Education

Freshwater SLSC runs surf lifesaving courses and training on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, supporting both new volunteer lifesavers and existing members.
Start with SRC, Bronze Medallion or First Aid, then progress into advanced awards such as Advanced Resuscitation and IRB.
Beach Safety Information

START YOUR LIFESAVING JOURNEY

Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC)

Learn basic rescue skills, surf awareness and assist on patrol in this entry-level surf lifesaving course on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Requirements:

  • Age: 13+
  • Swim requirement: 200m unaided swim in 5 minutes or less
  • Course duration: ~5 weeks (typically Sunday mornings)
  • Must be a financial member
  • Cost: $50 + membership fee

Course dates: (Course runs for 5 Weeks)

  • Starts Sunday 11 October 8:30 – 11:30AM
  • Assessment Date: Sunday 15 November
Enroll here

Bronze Medallion

Learn surf awareness, rescue techniques, resuscitation and basic first aid in the core surf lifesaving qualification required to patrol beaches across Australia.

Requirements:

  • Age: 15+
  • 400m ocean swim in under 9 minutes
  • Course duration: ~6–7 weeks (evenings + weekends)
  • Must be a financial member
  • Cost: $265 + membership fee

Course dates: 

Course 1 – (Course runs for 5 Weeks)

  • Induction: Saturday 26 September – 9AM
  • Saturday 10 October 9AM – 12PM
  • Assessment Date: Sunday 15 November

Bronze Intensive Course –

Course 2 – (Course runs for 5 days)

  • Monday 4 January 2027 9AM – 3PM
  • Assessment Date: Friday 8 January 2027

Course 3 – (Course runs for 6 Weeks)

  • Saturday 7 February 2027 8 – 11AM
  • Assessment Date: Saturday 21 March 2027
Enroll here

Provide First Aid (HLTAID011)

Gain the skills to provide emergency care in this nationally recognised first aid course for surf lifesaving and everyday emergencies.

Requirements:

  • Minimum age: 14 years
  • Must be a financial member
  • Course duration: ~8 hours (typically one day + online workbook)

Course dates:

  • Sunday 4 October 9AM – 5PM
  • Sunday 3 January 2027 9AM – 5PM
  • Saturday 31 January 2027 9AM – 5PM
Enroll here

SKILLS MAINTENANCE (ANNUAL PROFICIENCY)

Annual training required for surf lifesavers to remain active, patrol ready and maintain their awards.

Requirements:

  • Must be a financial member
  • Must complete proficiency for relevant awards each season
  • Includes practical assessments (e.g. swim, resuscitation, scenario-based skills)
  • Timing: scheduled sessions throughout the season

Course dates:

  • TBA
Skills Maintenance 2026-27

ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS

Once you’ve completed SRC or Bronze, you can build additional skills and take on specialist roles within the club.

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques

Develop advanced emergency response skills, including oxygen therapy, airway management and defibrillation.

Requirements:

  • Minimum age: 15 years
  • Must hold current First Aid (HLTAID011)
  • Must be a financial member
  • Course duration: 4 weeks

Course dates:

  • Course Start: Wednesday 7 October 2026, 6:30-9PM (for 4 weeks)
  • Assessment: Wednesday 4 November 2026
Enroll here

IRB Crew

Learn to crew an inflatable rescue boat and assist with fast, in-water rescues in surf conditions.

Requirements:

  • Minimum age: 15 years
  • Must hold Bronze Medallion
  • Must be a financial member
  • Course duration: ~2 weeks (depending on surf conditions)

Course dates:

  • TBA
Enroll here

IRB Driver

Operate and manage an inflatable rescue boat in surf conditions to perform advanced rescues.

Requirements:

  • Minimum age: 16 (17 for assessment)
  • Must hold Bronze Medallion and IRB Crew
  • Must be a financial member
  • Course duration: ~10 weeks (depending on surf conditions)

Course dates:

  • TBA –  July/August 2027
Enroll here

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your starting point is SRC or Bronze Medallion. After that, you can progress into more advanced courses.

We recommend giving it a go before the course and consider doing some training or lessons ahead of the qualification swim. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out to the training team for guidance.

Some courses, such as First Aid, don’t have a swim requirement and are a great way to get involved. We also recommend working on your swimming with training or lessons so you can progress to SRC or Bronze Medallion in the future.

We encourage full attendance to get the most out of the course. If you miss a session, speak to the instructors. Depending on the content, you may be able to catch up or join a future course.

Courses are typically run throughout the season (spring and summer). The next course calendar will be published around mid-2026.

Yes. All participants must be financial members of Freshwater SLSC before commencing a course. Learn more about memberships:

Join Now!

Once qualified, you can patrol as part of the club and contribute to beach safety. Learn more about patrols: https://freshwaterslsc.com/patrols/

You’ll also have the opportunity to progress into advanced awards.

This depends on the course. SRC typically takes around 5 weeks, while Bronze Medallion takes around 6–7 weeks. Both involve a mix of practical and theory sessions.

No prior experience is required. You just need to meet the (swim) requirements and be willing to learn, our instructors will guide you through the course.

You’re welcome to speak with the training team or come down to the club to learn more before registering.

Expression of Interest Form

Name(Required)