Full Handbook

Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club has proudly patrolled our stretch of coast for generations, keeping the community safe while building lifelong skills, friendships and a genuine love of the ocean. Whether you're brand new to the club or have been a member for years, this handbook is your go-to reference for everything from patrol rosters to uniform requirements.

Our purpose

We exist to prevent drowning and promote water safety, while developing confident, capable young people and adults through surf sports, lifesaving training and community involvement. Our motto — Save Lives, Develop Lives — sits at the heart of everything we do.

What's in this handbook

• Membership categories, benefits, fees and how to join

• Patrol rosters and lifesaving obligations

• Nippers and Youth program information

• Surf Sports training and competition details

• Club policies and codes of conduct

If you can't find what you're looking for, reach out to the club via the contacts listed in the next topic.

Trigg Island SLSC's purpose, vision and values sit at the heart of our Strategic Plan 2025–30, Our Island, Our Future — a five-year roadmap to strengthen lifesaving, develop people, and grow our community impact.

Our purpose

Save lives, develop lives.

Our vision

To protect life and develop inclusive communities.

Our values

• Teamwork

• Care

• Respect

Our strategic pillars

The next five years focus on four strategic pillars that guide our priorities and growth, aligned with our purpose and values:

1. Save lives

2. Develop & support people

3. Grow and sustain our club

4. Engage the community

Our lens

Every decision and initiative over the next five years is guided by:

• Acting as custodians of our precinct and environment

• Collaborating, listening and adapting

• Ensuring equity, inclusion and belonging

• Measuring impact and building with legacy

• Being bold and future-focused

Whatever question you have, there's a good chance someone at the club already knows the answer. Here's who to contact, and how to get more involved.

General enquiries

• Member and Community Administrator — Rene Venoutsos, admin@triggisland.com | 08 9447 3556

• Address — 360 West Coast Drive, Trigg WA 6029

Club leadership

Staff

Training & award coordinators

Lifesaving & Youth officers

Nipper age group contacts

Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs)

Cas Ryan, Bronwyn Meldrum, Hayden Marchetto and Sophie Lawson are the Club's trained MPIOs — a confidential first point of contact for any concern about conduct, welfare, child safety or harassment. Reach any of them via admin@triggisland.com. See Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for more on how this works.

Getting involved

Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club is volunteer-led — from patrol, to Sunday Nippers, to committees and events, there's a role that fits almost any amount of time you can give. Reach out to any Director or Coordinator above for the area you're interested in, or start with the Club Administrator if you're not sure who to ask.

Membership benefits

Nippers

• Nipper program (Sunday AM program)

• Coaching, water safety and skill development

• Use of club equipment

• Access to Nipper Surf Sports training sessions

• Access to and discounted hire of club rooms

• Social events

• Equipment storage (additional fee)

• Access to discounts from sponsors

Active / Cadet

• Surf sports program with professional coaching and skill development

• Use of club equipment

• Access to gym and cardio equipment (16+ years)

• Access to and discounted hire of club rooms

• Social events

• Equipment storage (additional fee)

• Access to discounts from sponsors

Gym

• 24/7 access to gym facility

• Access to discounts from sponsors

Social

• Access to social events at the club

• Access to member's food and drink prices

• Access to discounts from sponsors

Member discounts

Available for Our Island family.

Diamond High Performance

Our Performance Partner offers gym access, strength & conditioning, performance training, recovery and more. Trigg members receive exclusive discounts across selected memberships. Contact the Diamond HP team for current member offers.

B&E Fire Protection

Long-standing Club partner B&E Fire Protection provides integrated fire protection services across commercial, residential, education, health and industrial projects. For fire protection needs, support the local team that supports Trigg.

Realty Lane

Local real estate specialists Daniel and Maria Gonzalez and the Realty Lane team have proudly supported Trigg since 2021. Thinking of selling, buying or simply curious about your property's value? Let them know you're part of the Trigg family.

Morley Mitsubishi

Morley Mitsubishi proudly supports our lifesaving operations and provides the Club with significant assistance towards our beach vehicle. Looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle? Support the dealership that supports Our Island.

MBH Accounting & Taxation Services

MBH Accounting & Taxation Services have supported Trigg for more than 20 years. For accounting, taxation and financial advice you can understand, consider the team that continues to support our Club and Surf Sports programs.

Give IT

Our trusted IT partner for more than a decade, Give IT provides technology and IT support to keep the Club connected. For business IT, cloud solutions and technology support, consider the team that supports Trigg.

St Mary's Anglican Girls' School

A valued part of our local community, St Mary's continues to generously support Trigg Island SLSC and our members. We're proud to partner with a school that shares our commitment to community and developing young people.

Betty's Burgers

Betty's Burgers supports Trigg through both financial and delicious in-kind contributions. Next time you're craving a burger, support one of the businesses that proudly supports Our Island.

Hollow Surf

Our local surf specialists at Hollow Surf offer Trigg members 15% off in-store all year round. Visit the team at North Beach or Hillarys and let them know you're a Trigg Island member.

UBX Scarborough

Get moving with our local UBX team. Trigg members can access discounted weekly memberships – saving up to $15 per week – plus 3 trial sessions for just $5. Ask UBX Scarborough for the Trigg member rate.

Perth Signcraft & Graphics

Perth Signcraft & Graphics provides the Club with generously discounted signage services throughout the year. For signage, graphics and branding needs, consider supporting the team that supports Trigg.

Neighbourhood Plumbing & Gas

For plumbing, gas and water filtration needs, look no further than our local partners at Neighbourhood Plumbing & Gas. Trigg Island members can access discounted rates on their services – simply let the team know you're part of the Trigg family when getting in touch.

DrimTel

Mobile and NBN with a difference. DrimTel donates 50% of profits to Type 1 Diabetes research. Use code TISLSC for 50% off your first 3 months, plus selected Trigg merchandise offers when signing up or bundling eligible plans.

New Balance / Belgravia Apparel

Trigg members can access an exclusive 30% discount through the New Balance Australia online store during a dedicated member weekend each year. Keep an eye on Club communications for dates and access details.

West Coast Health Physio

Need help getting back to your best? Trigg members can access heavily discounted physiotherapy fees through West Coast Health Physio. Simply let the team know you're a member and ask for the Trigg Family Rate.

Current sponsors

Backed by great brands. Driven by community.

Please support those who support us

Our partners play an important role in helping Trigg Island SLSC Save Lives, Develop Lives and continue delivering programs, services and opportunities for our members and community.

Where you can, we encourage our members and families to support the businesses and organisations that support #OurIsland. Whether you're buying a product, booking a service or simply recommending them to family and friends, your support helps us continue building strong, long-term partnerships that benefit the entire Club.

When you support our partners, you're supporting Trigg.

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)

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

One-off fees also apply for board/ski rack storage ($75 / $95) and completing a Bronze Medallion ($100).

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.

All registrations and renewals happen through the SLSA Members Hub — the national online membership platform — at hub.sls.com.au.

New members

1. Create a personal account at hub.sls.com.au (a parent or guardian must create the account for a child).
2. Search for and select Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club.
3. Choose the membership category that applies to you or your child.
4. Complete your details and submit any required documents — proof of age (birth certificate or passport) for Junior members, and a Working With Children Check for Nipper Parents and anyone working with children.
5. Pay your fees.
6. Wait for the Club Administrator to approve your application — you're not a financial member, and can't train, patrol or compete, until it's approved and confirmed.

Returning members

Renew each season from 1 July, once the new season's fees are published. If you've set up a Family Group in the Hub, the primary account holder can renew everyone together — each person still keeps their own individual record.

Season timeline

The SLS Members Hub (hub.sls.com.au) is the national online platform Surf Life Saving Australia uses for membership, awards, patrols and communication — every SLS club in the country runs on it, including Trigg Island. Each financial member has their own individual login; a parent or guardian creates and manages the account for a child.

