Member HandbookChapter 4.5
Youth Pathways & Recognition Program
Updated 16 Aug 2026 · Grant
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.
Pathway | What you do |
|---|---|
Youth Official | Officiate at club, SLSWA and state-level events. A good entry point if you like the competition side but want a break from competing. |
Youth Coach | Take on mentored coaching at the club, working alongside an experienced coach. |
Youth Age Manager | Help deliver the Woodside Nippers Program on Sunday mornings, supporting an Age Manager with a group. |
Youth Trainer | Assist with delivering SLSA and SLSWA education courses — the award courses other members are working through. |
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.
Why it is worth doing
Beyond the recognition itself, the YRP gives you documented volunteer service and leadership experience — genuinely useful for job applications, university admission and scholarships — and opens up camps and courses run by Surf Life Saving Australia.
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
Where to find the forms
The Expression of Interest form, the Bronze, Silver and Gold recording sheets and the program brochure are all on the SLSWA members site at mybeach.com.au, under Members → Youth Program → Pathways.
To be confirmed
The exact hour totals and role requirements for each of the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels are set by SLSWA and are not reproduced here — check the current recording sheet for your level, as the thresholds can change between seasons. The Youth Committee can also confirm who is currently listed as the club's youth coordinator.