All SLSCs and services in NSW shall have an SLSNSW endorsed LSA covering the standards of service provision for lifesaving or lifeguarding. The SLSNSW LSA is SLSNSW’s patrol contract with local government authorities. It sets out the NSW SLSC and service’s responsibilities and commitments for providing lifesaving services to communities in NSW.
The LSA covers:
- The patrol season dates
- Times of the day services are provided
- Any flexible patrolling arrangements
- Minimum requirements for patrols
- Patrol exemptions
Your SLSC’s lifesaving service must always meet its obligations under this agreement. For this reason, the LSAs shall form the basis of annual patrol roster planning. SurfCom notes any breach of your SLSC’s LSA and reports this to your local SLSNSW Branch DoL.
Your SLSC needs to ensure its LSA is signed and sent to its local SLSNSW branch at the start of each season (for co-signing). The bi-annual review and re-endorsement of the SLSNSW LSA provides an opportunity to prepare a case to request a variance to your patrol times or other service details. Note that any request will not be considered endorsed until you have received a co-signed copy of your LSA from SLSNSW.
Once signed by both parties, the SLSC should display its LSA in a prominent location where patrol members can easily refer to it. A good example may be to laminate a copy and place it the SLSC’s patrol room or first aid room, in addition to uploading an electronic copy to your SLSC’s Document Library in the SLS Members Area.