What you can do in the Hub

• Join or renew — register a new membership, or renew each season from 1 July, including as part of a Family Group

• Manage your patrols — view your roster and patrol hours (Patrols > Patrol Roster), and request or accept a patrol swap (Patrols > Patrol Swap) — see Can't Make a Patrol? in Patrols & Lifesaving

• Complete training — work through Skills Maintenance eLearning modules, and register for courses and practical assessment sessions

• Check your awards — view your current awards and proficiency status, recorded in Surfguard

• Access the Document Library — SLSA and SLSWA policies, circulars and step-by-step user guides

• Update your details — keep your contact details, emergency contacts, medical information and Working With Children Check record current

• Raise a formal complaint — lodge a matter through the SLS Reporting System where that's the right pathway — see Complaints, Grievances & Discipline

• Transfer clubs — start an SLSA club transfer if you're moving to or from Trigg Island

Your rights as a member

• Participate in club activities appropriate to your membership category
• Access club facilities in line with club policy and the By-Laws
• Access training and development opportunities relevant to your category
• Attend and speak at general meetings
• Vote at general meetings (Active, Active Reserve, Award if patrolling, Long Service and Life Members, subject to compliance requirements)
• Nominate for elected positions where eligible under the Constitution
• Compete in surf sports events where eligible under SLSA and club rules

Code of Conduct

All members must follow the SLSA Code of Conduct, part of the SLSA Member Protection Policy (Policy 6.05). You formally acknowledge this each season when you renew, and failing to observe it can be treated as misconduct.

See Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for how to raise a concern if you experience or witness a breach.

Trigg Island SLSC is committed to providing a safe, fair and inclusive environment for everyone involved in the Club. Member protection is governed by Surf Life Saving Australia's Member Protection Policy (SLSA Policy 6.05), which sets out the Code of Conduct and protections that apply to every member, volunteer, official and participant.

What the policy covers

SLSA Policy 6.05 — Member Protection sets behavioural standards for all members and provides a framework for preventing and responding to discrimination, harassment and abuse. It works alongside:

• SLSA Policy 6.04 — Child Safe Policy, and the Child Safe Code of Conduct — specific behavioural standards for anyone working with children and young people (under 18) in a Club context, such as Nippers, coaching, or officiating
• SLSA Policy 6.06 — Complaints Resolution — the formal process for handling breaches; see Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for how this works at Trigg Island

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Anyone volunteering or working with Nippers or Youth members (under 18) at Trigg Island needs a current Working With Children Check, in line with SLSWA's Member Screening Policy.

• Application forms are available through the Club or at Australia Post outlets
• Current fees are $11 for volunteers and $85 for employees
• If you already hold a current WWCC, email a copy to admin@triggisland.com along with the details of the child or children you're associated with (for example, as a Nipper Parent)

Reporting a concern

How you report depends on the nature of the concern:

• Immediate risk to a child — contact Police on 000 first
• Child Safe Policy breach — report through the SLS Reporting System
• Any other member protection concern — speak with the Club's MPIO first

See Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for the full picture of how concerns are handled at Trigg Island, and Getting Involved & Key Contacts for the Club's current MPIOs.

More information

For state-wide member protection guidance, contact the SLSWA Member Development Coordinator — dsomers@slswa.com.au | (08) 9207 6666 — or visit mybeach.com.au.

SLSA Personal Accident Insurance

Financial members registered under an eligible SLSA membership category are covered by the SLSA Personal Accident Insurance Policy while taking part in authorised club activities. This is maintained by SLSWA on behalf of member clubs and offsets some medical costs and loss of income from an injury sustained during authorised activities.

Club Public Liability Insurance

Community membership categories (Gym, Social) aren't covered by SLSA Personal Accident Insurance. Instead, you're covered by the Club's public liability insurance while on club premises or taking part in club-organised activities. Ask the Club Administrator for specific coverage details.

Silver Salties — special provision

Silver Salties members are covered by SLSA Group Cover Personal Accident Insurance while taking part in authorised Silver Salties activities — a separate arrangement from standard SLSA personal accident insurance.

The gym is available to members aged 16 and over as part of a Gym membership, or as an entitlement of certain other categories (see Membership Categories & Fees).

Silver Salties is Surf Life Saving Australia's program for older Australians — physical activity, social connection, and a way to be part of the surf lifesaving community, whatever your fitness level. At Trigg Island, Silver Salties is a low cost, social and physical program for members aged 65 and over, run year-round.

What's on offer

• Tech-savvy sessions — help with social media, Microsoft Office and staying safe online

• Weekly walking groups, and yoga classes in the club hall during the cooler months

• Inside or Beach fitness circuits all year round, followed by refreshments at the Club

• Swimming lessons and squad

Membership & insurance

Silver Salties is one of the Club's Community membership categories (see Membership Categories & Fees) — $150 for the season. Silver Salties members are covered by SLSA Group Cover Personal Accident Insurance while participating in authorised Silver Salties activities — a specific arrangement separate from standard SLSA personal accident insurance (see Insurance & Cover).

Getting involved

For more information or to register, contact Rene via admin@triggisland.com, or call the Club on 08 9447 3556.

Welcome to another Woodside Nippers season at Trigg Island SLSC! Whether you're brand new or returning, every Sunday morning is designed to be safe, social and full of smiles — for kids and parents alike. Behind the scenes, the program is run by a team of volunteer Age Managers and helpers, many of them parents just like you — the more help they have, the more fun Nippers can have, so please get involved when you can.

At Trigg, we believe fun is the number one reason kids stay active and engaged in sport. That’s why every Sunday morning is designed to be safe, social, and full of smiles — not just for the kids, but for parents too! From beach games to board paddling, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

Nipper contacts

Age group contacts

Reach your child's Age Manager team directly by cap colour:

What's included

Every Nipper (U6–U13) needs at least one accompanying parent or guardian with a current Nipper Parent membership — without one, the Nipper registration can't be finalised. Your family will receive a hi-vis vest, an age group cap and a wide-brim Nipper hat, plus access to Sunday sessions, club facilities and boards, the Christmas celebration day, interclub carnivals, and the Surf Life Saving education program. Every member is covered by Surf Life Saving Insurance for approved club activities.

Find out more at NippersWA.

Age Groups and Caps

Each group has its own coloured cap to make them easy to spot on the beach.

Preliminary swim evaluation

Before Nippers head into the surf, every child completes a preliminary swim evaluation to check their swimming and water safety skills. This is an SLSA requirement and part of the Club's duty of care — it helps make sure every child is confident and safe in the water.

Can't make the session?

Your options are to:

• Ask your child's swim instructor or coach to sign a third-party swim proficiency form, or;

• Email Michelle Bowbridge (U7 Age Group Manager) to attend Carine SHS pool to observe your child's proficiency swim.

All third party completed forms go to your Age Manager team by email.

Every Sunday morning, Nippers come together on Trigg Beach for fun, friendships and surf safety activities.

What happens on Sundays

• Meet your Age Group Manager at your cap-coloured flag on the beach — arrive by 8:50am for a 9am start

• Roll call and a quick safety check

• Fun rotations: water skills, board paddling, beach sprints, relays, flags, games and surf safety education

• Grab a snack or coffee afterwards — kiosk proceeds go straight back into supporting Nippers

What to bring

• Age group cap (labelled)

• Hi-vis vest (labelled)

• Bathers or wetsuit (if your child gets cold)

• Sunscreen (apply before arrival)

• Towel, hat and a long-sleeve shirt for after water activities

• Goggles and a labelled water bottle

• A Nipper board, if you own one

• Warm clothes for cooler mornings

Trigg Island SLSC is a volunteer-led club, and that's what makes it special. It's a membership requirement that at least one parent or guardian from each family joins as a parent member — this lets you help with beach and water activities, and makes sure you're covered by insurance while doing so.

