The aim of this award is to provide lifesavers with a benchmark of fitness and endurance that meets the minimum requirements for work in the professional lifeguard industry.

NOTE: this is not an employment qualification. If you are interested in working as a professional lifeguard you may be expected to undergo other training requirements.

Prerequisites:

Minimum 17 years of age (on the day of final assessment)
Financial member of the Surf Life Saving Club
Have 2 years of patrolling experience
Proficient in all of the following awards:
- Bronze Medallion
- First Aid (HLTAID011)
- Advanced Resuscitation Techniques (ART)
- Silver Medallion Patrol Captain (SMPC) or Silver Medallion Beach Management

Fees:

Free for NCSLSC members

Course Dates:

TBC - likely December/January

This course does not have a training component and typically a 1 hour assessment session.

Prelearning

There is no required prelearning except being proficient in the prerequisite awards.

What to Bring

Wetsuit/Bathers
Towel
Goggles
Swim Fins
Food & Drink

Learning Outcomes

know the role and responsibilities of a patrol captain
know how to find and when to refer to organisational documents and policies
access and record information relevant to your patrol
apply the principles of effective leadership to motivate and engage team members
apply leadership techniques to manage multiple incidents as a patrol captain
effectively communicate in difficult situations, including managing inappropriate public behaviour
complete a surf risk assessment using Surf Risk Rating in the Operations app
lead patrol set up and pack down, and manage the beach during patrol
know how to set up the beach in special circumstances
action operational risk and hazard management
effectively manage a patrol team including the delegation of operational tasks
conduct effective briefing and de-briefing, including follow-up
coordinate the response to minor and major incidents including working with multi-agencies

Assessment

To be deemed competent in the Gold Medallion candidates will need to complete all of the following activities in the one day:

swim 800m in under 14 minutes in an open water course not more than 400 m in length (the course should be set around a single buoy so that candidates have to swim the same track but in different directions) or a swimming pool of no less than 25 m in length, unaided and in freestyle
complete a mission test of a 400 m swim, 800 m run, 400 m board paddle, 800 m run in under 25 minutes
complete a tube rescue of an unconscious patient 100 m out at sea (use of fins preferred)
complete a board rescue of a novice swimmer 200 m out at sea
perform a complex patient rescue, including selecting equipment, returning patient to shore and treating patient appropriately and completing post-operational requirements

Candidates must display ‘a sense of urgency’ equal to a real situation in all rescue activities (tube, board and complex scenario)

Proficiency requirements

This award is valid for only 12 months. The whole assessment must be undertaken again each year for the award to remain current.

Gold Medallion