Patrolling members are made up of first responders, lifesavers and lifesaver cadets. They perform different duties as assigned by their Patrol Captain based on their awards and qualifications.
Patrolling members should view their patrol rosters and communicate their availability to patrol via the SLS Members Area Dashboard or Patrols menus. They should arrive at the designated patrol meeting place 30 minutes before a rostered patrol to take part in a patrol briefing and set up the patrol area with gear and equipment checks completed as required.
The SLS Members Area Patrols men allows members to filter and view their upcoming and/or past patrol roster for a selected season and let their SLSC know that they need to find a substitute for a rostered patrol. They can also automatically accept other patrol swap requests from other members at their SLSC. Although some SLSCs have introduced other patrol roster and swap options using external applications in the past, this SLS Members Area Patrols menu should be encouraged as it automatically updates SurfGuard patrol rosters. Refer to the SLS Members Area User Guide for more information.
Patrolling members also need to ensure they have completed their annual skills maintenance requirements before 31 December to remain proficient to continue patrolling with some or all of their SLSA and SLSNSW awards from 1 January each year. SLSNSW will annually distribute a Pre-Season Information Pack specific to lifesavers before the patrol season. This will provide a detailed description of the skills maintenance requirements for all SLSA and SLSNSW awards in addition to lifesaving operational information. You can obtain the most recent version from the SLSNSW Lifesaving webpage. The SLSC’s CTO oversees skills maintenance arrangements for an SLSC.
Refer to the latest copies of SLSA training manuals, learner guides, online courses and the SLSNSW Lifesaving SOPS and your SLSC’s POM for information on current patrol member training. Speak with your SLSC’s CTO regarding the training needs for your patrolling members and inform them of any foreseeable gaps in qualified members that are required to meet lifesaving service agreements.
All patrolling members also need to ensure that they are wearing the current SLSA uniforms with any of their most recent local partner branding while constantly communicating a positive and professional image. Refer to the latest SLSA Lifesaving Equipment and Uniform Brand Guidelines and SLSA Patrol Uniform Policy in the SLS Members Area Document Library for more information.