Ways you can help

• Beach set-up and pack-up — help put out and pack away equipment on Sundays and carnival days

• Officials and marshals — from judging to recording results; online Surf Sport Official courses are available, and the club will help you get started

• Water safety — qualified parents can assist on boards or with rescue tubes during water activities, with a Nipper Rescue Certificate (NRC), Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) or Bronze Medallion (BM)

Nipper Rescue Certificate (NRC)

Register your interest via the Training course application form — make sure you're the registered parent on your family membership. All participants must complete a 200m pool swim in under 5 minutes to be eligible; this can be done as part of the Nipper Preliminary swim evaluation. If you already hold an NRC, SRC or Bronze Medallion, you'll just need to complete skills maintenance rather than the full course.

Questions about NRC courses or skills maintenance go to the Nipper Education Coordinator, Jenny Taylor, via nrc@triggisland.com.

Age Managers

Every age group has dedicated Age Managers who lead Sunday sessions, support water safety, keep roll call, coordinate parent helpers, attend a monthly Nipper committee meeting (about 1.5 hours), and complete an Age Manager Award (a short online module plus two shadow sessions). New Age Managers are paired with a mentor and given lesson plans covering surf awareness, individual safety, lifesaving skills and surf sports. The club aims for 2–4 Age Managers per group, with a minimum ratio of 1 Age Manager to 25 children.

Interested in becoming an Age Manager? Contact Lauren Robertson, Director of Nippers — nippers@triggisland.com | 0414 302 925.

Keeping Nippers safe

We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants and their families.

• Nippers must always stay with their Age Group Manager, unless handed over to a coach or parent/guardian

• Parents and guardians must remain on the beach during all Nipper sessions and training — your children remain your responsibility

• Kids only enter the water when instructed by their Age Group Manager

• Nippers must be signed out by a parent or guardian before leaving at the end of the session

• Hi-vis vest and age group cap are compulsory for all water activities

Member protection

Trigg Island SLSC is committed to providing a safe, fair and inclusive environment for everyone involved in the Club. Member protection is governed by Surf Life Saving Australia's Member Protection Policy (SLSA Policy 6.05), which sets out the Code of Conduct and protections that apply to every member, volunteer, official and participant.

What the policy covers

SLSA Policy 6.05 — Member Protection sets behavioural standards for all members and provides a framework for preventing and responding to discrimination, harassment and abuse. It works alongside:

• SLSA Policy 6.04 — Child Safe Policy, and the Child Safe Code of Conduct — specific behavioural standards for anyone working with children and young people (under 18) in a Club context, such as Nippers, coaching, or officiating

• SLSA Policy 6.06 — Complaints Resolution — the formal process for handling breaches; see Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for how this works at Trigg Island

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Anyone volunteering or working with Nippers or Youth members (under 18) at Trigg Island needs a current Working With Children Check, in line with SLSWA's Member Screening Policy.

• Application forms are available through the Club or at Australia Post outlets

• Current fees are $11 for volunteers and $85 for employees

• If you already hold a current WWCC, email a copy to admin@triggisland.com along with the details of the child or children you're associated with (for example, as a Nipper Parent)

Reporting a concern

How you report depends on the nature of the concern:

• Immediate risk to a child — contact Police on 000 first

• Child Safe Policy breach — report through the SLS Reporting System

• Any other member protection concern — speak with the Club's MPIO first

See Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for the full picture of how concerns are handled at Trigg Island, and Getting Involved & Key Contacts for the Club's current MPIOs.

More information

For state-wide member protection guidance, contact the SLSWA Member Development Coordinator — dsomers@slswa.com.au | (08) 9207 6666 — or visit mybeach.com.au.

In the U8–13 age groups, Nippers develop board paddling skills as part of Sunday morning activities each week. U6 and U7 Nippers get some board exposure during the season when conditions are suitable. The club has both foam boards (U8–U10) and fibreglass boards (U11–U13) for use during Sunday activities and additional training sessions.

Board Specifications

U8-U10 - foam encased Nipper board / 2.0m length with no specified weight

U11-U13 - fibreglass Nipper board / 2.0m length and 4.5kg

Buying Your Own Board

As your child progresses, they may choose to buy their own board for private use, giving them the chance to practise outside club activities. Suitable suppliers include:

• Kracka Surfcraft

• Race One Surf Craft

• Ocean Built

• NIPPER — bennettsurf

Second-hand boards are also available through other surf club websites, Gumtree, Facebook groups (such as WA Surf Lifesaving Craft/Accessories Sale, or Trigg Boards & Craft for Sale), and club noticeboards.

Trigg Island SLSC is one of the Western Australian clubs delivering the Woodside Nippers All Abilities Program for the 2026–27 season — a state-wide initiative from Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) that makes Nippers accessible to children with diverse needs and abilities.

What the program offers

All Abilities Nippers is built around enjoyment, social interaction, water and beach familiarisation, and physical activity — adapted to each participant's individual learning needs. Children take part in the same broad areas as regular Nippers — beach safety, swimming and board skills — building fitness, coordination and confidence along the way. Depending on interest, some participants may also get involved in competition, patrolling or other club activities as they progress.

• For children aged 5 and above — there's no upper age limit, and sessions may combine different age groups

• Runs alongside the Club's regular Woodside Nippers program in January and February

• Every participant receives their own Woodside Nippers uniform — hi-vis vest and cap — the same as every other Nipper

• A parent or caregiver is required to be present and involved throughout sessions

Getting involved at Trigg Island

To find out more or register your child for the All-Abilities Program at Trigg Island, contact the Director of Member Services, Rochelle McKee — membership@triggisland.com.

U8–U13s have the opportunity to compete at interclub carnivals and state championship events. To enter water events, a Nipper must first be assessed by their Age Manager as meeting the competition evaluation swim, ahead of the entry deadline — this assessment happens as part of normal Sunday activities. Taking part is encouraged but optional; Sunday sessions still run at Trigg even when there's an interclub carnival on the same day.

What events can my child enter?

Carnivals are split by age: Little Nippers (U8–U9), running about 2–3 hours, and Nippers (U10–U13), running about 3–4 hours (longer at State Championships).

• Little Nippers — individual events: surf race, board race, sprint race and flags
• Nippers — individual and team events, including surf race, board race, ironperson, surf teams, board relay and Cameron relay, plus beach events: 1km or 2km run, sprint race, beach relay and flags

All competitors must wear a fluoro yellow vest, club bathers and the club competition cap. Entry process and carnival program details are shared by your Age Manager team, and via The Islander, before each entry deadline — visit the SLSWA MyBeach website for carnival dates and registration information.

Team selection

General carnivals are about fun and participation. For State events, selection shifts to a performance focus, made by Age Managers and coaches based on performance at Nippers, training and earlier carnivals, conditions on the day, and team balance and spirit. Parent help is always needed for trailer loading/unloading, officiating, marshalling and water safety at every carnival.

Welcome to another exciting season with Trigg Island SLSC's Youth program! Youth members are the lifeblood of the club — every time you dive into the surf, learn a new skill or make a new friend, you're building the future of surf lifesaving. Every contribution, from helping on the beach to lending a hand at events, adds to the strength of the club and the experiences it can offer.

Director of Youth: Kirk Phillips — youth@triggisland.com

2026–27 Youth Committee

A typical Sunday

Surf Sports training doesn't run during Youth Club time — the two are kept separate this season so Sunday sessions stay focused on Youth Club activities.

What to bring

• Hi-vis vest (labelled)
• Bathers or wetsuit (if you get cold)
• Sunscreen (apply before arrival)
• Towel, hat and a long-sleeve shirt for after water activities
• Goggles, a labelled water bottle, and warm clothes for cooler mornings

Competition uniform

• Club cap (red/green/white) and club bathers
• Hi-vis vest compulsory for all aquatic activities
• Club apparel is available from the Merchandise Shop, outside the operations shed

Club equipment

Club boards and skis are for Youth members' use during designated activities only. Equipment must be returned, cleaned and stored correctly — report any damage to your coaches immediately.

