II) Medallion qualified members *
1 x Silver Medallion IRB Driver *
1 x IRB Crew *
1 x Advanced Resuscitation Techniques *
*Note: These awards may be held collectively by the 3 x Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) holders as long as the same person does not hold both IRB Driver and IRB Crew positions.
PATROL CAPTAIN REQUIREMENTS
The Patrol Captain is the principal leader of their patrol’s lifesaving functions on the beach. At the operational level, the major function of the Patrol Captain is to ensure effective beach management and rescue capabilities are established and maintained during their rostered watch.
The Patrol Captain is the designated forward commander of an incident that occurs within their patrolling area during patrolling times. The Patrol Captain must be 18 years of age and hold the following qualifications:
- Bronze Medallion/Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue); and
- Silver Medallion Beach Management OR Silver Medallion Patrol Captain.
MAINTENANCE OF MINIMUM LIFESAVING STANDARDS
The following documents/initiatives complement each other and facilitate clear expectations and ongoing quality assurance measures at club/branch/state levels.
- Lifesaving Service Agreements (club/branch specific)
- SLSNSW Standard Operating Procedures
- SLSNSW Annual Compliance Circular
- Club/Service Patrol Operations Manual (POM)
- Annual Gear and Equipment Inspections (branch delivered)
- Lifesaving Improvement Program (branch delivered)
- SurfGuard compliance audits (branch and state delivered)
SERVICES BELOW AGREED MINIMUM STANDARDS
Services that are unable to deliver services to agreed minimum standards or do not follow the outlined approval processes in this document will be required to provide evidence as to why the minimum standard or agreed process was not followed.
The State Operations Centre (SOC) record each relevant service’s patrol times, personnel minimum requirements and other operational information to assist in ensuring that minimum standards are reached and maintained consistently.
A service that is found to be not meeting agreed minimum standards will initially be provided with an Improvement Notice.
An ongoing inability to meet minimum standards will be escalated to a “Breach Status” whereby the relevant Branch or State may impose the following sanctions for repeated breaches:
- Issuing of grants
- Support of grant applications to external entities
- Member eligibility for events and competitions
REFERENCE
Lifesaving Service Agreement
SLSNSW Constitution
SLSNSW Regulations
Patrol Operations Manual