2. Membership

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.