Trigg Island Youth's focus for 2026–27 is a "feet on the sand" approach — blending fun, fitness and lifesaving into every session, with activities for U14/U15s and U17s run separately and as one combined group.

This season's goals

• Build cohesiveness, camaraderie and connection — to the Club and to each other
• Improve retention and grow our numbers
• Build a culture that makes progressing from Nippers into Youth an easy, exciting step
• Make space for every interest across the Club, including Surf Sports

What you can expect on a Sunday

Sessions mix fun group activities with lifesaving skill-building — sometimes blended together, like practising board rescues and first aid alongside SRC and Bronze Medallion training. Expect a rotating mix through the season, such as:

• Beach games — giant dodgeball, tag games, a minefield blindfold challenge, frisbee competitions
• Water-based fun — board rescues, a try-a-ski day, bring-a-floatie day, pontoon relay, wet towel bucket relay
• Skills and awareness — mock first aid events, surf awareness signals and signs, IRB day
• Guest incursions — paramedics, lifeguards and Club leaders sharing what they do
• Bigger group days — body surfing competitions, team sandcastle competitions, bring-a-friend day

Youth members are eligible to complete their Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion — the essential education and skills that lead to becoming a patrolling member. Courses run throughout the season, but we encourage eligible members to complete them as early as possible. Patrols are a voluntary weekend service, with a set number of hours required if you want to compete — see Patrols & Lifesaving and Awards & Training.

Check out all the awards available in Award Pathways Overview

Surf Life Saving WA runs a set of Youth Pathways that let you take on real roles around the club and across the state — and, just as importantly, formally record the service you give. The pathways are open to youth members from U14, and everything you do through them can count towards the Youth Recognition Program described below.

You do not have to pick just one. Most youth members end up doing a bit of several: patrolling on a Sunday, helping an Age Manager with the Nippers, and officiating at a carnival later in the season.

The four youth pathway roles

Each of these is a supported, mentored role — you are not thrown in on your own, and hours you put in count towards your Youth Recognition Program record.

Competing and patrolling count too

• Surf Sports — board riding, swimming and beach sprints, from club events through to state, national and international competition. See Surf Sports & Competition for how to get started and what the patrol requirements are.

• Lifesaving — your Surf Rescue Certificate (from age 13) and Bronze Medallion (from age 15) open the door to patrolling, and later to specialist services like drone patrol, lifeguarding and jet ski operations. The Rookie Lifeguard Program is also available through SLSWA. Full course requirements are in 4.4 Lifesaving Pathways.

The Youth Recognition Program (YRP)

The Youth Recognition Program — previously called the Youth Leaders Program — is how your involvement gets formally recognised. Rather than a course you sit, it is a record you build: you log the hours and experiences you accumulate, and you are recognised as you reach each level.

Hours can be accrued two ways:

• Activities you do at Trigg Island — patrolling, helping with Nippers, club officiating, training and competing

• SLSWA Youth Pathway Programs — the Official, Coach, Age Manager and Trainer roles above, plus SLSWA camps and courses

There are three levels of achievement — Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each has its own requirements covering the different sides of surf lifesaving, so the program rewards breadth rather than doing one thing over and over. SLSWA publishes a separate recording sheet for each level, plus a program brochure with the full detail.

How to get started

Register your interest with SLSWA using the Youth Pathways Expression of Interest Form. You will need:

• Your name and age group

• Your club — Trigg Island SLSC

• A parent or guardian's contact details

• Contact details for the club youth coordinator

SLSWA will then get in touch with what to do next. Before you submit it, have a word with the Youth Committee at the club — they can sign off the coordinator section and point you at the roles that suit you best.

Download the brochure

Surf Life Saving WA runs a Youth Leaders Program tracking positive involvement across Lifesaving, Surf Sports and Training, with three levels of achievement — Bronze, Silver and Gold — recognised from U14 through to U19. Taking part gives Youth members exposure to the different sides of surf lifesaving, recognition as a volunteer, and opportunities to attend camps run by Surf Life Saving Australia — all valuable for future employment or scholarship opportunities.

Club recognition awards

Each season, Trigg Island SLSC celebrates the hard work, dedication and achievements of its Youth members:

• U15 Lifesaver of the Year — outstanding patrolling service during the season
• Youth Club Achiever Award — outstanding contribution by a Youth Member (U14–U17) across Lifesaving, Training, Leadership and Surf Sports
• Youth of the Year — considered from among nominated Youth Club Achievers
• Youth Athlete of the Year — sporting excellence and contribution to Surf Sports, ages 15–18
• Youth Official of the Year — outstanding contribution to officiating during the season
• St Mary's Award — recognising a rising star in the Youth category

Regular events

• Volleyball Night — North Beach Volleyball Centre, 5pm–8pm, bar open for parents (subsidised by the Youth budget)
• Movie Nights — dates to be announced
• Around the Island Team Challenge — a club-wide team activity plus the Youth end-of-year BBQ
• BBQ Breakfasts — first Sunday of each month, after Youth sessions (helpers needed for setup, cooking and pack-down)
• Youth Camp — SLSWA South West Camp, Margaret River, a Friday-to-Sunday weekend of activities, teamwork and leadership (around $150pp including transport, accommodation, activities and main meals; $50 deposit required; essential registration via TeamApp)

New for 2026–27

• Sunset Swim & Smoothie Day
• Ping Pong & Pizza
• Pancake Day
• Cook-off — groups take turns cooking up bacon-and-egg muffins, a sausage sizzle and more

Exact dates for these are shared via TeamApp and the "What's Up!" noticeboard as the season progresses.

Training

As you grow, there are opportunities to take part in training sessions beyond Sunday Youth — designed to build skills, fitness and confidence in the water and on the beach. Because training times can shift with weather, coach availability or event scheduling, weekly updates are shared via TeamApp and WhatsApp — make sure you've joined your age group in the app. Surf Sports training is scheduled separately from Sunday Youth Club activities this season, so the two no longer overlap.

• Weekly schedules — released via TeamApp by Coach Andrew Mosel; 1–2 swim sessions a week are recommended
• Disciplines — boards, skis, boats, beach events, Rescue & Resuscitation, March Past, First Aid Competition, Champion Lifesaver
• Competition — carnivals at Metro, Country, State and Australian level; entry process, uniform requirements and team selection (participation vs high performance) are covered in Surf Sports & Competition

How parents can help

As a family club, Trigg relies on every family sharing the load. Ways to help on Sundays include kiosk duty, BBQs, event set-up and pack-down, and RSA bar service. There's also an Officials Pathway — an online plus practical course covering judging, marshalling and recording races at carnivals; contact the Club Administrator if you'd like to get involved.

Patrolling is the core function of a surf life saving club. Every patrol hour served at Trigg Island Beach directly helps keep the community safe. The club holds a Patrol Contract with the City of Stirling that sets its patrol obligations and minimum service levels — the patrol season generally runs from October to the end of March, with exact dates confirmed each year by the Director of Lifesaving.

Requirements to patrol

Before you can patrol, you need to meet every one of these requirements:

• Be a current financial member, registered in the SLS Members Hub

• Hold a current SLSA award for your role (Surf Rescue Certificate for Cadets, Bronze Medallion for Active members)

• Be proficient — annual Skills Maintenance completed by 31 December

• Hold a current Working With Children Check where required

• Be allocated to a patrol team by the Director of Lifesaving

Patrol requirements for Active Members and Cadets

Once you hold an eligible award — a Surf Rescue Certificate for Cadets, or a Bronze Medallion for Active members — you'll be allocated to a Club patrol team by the Director of Lifesaving.

