11.6. Skills Maintenance

It’s important to understand why Lifesavers undergo Skills Maintenance – to ensure that key skills and knowledge have been retained to the organisational standards. It’s a time to reflect, to learn and improve
our ability to save lives.

Whilst Skills Maintenance acts as a “verification of competency”, SLSQ encourages all members to practice their skills and test their knowledge wherever possible to achieve the highest possible standard.

Skills Maintenance checks are necessary to:

• Ensure ongoing competency of members in their area of training and activities;
• Maintain the standards of knowledge and expertise of surf life savers;
• Satisfy legal and statutory requirements; and
• Reinforce and maintain our service commitment to the bathing and beach going community.

*Members must complete Skills Maintenance annually as awards are deemed proficient until 31 December, unless indicated otherwise in Surfguard.

Refer to Training Operations Manual for further information.

Skills Maintenance Documents

All skills Maintenance documents are located on the SLSQ Training Operation Manual (TOM).

Skills Maintenance Pathway

SLSQ has an RPL procedure that is available. Where a member can no longer meet the physical requirements of a particular award for whatever reason, the member can RPL back to an award with less physical activity.

For example:

• If a member cannot complete the timed run-swim-run for the Bronze Medallion award but can achieve the Surf Rescue Certificate run-swim-run requirements, the member will be issued with an SRC or;
• If a member can no longer or temporarily meet all of the physical requirements of the Bronze Medallion award and/or the SRC, they can be issued with the Observers and Radio Operators award by completing the SLSQ RPL Form – SRC, Observers & Radio which is located in the SLSQ Club Management App.
  

Once a member has completed the RPL Form, it is to be submitted to SLSQ State Office (education@lifesaving.com.au) for processing. The relevant award will then be issued to the member and added to the member’s Award List on SurfGuard.