Chapter 4.5
Updated 25 Sep 2026 · Grant
Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) runs a set of Youth Pathways for youth members from U14 to U17. They let you take on real roles around the club and across the state, and they formally record the service you give. There are three parts, and they all add up to the same record:
Youth Pathways courses: free SLSWA courses that train you for a role as an official, Age Manager, coach or trainer.
The Youth Recognition Program (YRP): the record of hours that earns you Bronze, Silver and Gold recognition.
State youth camps: four-day January camps in Margaret River for members nominated by their club.
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.
Register your interest
Signing up for the YRP or any of the pathway roles starts with SLSWA's Youth Pathways Expression of Interest form, at the bottom of that page. See How to get started below for what you'll need.
SLSWA runs four free courses through the season, in person and online. Each one introduces a role you can then take on at the club, with an experienced member mentoring you. Hours you spend in these roles count towards your YRP record.
Course | What you learn and do | Register |
|---|---|---|
Youth Official | Every surf sports competition needs trained officials. You learn the basics of every officiating discipline, including timekeeper, marshal and check starter, so you can judge fairly and consistently. A good way into competition if you want a break from racing. | |
Youth Age Manager | The first step to becoming an Age Manager. You learn water safety for Nipper activities and events, then help mentor a group of Woodside Nippers on Sunday mornings, teaching beach safety and confidence in the ocean. | |
Youth Coach | Coach athletes at every level, mentored at club training. You build skills in the three surf sports disciplines (swim, beach and board) through practical assessment and online learning. | |
Youth Trainer | An introduction to SLSWA Training and Education, run by SLSWA accredited Trainers. You learn to deliver parts of courses and awards such as First Aid and the Surf Rescue Certificate, along with communication skills and how to work with parents and guardians. |
Date | Course and time | Where |
|---|---|---|
Thu 27 Aug 2026 | Youth Age Manager, 5:30–7pm | Fremantle |
Fri 2 Oct 2026 | Youth Official, 9–11am | SLSWA |
Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Youth Coach and Youth Age Manager, 9–10am | Online |
Sat 14 Nov 2026 | Youth Coach and Youth Official, 8–11am (with the Fuel to Go & Play Surf Squad) | Floreat |
Fri 22 Jan 2027 | Youth Coach and Youth Official, 12–3pm (with the Fuel to Go & Play Surf Squad) | Bunbury |
Thu 28 Jan 2027 | Youth Coach and Youth Age Manager, 9–11am | SLSWA |
SLSWA may add dates during the season and announces them on its website, in eNewsletters and on social media. Download the 2026–27 Youth Pathways calendar, or see Youth Pathways Courses on the SLSWA site. To ask about other dates or locations, email youth@slswa.com.au.
Surf Sports: board riding, swimming and beach sprints, from club events through to state, national and international competition. See Getting Into Competition to get started, and Competition Eligibility & Patrol Requirements for the patrol hours you need to compete.
Lifesaving: your Surf Rescue Certificate (from age 13) and Bronze Medallion (from age 15) are what let you patrol. Later they lead to specialist services such as drone patrol, lifeguarding and jet ski operations. SLSWA also runs the Rookie Lifeguard Program. Full course requirements are in 4.4 Lifesaving Pathways.
The Youth Recognition Program was previously called the Youth Leaders Program. It's how your involvement is formally recognised. Rather than a course you sit, it's a record you build: you log your hours across three parts of surf lifesaving (Lifesaving, Training and Surf Sports) and are recognised at each level you reach. A minimum in every part means the program rewards doing a bit of everything, not one thing over and over.
Level | Total hours | Minimum in each part |
|---|---|---|
Bronze | 60 | 4 hours |
Silver (after Bronze) | 80 | 6 hours |
Gold (after Bronze and Silver) | 90 | 8 hours |
Gold usually takes at least two years, so it's worth starting early. SLSWA has a separate recording sheet for each level.
Hours can be earned two ways:
At Trigg Island: patrolling, helping with Nippers, club officiating, training and competing.
Through SLSWA: the Youth Pathways courses above and the hours you then spend in those roles, plus the state camps.
Why it is worth doing
As well as the recognition itself, the YRP gives you a record of volunteer service and leadership experience. That's useful for job applications, university admission and scholarships.
Each January SLSWA runs two four-day camps at its South West Development Centre in Margaret River. They're a big part of the youth program: you meet members from clubs all over WA, build leadership and teamwork skills, and have a lot of fun. Up to two representatives from each WA club can go to each camp.
Camp | Who it's for | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
T.O.A.D. Camp | U14 and U15 | Teamwork, Opportunities and Development: a program that introduces a wide range of skills and activities, aimed at growing the next generation of surf lifesaving leaders. |
Rise Up Camp | U17 (15 and 16 year olds) | Physical and social activities that build personal leadership and resilience, and push you beyond your comfort zone. |
Places go by club nomination. SLSWA sends out the expression of interest in its Circular each July, and the club puts forward its representatives. If you'd like to be considered, tell the Youth Committee early: there are only two places per camp. More detail is on SLSWA's Youth Camps page.
Not the same as the club's Youth Camp
The state camps are separate from the club's own weekend Youth Camp, which is booked through TeamApp. See 4.7 Social, Camps & Events.
Talk to the Youth Committee. They can help you choose the roles that suit you. You'll also need the club youth coordinator's details for the form.
Fill in the Youth Pathways Expression of Interest form on SLSWA's Youth Recognition Program page. Tick the Youth Recognition Program and any roles you're interested in (Youth Age Manager, Youth Coach, Youth Official, Youth Trainer). You'll need:
your name and current age group
your club: Trigg Island SLSC
the club youth coordinator's name, email and phone number
a parent or guardian's name and email
a mailing address
SLSWA emails you with what to do next.
Book a course from the dates above, and start logging your hours.
Questions for SLSWA go to the Youth team at youth@slswa.com.au.
Download the program brochure.
Download the SLSWA Youth Programs and Requirements for 2026/27 Circular.
To be confirmed
The Youth Committee can confirm who is currently the club's youth coordinator, and whether the club still has places to fill for the January 2027 camps.