• You must complete the Club's full patrol roster for the season, unless you've been approved for an Individual Patrol Agreement (IPA) or hold an approved patrol exemption — see Individual Patrol Agreements & Exemptions

• If you can't attend a rostered patrol, you must arrange a substitute holding an equivalent qualification, accepted through the SLS Members Hub — see Can't Make a Patrol?

• If a patrol is missed, you must make up the hours by accepting another member's patrol swap request in the SLS Members Hub

This still applies if you're on an IPA: your IPA sets an alternative schedule, but you remain responsible for arranging an accepted substitute for any individual absence within that schedule, and failing to meet your IPA commitments is treated as patrol default in the same way.

The award you hold determines the role you can perform on patrol. Each patrol is led by a Patrol Captain, supported by the team below.

Patrol Captain's authority

During patrol, the Patrol Captain has full operational authority over all members and activities in the patrolling area. Every member must follow the Patrol Captain's (or Vice Captain's) lawful and reasonable directions — this authority is non-negotiable during a patrol, and any disagreement or concern is raised afterwards through the appropriate channel, not on the spot.

The patrol roster for the season is confirmed by 1 October and published in the SLS Members Hub, where you can also check your current patrol hours at any time (Patrols > Patrol Roster). You're responsible for knowing your patrol dates and committing to your schedule.

Sign on and sign off

Signing on confirms who's on the beach, and it's the only way your hours are counted. Arrive ready for duty before the patrol starts (your Patrol Captain will confirm arrival times), sign on using the club's approved patrol recording system, check your equipment and radio with the Patrol Captain, and sign off before you leave at the end of your shift.

Life happens — the key is to give as much notice as possible and arrange a substitute through the SLS Members Hub. When another qualified, proficient member accepts your swap, your obligation for that patrol is met and no make-up hours are needed. If no substitute is found, the missed patrol is recorded as a deficit (informally, you'd say you're "hours down").

Requesting a substitute

1. Log in to the SLS Members Hub at hub.sls.com.au
2. Go to Patrols > Patrol Roster to see your allocated patrols
3. Find the date you can't attend
4. Select "I need a substitute" — the listing updates to show it as requesting a substitute

Raising the request in the Hub is the first step — for anything less than 48 hours' notice, also contact your Patrol Captain directly and, if it's urgent, other patrol members too (see the notification table below).

Accepting someone else's patrol

1. Log in to the SLS Members Hub
2. Go to Patrols > Patrol Swap
3. Scroll to the list of patrols other members have flagged as needing a substitute
4. Find one you're eligible and available for, and select "I can do this"
5. Confirm when prompted — this accepts the substitution and updates both rosters

Making up hours

If you're hours down, you can make up the deficit by accepting a future-dated swap in the Hub (this restores your entitlements straight away), covering someone else's patrol as a substitute, or completing a patrol the Director of Lifesaving has marked as eligible for make-up.

A patrol deficit builds up in two ways: hours deficit from partial absences (late arrival or early departure), or a missed patrol — a fully missed rostered patrol without an accepted substitute. Both are tracked, and consequences apply automatically unless you've accepted a patrol swap (including a future-dated one) or hold an approved exemption.

Entitlements are restored once you accept a patrol swap in the Hub, pending completion of that patrol. These are club consequences and sit alongside — not instead of — SLSA's separate competition eligibility rules; see Surf Sports & Competition.

Individual Patrol Agreements (IPA)

An IPA is a formal, documented arrangement that changes how you meet your patrol obligation — not a reduction of it. You still serve the same total hours as other members of your category, just on a different schedule. IPAs may be available where you genuinely can't attend at least 50% of the standard roster due to FIFO or irregular work rosters, employment commitments outside your control, or other exceptional, ongoing circumstances approved by the Board. They're not available for lifestyle preferences, routine scheduling conflicts, members already in deficit, or short-term situations (use a patrol swap instead).

To apply, submit a written application to the Director of Lifesaving explaining your circumstances and proposed arrangement. If approved, the IPA is documented, signed by both parties, and reviewed at least annually — it doesn't automatically renew. If declined, you can request a review by the Board, whose determination is final.

Patrol exemptions

A patrol exemption is temporary or seasonal relief from patrol obligations, for situations that genuinely can't be managed through a patrol swap or an IPA — injury or illness, pregnancy, military or emergency service deployment, extended travel or work away from Perth, or other exceptional circumstances the Board approves.

Fitness for duty

You must present for patrol ready and capable of performing your assigned duties. You must not patrol if you're under the influence of alcohol or any impairing substance, suffering an injury or illness that prevents you safely performing your duties, or in a state that impairs your judgement or ability to respond to an emergency. If you're unwell, injured or otherwise unfit, notify your Patrol Captain as early as possible so cover can be arranged.

Where illness or injury strikes with no reasonable opportunity to arrange a substitute, your Patrol Captain can excuse you from that patrol — it won't count as a deficit. If you're likely to be unable to patrol for an extended period, consider applying for a patrol exemption.

Conduct on patrol

• Follow the SLSA Code of Conduct and the club's Membership Policy at all times
• Be professional and courteous with the public, fellow patrol members, and other services (City of Stirling Lifeguards, WA Police, the Surf Rescue Helicopter crew)
• Don't use your personal phone for non-emergency purposes during active patrol hours, unless the Patrol Captain authorises it
• Stay vigilant and alert — patrolling requires sustained attention and readiness to respond
• Don't consume alcohol or any impairing substance during patrol hours or in the patrol area

Conduct that puts the public, fellow members, or the club's reputation at risk is taken seriously — see Patrol Deficit & Consequences and Complaints, Grievances & Discipline.

All incidents — rescues, first aid treatments, preventive actions, near-misses and injuries to members or the public — must be reported through the SLSA incident reporting system, ideally before or immediately after sign-off. Accurate, timely reporting creates an official record of the club's service, supports insurance requirements, and is a requirement of the Patrol Contract with the City of Stirling.

Equipment

Use equipment only for its intended purpose and in line with SLSA training and club procedures. Report any damage, loss or malfunction to the Patrol Captain immediately, return everything to its correct storage location in serviceable condition at the end of each patrol, and don't use or modify club equipment without the Patrol Captain's authority. Vehicle operators (ATV/SSV, IRB) must hold the relevant SLSA award and a current driver's licence for land vehicles.

Patrol terms glossary

No Club activity in or near the water — Nippers, training, Surf Sports, even patrol support activities — can go ahead without water safety in place. It's a core part of how Trigg Island SLSC keeps everyone safe, and it relies entirely on volunteers.

We're always looking for volunteers

Water safety depends on members stepping up — the Club is always looking for more volunteers to help. If you hold a Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion, you're qualified to help provide water safety for training and other activities, beyond your own patrol commitments.

Volunteering via PatrolMate

Trigg Island SLSC uses PatrolMate, an online app, for members to volunteer for water safety and other Club helper roles. It's the easiest way to see what help is needed and put your hand up.

The basics of how water safety works

Water safety at Trigg Island follows the SLSA Water Safety Procedure (Policy 1.01A). The full detail is technical, but the general principles are:

• Every activity has a Water Safety Supervisor — a Bronze Medallion holder who leads the water safety team, assesses the risk before and during the activity, and stays on the beach coordinating the response
• They're supported by Water Safety Personnel — members holding a Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion, positioned on the beach or in the water as directed
• Before an activity starts, the Water Safety Supervisor completes a risk assessment and puts together a water safety plan — covering conditions, numbers, the team, and what to do in an emergency
• Minimum supervision ratios apply, based on conditions and how experienced the participants are — riskier conditions or larger groups need more water safety cover, and some conditions mean an activity simply can't go ahead
• Everyone providing water safety wears identifiable high-vis gear, and rescue equipment must be on hand and ready to use

Getting involved

If you'd like to help with water safety — for Nippers, Youth, Surf Sports training or otherwise — register your interest via PatrolMate, or speak to the Director of Lifesaving.

