Member HandbookChapter 7.1
Award Pathways Overview
Updated 16 Aug 2026 · Grant
SLSA's award pathway lets you build your lifesaving knowledge and skill step by step — every award is nationally recognised and transfers between clubs anywhere in Australia.
Junior development (Nippers)
Surf Education Certificates (U6–U13) build progressive surf awareness and safety knowledge. Adults aged 18+ can complete the Nipper Rescue Certificate to provide water safety alongside qualified SRC and Bronze Medallion holders.
Member courses
These are the courses available to members in WA, with what you need before you start, the minimum age, and how often the award must be renewed.
Award | Prerequisites | Min. age | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
WA Nipper Rescue Certificate (NRC) | 200 m swim in 6 min | 18 | Yearly |
Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) | 200 m swim in 5 min | 13 | Yearly |
Bronze Medallion (BM) | 400 m swim in 9 min | 15 | Yearly |
Radio Operator (RO) | — | 13 | Yearly |
Resuscitation Certificate | — | 10 | Yearly |
First Aid | — | 14 | 3 years |
Advanced Resuscitation Technique (ART) | First Aid | 15 | Yearly |
Pain Management (PM) | Bronze Medallion, ART, First Aid | 18 | 2 years |
Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue (SMAR) | Bronze Medallion, 400 m swim in 8 min | 16 | Yearly |
Silver Medallion Patrol Captain (SMPC) | Bronze Medallion | 17 | Varies |
Gold Medallion (GM) | Bronze Medallion, SMPC, First Aid, ART, 800 m swim in 14 min | 17 | Yearly |
IRB Crew (IRBC) | Bronze Medallion | 15 | Yearly |
Silver Medallion IRB Driver (IRBD) | Bronze Medallion, IRB Crew, RST | 17 | Yearly |
Rescue Water Craft Operator (RWC) | Bronze Medallion, RST, driver's licence | 18 | Yearly |
SSV Induction | Driver's licence | 17 | None |
WA Training Officer (TO) | — | 16 | 2 years |
WA Assessor (A/C) | WA Training Officer, plus trained two full courses | 18 | 2 years |
RST is the Recreational Skippers Ticket. Renewal means an annual Skills Maintenance Check for most awards — see 7.2 Annual Skills Maintenance. First Aid, ART and the Resuscitation Certificate are also nationally accredited units (HLTAID011, HLTAID015 and HLTAID009), delivered by SLSWA or by a club holding an auspice agreement.
Other awards you may hear about
The Observer Award, UAV (Drone) Patrol Operator and Rock, Rescue and Retrieval are SLSA awards that are not on the SLSWA member course list above, so their prerequisites and renewal cycles are not published there. Ask the Director of Education if you are interested in any of them.
Coaching, officiating & leadership
Age Manager Award (renews every 5 years, current WWCC required), SLSA Surf Sports Coach and SLSA Official. Trainer, Assessor and Facilitator roles — the members who deliver and assess these courses — have their own pathway and currency rules, set out in 7.4 Training & Assessing.
When is the next course?
Club courses are added to the Club Calendar as they are scheduled, so check there first. If the course you are after is not listed yet, contact the Education team — the club has a separate contact for each award area, listed in 1.3 Getting Involved & Key Contacts. They can tell you when the next intake is planned and note your interest.