So you want to become a lifesaver or to increase your skills on the beach? You’ve come to the right place. New members to our Club can undertake a range of courses to obtain the skills necessary to be involved in patrols on our beach. From an Observers Award to First Aid, a Surf Rescue Certificate or a full Bronze Medallion certification, there is a course for you. You must become a member of our club to be able to access our courses.
For existing members, our Skills Maintenance courses (formerly known as Proficiency) ensure you keep your skills up to date annually to make sure we always provide a safe environment for our beachgoers.
USI – Unique Student Identifier
Before you can commence a course, all members will be required to obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI).
How to create a USI:
- Visit www.usi.gov.au ensuring you have one piece of identification in front of you (Birth Certificate, Licence, Medicare Card or Passport).
- Follow the directions to `Create a USI’.
- Record your USI and keep secure, sending a copy to administrator@palmbeachsurfclub.com.au for our records (this can be done from within the USI website).
Courses Available
The list below provides you with more information about each of the courses through the Surf Life Saving Australia website.
To see dates for each of the course run by the Club or our Branch, see further down the page.
Skills Maintenance course
All Bronze Medallion and SRC holders must complete a skills maintenance course annually. Members who fail to attend a session will be unable to patrol, train or compete after 31 December 2021.
Palm Beach offered four dates to complete Skills Maintenance in 2021. These sessions have all now been held.
Awards and Certificates
Below are all the awards and certificates available to new and current members. The club covers the costs of these courses for our members.
Register interest in any of our courses by completing this course interest jotform.
1. Bronze Medallion
Bronze medallion courses at our club are usually run over 6 weeks: Wednesday evenings from 6-9pm and Saturday mornings from 7-10am. Participants must be a minimum of 15 years of age at the start of the course and be able to complete a 400m pool swim in under 9 minutes. Participants will be taught the skills necessary to be a patrolling lifesaver.
Additional dates for 2022 are currently under consideration.
| Date | Venue | Course Details |
| 27 Oct to 4 Dec 2021 | Palm Beach SLSC | Course completed |
| 19-21 Nov 2021 | Palm Beach SLSC | Course completed |
2. Surf Rescue Certificate
The Surf Rescue Certificate provides participants with the skills and knowledge of basic patrolling and surf awareness in order to be able to participate in lifesaving operations and act in the role of Water Safety Personnel. (SRC – CPR Endorsed, for 13 years old and above). Register your interest using this jotform.
| Date | Venue | Course Details |
| 27 Oct to 4 Dec 2021 | Palm Beach SLSC | Course completed |
| 19 – 21 Nov | Palm Beach SLSC | Course completed |
3. First Aid
First Aid courses are held at different clubs and members can attend any of the following upcoming courses.
| Time | Date | Venue | Course Details |
| 8am – 4p, | Sat 12 Feb 2022 | Bilinga SLSC | Course information – RSVP by midday Fri 4 Feb |
| 8am | 14 May 2022 | Tugun SLSC | To be advised |
4. Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (ART)
ART courses are held at different clubs and members can attend any of the following upcoming courses.
| Time | Date | Venue | Course Details |
| 8am – 4pm | Sat 19 February 2022 | Pacific SLSC training room | Course information – RSVP by midday 12 Feb |
| 8am | 10 April 2022 | PDB Office | To be advised |
| 8am | 18 June 2022 | Currumbin SLSC | To be advised |
5. Marine License
Please note: This is the only course the Club does not cover.
You are required to have a Marine License prior to undertaking your IRB Drivers course. Point Danger Branch can facilitate this instead of going through a private operator.
All Point Danger Branch offered courses have now been held for this season.
6. IRB Crewies & IRB Drivers
Two IRB crew and driver courses were held in conjunction with Tallebudgera SLSC in 2021. No further course dates have been set for the second half of the season at this stage.
| TBC | 5 weeks |
7. IRB Buoy Laying & Water Safety
| Time | Date | Venue | Course Details |
| 8am | 30 April 2022 | PDB Office | To be advised |
8. Beach Management (Silver Medallion)
This course allows you to become a Patrol Captain. These courses are held at the Point Danger Branch office in Currumbin. Attendees must hold a Bronze Medallion.
All Point Danger Branch run courses have now been held for this season. Members who are interested in undertaking this course should contact the office.
9. Officials Courses
All Clubs need to provide Officials to all carnivals across Nippers, Seniors and Masters. Our Club is in urgent need of members to qualify to assist with our growing competition numbers. If you don’t have an active role at the club, this award is a great way to have fun and get involved!
These courses are held at the Point Danger Branch office in Currumbin.
All course dates have been held for the 21-22 season.
10. Observers Course
An Observers course is a great course for parents who volunteer their time to become a Nipper Age Group Manager, but also for members who may want to patrol as a first aid officer but do not wish to enter the surf.
These courses can now be completed online, with a practical assessment in club. Details how to locate the online resources can be found here: online Observer course.
lifesavingpathways.com.au/role/observer/(opens in a new tab)
11. Club Awards relating to Patrol
These courses are held around patrols and other courses already operating and dates will be available during season.
- Radio Operators Certificate – 2021 season dates to follow
- SSV Operator Induction – 2021 season dates to follow
- QLD Tractor Induction – 2021 season dates to follow
- QLD 4WD Induction – 2021 season dates to follow
For more information on any of our courses, contact our Club Administrator.