From club events through to state and national championships, surf sports at Trigg Island SLSC are open to members of all abilities. The Surf Sports Committee plans the season program and coordinates club entries, and coaches support members across board, ski, swim, beach and IRB events, plus traditional events like boats, IRB and March Past.

Governance

The Surf Sports Committee — chaired by the Director of Surf Sports — plans the intraclub calendar, coordinates entries to SLSWA, Branch and SLSA events, and advises the Board on competition policy, team selection and representative events. The Board of Directors retains ultimate authority over eligibility determinations, disciplinary matters and selection disputes, and may delegate specific authority to the Committee by resolution.

Training

The surf sports training program is released on Team App each Monday for the week ahead, covering board, ski, iron and beach sessions. All Trigg members must wear high-vis for water-based sessions.

Ocean events are the heart of surf sports — testing swimming, paddling and boat skills out in the surf itself.

• Surf Swim — endurance, speed and surf awareness; individual and team races swimming around buoys and back to shore
• Board Paddling — strength, balance and surf skill on a racing board; individual races, board rescue (swimmer plus paddler), and three-person relay teams
• Surf Ski Racing — power, endurance and ocean knowledge; individual, double and relay ski formats
• Ironperson — a multi-discipline race combining swim, board paddle, ski paddle and beach run in one continuous course
• Surf Belt Race — a traditional event where a belt swimmer, linesmen and reel handler work together: the swimmer races to a buoy and is hauled back in
• Rescue Tube/Board Rescue — simulated rescue scenarios testing lifesaving skill, speed and technique, using swimming or paddling
• Taplin Relays — team relays combining swim, board, ski and run legs (the Youth "Cameron" version drops the ski leg, using swim, board and run only)
• Board Riding — surfing judged on wave selection, length of ride, and the quality and difficulty of turns and manoeuvres

Surf Boats also race in the ocean — see Surf Boat Racing.

• Beach Runs — 1km and 2km races, individual or team, run on sand
• Beach Sprints & Flags — 70–90m sprint races, individually or in relay teams; flags is an elimination event starting from a prone position
• March Past — a ceremonial parade in club uniform carrying the surf reel, judged on timing and formation

• Champion First Aid — a team event testing CPR, spinal management, bandaging and patient assessment
• Champion Lifesaver — an individual event combining surf swimming, board paddling, beach running, CPR and first aid
• Champion Patrol — a team event simulating real beach patrol duties: rescue scenarios, first aid, patient assessment and equipment use
• Rescue & Resuscitation (R&R) — teams of 2–6 perform a simulated rescue and resuscitation under strict procedure, judged on accuracy and timing

A surf boat crew is four rowers and a sweep. Crews row out around their assigned turning buoy and back to the beach, across men's, women's and mixed divisions — teamwork and skill count as much as raw power.

A high-speed team event simulating a rescue using an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB), crewed by a driver and crewperson who navigate the surf, "retrieve" a patient, and return to shore. Four event types — IRB Rescue, Mass Rescue, Tube Rescue and Teams Rescue — all test speed, coordination and surf knowledge.

Pool rescue events test lifesaving skills in a controlled swimming pool environment, using manikins, rescue tubes and fins to simulate rescues — combining swimming speed with accurate rescue technique. Events include manikin carry, obstacle swim, and simulated victim rescue relays, run individually or in teams.

Board and ski rack allocations

Members who regularly train and compete for the club may apply for a designated rack in the club shed for an annual fee — $95 for a ski rack, $75 for a board rack. Applications open at the start of each season, with allocations finalised soon after. Equipment stored at the club isn't covered under SLSA or club insurance.

Before representing Trigg Island SLSC in any event — intraclub, interclub or championship — you must:

• Be a current financial member, registered in the SLS Members Hub

• Hold the appropriate SLSA award for the age category and event

• Be currently proficient — annual Skills Maintenance completed

• Have met your patrol and service commitments

• Not be in default of any club, Branch, State or SLSA obligation — financial, service or disciplinary

• Meet any event-specific requirements, such as an IRB Driver licence or Surf Boat sweep accreditation

New members — the 120-Day Rule

Non-award members aged U15 and above who are new to SLSA may compete in non-championship competitions for up to 120 days from joining, provided they complete a basic assessment, have appropriate coaching supervision, and the club provides adequate water safety. Approval from the Director of Surf Sports is needed before entering events under this rule.

Junior (Nipper) eligibility

Only U8–U13 Nippers are eligible to compete (U6 and U7 take part in the program but don't compete), and only once they've met the Preliminary and competition evaluation swim criteria assessed by their Age Manager — see Nipper Competitions.

Patrol and service obligations

Active, Cadet, Active Reserve and Award members must be meeting their Club patrol obligations to be eligible for interclub and championship events — see Patrols & Lifesaving. Club obligations and SLSA competition eligibility are separate and distinct: completing your Club roster — including via accepted substitutes — satisfies your Club obligation, but doesn't automatically satisfy SLSA's competition eligibility requirements, which the Club cannot waive.

Members on approved leave aren't automatically ineligible; the Board considers each case, and may grant an exemption in exceptional circumstances — though a Club exemption doesn't affect your separate SLSA competition eligibility obligations.

Helmets

SLSA-certified surf helmets are compulsory for boat rowers and sweeps, and for IRB Patients (except the IRB Rescue Tube Race). Helmets worn in competition must display the club's cap colours, or be covered to match.

A competitor not properly dressed can be excluded by the Referee at an SLSA-sanctioned event, or directed by the Director of Surf Sports to change before competing at a club event. Uniform items are available from the Club Administrator — the club may also provide bathers or caps to members facing genuine financial hardship, on confidential application.

Intraclub competition gives every member the chance to compete in a supportive, club-based environment that builds participation, skill and enjoyment — an important stepping stone before interclub and championship competition. The Surf Sports Committee sets the season's Club Championship program (potentially covering ocean swimming, board paddling, beach sprints and relays, IRB, Junior and Masters events) ahead of the season, with reasonable notice of any changes.

Categories

A Club Championship event needs at least 3 eligible entrants in a category to run — with fewer, the Committee may combine categories or cancel that event for the season. To be eligible for a Club Championship swimming trophy, you need at least 3 qualifying training swims or intraclub events beforehand.

Intraclub eligibility

To take part in intraclub events, you need to be a current financial member, hold a current SLSA award appropriate to the event (or be an eligible Junior member), and hold current Skills Maintenance proficiency where required. The strict interclub patrol requirements don't automatically apply — though members significantly non-compliant with patrol obligations may still be deemed ineligible by the Committee.

Competing at an interclub or championship event as a member of Trigg Island SLSC is a privilege — you're an ambassador for the club and for surf lifesaving, on and off the competition course.

Entering an event

1. Notify the Director of Surf Sports or Surf Sports Committee before the entry deadline (for Nipper events, notify your Age Manager)
2. Confirm your eligibility — see Competition Eligibility & Patrol Requirements
3. Pay any applicable entry fees by the nominated deadline
4. Confirm your availability for the scheduled day(s)

Late entries are subject to approval by the Director of Surf Sports and depend on whether the event organiser accepts them — the club can't be responsible for a missed deadline. Members are generally responsible for their own entry fees for individual events; for team events, the Committee advises the fee-sharing arrangement.

Team selection

Where the club enters team events — beach relays, Champion Lifesaver, IRB teams, surf boat crews, March Past — selection is the Surf Sports Committee's responsibility, in consultation with coaches, based on demonstrated ability and performance, availability, compliance with patrol and membership obligations, and conduct consistent with the club's values. The Committee's decisions are final; raise a concern with the Director of Surf Sports first, then the Board if unresolved.

Masters

Masters competitors 30 years and above compete in 5-year age groups across beach, surf, boats and rescue. Key 2026–27 dates include the SLSWA Masters State Championships (13–14 February 2027, Perth) and the Australian Masters Championships (Sunshine Coast, Queensland).

