Member HandbookChapter 2.1
Membership Categories & Fees
Updated 22 Aug 2026 · Rochelle
Age reference date
Your (or your child's) age for membership category purposes is your age on 30 September in the year the season starts. For the 2026–27 season, the reference date is 30 September 2026. Example: a member who is six years old on 30 September 2026 will enrol in Junior Activity U7.
Trigg Island SLSC offers a category for almost every way of being involved, from five-year-old Nippers through to Life Members. This page is a plain-language summary — the full detail sits in the Club's Membership Policy (MEM-001).
Junior members (Nippers)
Category | Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Junior Activity (U6–U7) | Under 8 | Play, participation and fun. Must be accompanied by a financial Nipper Parent. |
Junior Activity (U8–U13) | 8–13 years | Core Nipper program; progresses through Surf Education Certificates each year. |
Adaptive / Inclusive Program | 5–99 years | Adapted curriculum for participants of All Abilities, determined case by case. |
Every Nipper needs at least one parent or guardian registered as a Nipper Parent member — without one, the Nipper registration can't be finalised.
Cadet members (13–15 years)
Cadets hold the Surf Rescue Certificate and begin patrol duties: a minimum of 16 hours a season at U14, and a full patrol roster at U15. Annual Skills Maintenance is due by 31 December.
Active members
Active membership is the operational core of the club — Bronze Medallion holders who patrol, vote, compete and can hold office. This covers Active (15–18), Active (18+), Active Reserve (available after 8+ years of satisfactory service, by application) and Award Members (hold a patrolling award short of the full Bronze Medallion, such as Radio or First Aid). A one-off Bronze Levy applies the first time you join as Active or Probationary without already holding a Bronze Medallion.
Probationary and Associate members
Probationary membership (18+) is for members actively working toward their Bronze Medallion. Associate categories — Associate General and Nipper Parent, and Leave/Restricted Member — support parents and members on approved leave, without patrol obligations.
Honorary, Service and Community members
Life Member and Long Service categories recognise long-term contribution and are granted by Board resolution. Community categories — Gym, Silver Salties and Social — are for people who want to use specific facilities or join in club life without becoming an operational lifesaver, and are covered by the Club's public liability insurance rather than SLSA personal accident insurance.
Membership fees
Category | Season cost |
|---|---|
Junior Activity (U6–U13) | $190 |
Cadet (13–15 years) | $215 |
Adaptive (All Abilities) | $80 |
Active (15–18 years) | $230 |
Active (18+), Active Reserve, Award, Long Service | $230 |
Nipper Parent | $130 |
Gym | $450 |
Silver Salties | $150 |
Community | $130 |
One-off fees also apply for board/ski rack storage ($75 / $95) and completing a Bronze Medallion ($100).
Payment deadline
Fees cover 1 October to 30 September and are due by 30 September each season. Unpaid fees can mean suspension from patrol, club activities and facility access until payment is confirmed.
Family fee cap
Once a family reaches the Family Membership Fee Cap, no further base membership fees apply for eligible family members that season. A family is up to two adults plus any number of dependent children in Junior Activities, Adaptive or Active (15–18) categories. The cap covers base fees only — course fees (including the Bronze Levy), equipment storage and competition entry fees are always payable separately. Contact the Club Administrator to apply the cap when registering.