Trigg has one of the largest Masters contingents in Western Australia, with dedicated training sessions on the weekly schedule — all Masters are welcome at Trigg's surf sports training and the club's carnivals.

Standards expected of competitors

• Compete with integrity, sportsmanship and respect for fellow competitors, officials and the competition environment
• Accept officials' and referees' decisions without argument — disputes go through the formal protest process
• Support and encourage fellow Club members and competitors from other clubs
• Avoid any conduct that could bring the club, SLSWA or SLSA into disrepute
• Follow directions from coaches, team managers, officials and event organisers
• Behave appropriately on social media in relation to competition activities and results

Conduct breaches

Unsportsmanlike behaviour, safety rule breaches, ignoring officials' directions, or bringing the club into disrepute can mean exclusion or disqualification from an event, referral to the Surf Sports Committee or Board, suspension from further competition, or referral to SLSWA/SLSA for disciplinary action. See Complaints, Grievances & Discipline for how disciplinary matters are handled at club level.

Protests and disputes

Protests about decisions at an SLSA-sanctioned event follow the process and time limits set out in the SLSA Surf Sports Manual and communicated by officials at each event. Intraclub disputes about eligibility, results or conduct go to the Director of Surf Sports first, then the Surf Sports Committee and, if necessary, the Board — whose determination is final. Eligibility disputes at any level are referred to the Board, and a member may be permitted to compete provisionally while a determination is pending.

The Club maintains a register of competition craft — including named boards and skis such as the Avenell Family Board and the Rotary Club Ski — for exclusive personal use by eligible youth members. This program supports young athletes who'd benefit from dedicated access to Club-owned competition craft for training and competition.

The Director of Surf Sports keeps a current Schedule of Club Craft Available for Allocation, listing exactly which craft the Board has approved for this program. As a general guide, boards are available to U14–U15 members (and may extend to U17 where a two-season allocation crosses age groups), and skis to U17 members (extending to U19 in the same way).

Eligibility

In addition to the Club's general competition eligibility requirements (see Competition Eligibility & Patrol Requirements), to apply you must:

• Be an Under 14, 15 or 17 member of Trigg Island SLSC
• Have been a Club member for at least two seasons, including Nipper seasons
• Have regularly attended WA Surf Sport carnivals and the WA State Championships in the previous and current season
• Have your Club coach attest to your dedication to training
• Not already hold another current personal use allocation — preference goes to members who don't already have allocated equipment

Applications are assessed by the Surf Sports Committee (the Director of Surf Sports and Director of Youth), whose decision is final. An allocation runs for two seasons from the date of approval.

What's expected of you while you hold an allocation

• Attend coaching sessions for the relevant discipline regularly throughout the season
• Attend selected surf sport events during the season, including the WA State Surf Life Saving Championships
• Use the craft only for your own training and competition — it can never be transferred to another member or person
• Take responsibility for the craft and its repair while it's allocated to you — any damage or repairs needed when it's returned will be charged to you
• Return the craft to the Club in good working order at the end of the allocation period
• Tell the Director of Surf Sports promptly about any injury, your expected recovery timeline, and stay in touch during any period you're not training
• Let the Director of Surf Sports know about any planned extended absences during the season

How to apply

Complete the Club's Equipment Allocation Application Form — available from the Club Administrator or the document system — and submit it to the Director of Surf Sports. Applications are assessed at the start of each season.

Subject to available space, the Club can offer eligible members somewhere to store their own privately-owned surf sports craft at Club facilities, to support training. Storage is limited to competition boards, skis and — space permitting — competition surfboards. No other personal equipment can be stored on Club premises.

Eligibility

In addition to the Club's general competition eligibility requirements (see Competition Eligibility & Patrol Requirements), you need approval from the Director of Surf Sports to store craft at the Club.

Storage fees

The Board sets storage fees at the start of each season, published on the Club's fee schedule. Fees are paid through the Club's payment gateway at the time of application. If your application isn't granted, your fee is refunded in full.

If demand exceeds space

When there's more demand than available storage, the Director of Surf Sports allocates spaces in this priority order:

Conditions of storage

• Storage is granted for the current season only — you'll need to reapply each season
• You can only use the specific rack or space the Director of Surf Sports allocates to you
• Craft must be kept in the allocated area within the operations shed, or wherever else the Director of Surf Sports designates
• If your patrol obligations lapse during the season, the Director of Surf Sports may issue you a written warning — if it's still not resolved after that, your craft must be removed from Club premises within 7 days
• The Club can ask you to remove your craft at any time — you'll have 7 days to do so

How to apply

Complete the Club's Craft Storage Application Form — available from the Club Administrator or the document system — and submit it to the Director of Surf Sports. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, subject to available space.

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.

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.

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.

Skills Maintenance (also called "proficiency" or "requal") is a targeted annual check-in, not a full re-exam — it typically has two parts: online theory via the SLS Members Hub eLearning platform, completed before you attend, and a practical assessment at the club with a qualified Assessor, covering rescue scenarios, resuscitation, signals and award-specific skills.

Each skill only needs to be demonstrated once per season, even if it counts toward more than one award you hold — and a fitness test completed for a higher award (like Gold Medallion) satisfies the fitness requirement for lower prerequisite awards too.

How to book a face-to-face session

1. Log in to the SLS Members Hub at hub.sls.com.au

2. Go to Application > eLearning in the top menu

3. Click the red "Login to eLearning" button

4. Select "Training Event" from the left menu and browse the calendar for an available session

5. Select your session and click "Enrol"

If your award has lapsed

• Less than one full season — you can generally complete the current season's Skills Maintenance to regain proficiency, subject to Assessor sign-off

• More than one year — a qualified Assessor completes a gap analysis, and you may need extra training in identified gaps before being reassessed

• Five or more years — the general guideline is to complete the full award assessment again, though exceptions can be made where you can demonstrate the right skill set through experience or other qualifications

Contact the Director of Education first if your award has lapsed, to talk through the right pathway back.

To enrol in a course, you need to:

1. Be a current financial member for the relevant season
2. Meet all SLSA prerequisites for the course — age, prerequisite awards, fitness requirements
3. Hold a current Working With Children Check where the role requires one
4. Register via the SLS Members Hub or by contacting the Director of Education
5. Pay any applicable course fees before it starts

What the club offers each season

• At least one Bronze Medallion course, timed to finish before the patrol season opens
• Annual Skills Maintenance sessions for all relevant awards
• A Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC/Cadet) assessment pathway
• Observer Award orientation for Probationary members
• Age Manager update sessions for Nipper program volunteers

Additional courses — IRB, ART, First Aid, higher awards — are scheduled based on demand and club operational needs. Course fees are set by the Board; the Bronze Medallion Levy ($100) applies once, on your first eligible Active or Probationary membership where you don't already hold a Bronze Medallion. If cost is a genuine barrier, speak confidentially with the Club Administrator about a concession or instalment arrangement.

Every course the club runs depends on members who are qualified to deliver and assess it. Those members are called TAFs — Trainers, Assessors and Facilitators. If you have ever thought about helping teach a Bronze course or sign off skills maintenance, this is the pathway.

You do not need a teaching background. What you do need is to be current in the award you want to train or assess in, and to be willing to work through a logbook alongside an experienced club mentor.

Who does what

• Trainer — teaches course content and skills in line with the course criteria and lesson plans.
• Head Trainer — appointed to every course, responsible for the venue, equipment, schedule and allocating trainers to each session.
• Assessor — assesses candidates against the standard and runs skills maintenance checks. Must give feedback and complete the paperwork.
• Assessor in Charge (AiC) — where several assessors work one assessment, the AiC decides how it runs, briefs candidates on the process and their right to appeal, and arranges a different assessor for anyone deemed not yet competent.
• Facilitator — trains and assesses a whole course. Only available for First Aid, ART, Pain Management, SMPC and SMAR.
• Club Mentor — an experienced TAF who guides probationary trainers and assessors and signs off their logbook. Appointed by the Head of Education or SLSWA.
• Head of Education — runs education at the club: course scheduling, training ratios, checking TAF awards are current, and equipment.

Becoming a Trainer

The WA Training Officer award is the generic underlying qualification for all trainers. Once you hold it, you complete a logbook to become a trainer of a specific award — for example, Trainer of Bronze Medallion.

1. Get involved with training at the club and build experience in the award you want to train in. Record it in your WA Probationary Trainer Logbook — a minimum of two courses.
2. Complete the online Child Safe and Surf Risk Rating modules and the pre-course workbook.
3. Attend a WA Training Officers Course and hand your portfolio to the facilitator. You now hold the WA Training Officer award.
4. When you are confident, deliver three full sessions while being assessed by a club training mentor.
5. Send the completed logbook to SLSWA along with lesson plans for each of the three sessions.

You are then a WA Trainer for that award — and you receive a trainer's shirt.

Becoming an Assessor

The WA Assessor award works the same way: a general qualification first, then a logbook for each specific award.

1. Complete the WA Assessors Workbook and hand it to your course facilitator, then attend the WA Assessors Course. You now hold the WA Assessor award.
2. Get a WA Assessors Logbook.
3. Complete two full assessments on a group of candidates trained in the award you want to assess, working under a qualified assessor of that award. Record both in the logbook.
4. Send the completed logbook, with the final award assessment, to SLSWA.

You are then a WA Assessor for that award — for example, WA Assessor Bronze Medallion.

Becoming a Facilitator

Facilitators must hold both the WA Training Officer and WA Assessor awards, and be either an experienced trainer and assessor, or an assessor and a subject matter expert. From there you gain experience in delivering the course, then deliver two complete courses under the supervision of a facilitator in that award, recording them in a WA Facilitator's Logbook. Send the completed logbook to SLSWA with the final award assessment.

Entry requirements at a glance

Staying current

Accreditation is not permanent — it lapses if you do not keep it up. To stay current as a TAF you must:

• Hold and remain current in the surf award you train or assess. You cannot assess a Bronze Medallion if your own Bronze is not proficient. Check your currency on the SLS Hub under Awards.
• Hold a current WA Training Officer, Assessor or Facilitator award for the role you are performing.
• Attend a WA TAF Development Session (in-service) each year.
• Complete the WA TAF Currency Form at least every two years and send it to the club's Education Officer, who forwards it to SLSWA. The form is in the SLS Hub Document Library under SLSWA → Education.
• Complete the Child Safe Awareness online course or an equivalent.
• Hold a current Working With Children Check. Exemptions may apply — check with the club.

You must also follow SLSA's Member Protection Policy 6.05 and Child Protection Policy 6.04, work within Health and Safety legislation, and complete a risk assessment for every wet activity.

Training and assessing ratios

SLSWA recommends a training ratio of 1:8 for most courses and 1:6 for powercraft. For assessing, the recommended ratio is 1:6 — an assessor must be able to see every candidate perform every required skill. Experienced trainers may manage higher numbers; ratios can also be increased for theory-only sessions, and should be reduced for inexperienced trainers or powercraft.

If you are interested in any of these pathways, start by talking to the Director of Education — they can pair you with a club mentor and get you into the right course.

Assessment disputes

If you think an assessment outcome was incorrect or unfair, raise it with the Director of Education first. If it can't be resolved at club level, you can escalate to SLSWA under their appeals process. Assessment decisions have to be based on the SLSA assessment standard and your demonstrated performance against it — not personal preference or patrol history.

Reasonable adjustments

SLSA recognises that surf lifesaving activities need a reasonable level of fitness and ability. The club will consider reasonable adjustments to how a skill is demonstrated in assessment — these don't lower the standard, only the method of showing you meet it, and any adjustment made is noted on your assessment record.

Trainers, Assessors & Facilitators (TAF)

TAF accreditation carries its own currency requirements — see 7.4 Training & Assessing for what you need to keep up and how often. Let the Director of Education know if your TAF currency is at risk of lapsing.

Not every concern follows the same pathway — the table below is a guide. If you're not sure which applies, contact the club's MPIO or the General Manager.

The MPIO role

A Member Protection Information Officer listens, explains your options, and points you to the right pathway — they don't investigate complaints or decide outcomes themselves. The club's current MPIOs are Cas Ryan, Hayden Marchetto and Sophie Lawson, reachable via admin@triggisland.com. SLSWA also maintains its own MPIO network if you'd rather go outside the club, or if a conflict of interest makes the club's own MPIO unsuitable.

The Board can convene a Disciplinary Committee where a member is alleged to have breached the Constitution, By-Laws or a Board resolution; acted in a way unbecoming of a member or prejudicial to the club's interests; or brought themselves, another member, the club or surf lifesaving into disrepute. The Board won't establish a Committee for allegations that are vexatious, trifling or frivolous.

How it works

• The Board may provisionally suspend the member concerned once a Disciplinary Committee is established, pending its finding
• The Committee is made up of the Vice-President and two Life Members, nominated each season — a substitute is appointed if a member has a conflict of interest
• You'll receive written notice of the allegation between 14 and 28 days before the hearing, including your right to attend, respond, call witnesses and submit a written statement
• The hearing follows the principles of natural justice — you'll have a genuine opportunity to be heard before any determination is made
• Possible outcomes range from an educative process, to a fine, to suspension or expulsion — the Committee's findings are notified to you in writing within 7 days
• Appeals against a Committee decision follow the SLSA regulations and appeals process

The Club's grievance procedure applies specifically to disputes about the Constitution — between one member and another, or between a member and the club. It's a different pathway from the disciplinary process (which covers conduct breaches) and from the MPIO/SLSA process (which covers member protection matters) — see Raising a Concern if you're unsure which applies to your situation.

1. Attempt direct resolution — the parties meet, in person or by agreed technology, and try to resolve the dispute within 14 days of it coming to everyone's attention
2. Refer to the Tribunal — if resolution isn't reached at that meeting, or a party doesn't attend, either party can refer the matter to the WA State Administrative Tribunal within 10 days

Support along the way

Being involved in any complaint or dispute — as the person raising it, responding to it, or a witness — can be stressful. The Club MPIO, the General Manager, SLSWA's independent MPIO network, and Lifeline (13 11 14, 24-hour crisis support) are all available. You don't have to manage a complaint process alone.

A critical incident is a traumatic event — or the threat of one — resulting in serious injury, death, extreme stress or significant risk during club activity. Examples include a drowning, near-drowning or failed resuscitation, a serious injury requiring hospitalisation, a missing person search, or a serious assault. The Club's Critical Incident Response Policy exists so that anyone involved is supported consistently, and the club meets its duty of care.

In the first 24 hours

• Everyone on patrol is accounted for, and safe transport is confirmed before anyone leaves the site
• No one leaves in a distressed state without welfare support being offered
• A wellbeing information session explains what support is available and what happens next; Chaplain support is offered on request
• A hot debrief is held within 24 hours — focused on welfare, acknowledging the event, and capturing essential facts, not on reliving what happened in detail

In the following weeks

Individual well-checks — one-to-one, not group, and not counselling — are offered at roughly 48 hours, one week, and one month after the incident. A cold debrief around 7 days afterwards is a separate, operational-learning session focused on what can be improved, kept apart from wellbeing conversations.

If you're feeling the effects of an incident — trouble sleeping, intrusive thoughts or flashbacks, feeling on edge, pulling away from club life or social contact, or leaning more heavily on alcohol — it's worth talking to someone. None of that means you did anything wrong; it's a normal response to an abnormal event.

Who to contact

The Club's Critical Incident Manager (by default, the General Manager or President) coordinates member wellbeing and can help arrange a referral — reach them via the Club Administrator, admin@triggisland.com | 08 9447 3556.