Returning Member - What to do Guide 

Welcome Back

If you have not been proficient in Bronze Medallion award for over 3 years but less than 5 years, you will need to complete an “in-depth proficiency” to bring your skills, knowledge, award and qualifications, up to date.

The following information will assist you in understanding what you need to do, how and why. If you are looking to update other Awards besides Bronze, the process follows the same framework.

How long has it been since you were last proficient?

Things can change from year to year, and a lot can change in 5 years. While we are sure you will have retained some information and knowledge around the Bronze Medallion, there is possibly a lot you have forgotten or has been introduced since you were last involved.

In these situations, we ask that you speak to your Chief Instructor, who will assist in guiding you through the process of completing a short assessment of current skills and knowledge.

This will enable Surf Life Saving SA and your Chief Instructor to assess your previous skills and knowledge, and help decide what the next step is, in getting you proficient again. This could be as simple as an in-depth proficiency; it could be an external assessment or in some cases both. Rest assured though, we value your previous experience and will assess each case individually, so we can get you back on patrol as quickly as possible.

Questions to ask yourself

Before you begin the Returning Member process, ask yourself the following questions. Your response will help you determine if you can return with a standard proficiency, an in-depth proficiency or if you need to do a course again.

Are you confident in your existing skills and knowledge?

Surf Life Saving SA recognises prior learning, but we also know that sometimes people who return to Surf Life Saving after some time away would like a refresh!

Attending a Bronze Medallion course (or parts of a course) can be a great way to meet people at the Club and refresh your knowledge, techniques and skills.

What’s changed since you last completed training?

If you feel confident that your knowledge and your skills are up to date, the next step is to identify what has changed since you last completed training or proficiency in the award.

The SLSA Gap Analysis, which is updated yearly, shows you what has changed in the key awards in recent years.

*Add link to GAP Analysis - link once page is created*

Can you still do what you think you can do?

Once any gaps in knowledge or skills have been addressed, it’s time to demonstrate that you are up to date. Completing an in-depth proficiency will ensure you are comfortable with anything that is new and different since you last patrolled.

If it has been 5 years or more, instead of in-depth proficiency, you will need to complete gap training and a Bronze Assessment.

Do you hold the current Units of Competency linked to the Surf Award?

Units of competency are nationally recognised training, that can apply across a number of industries, whereas Surf Awards, are Surf Life Saving recognised training. Many Surf Awards align to units of competency, and these units are reviewed and updated from time to time by the relevant industry associations. For this reason, when checking if your award is current, it is important to see what units you hold too.

If you do not hold the current units, these will not be updated via an ‘in depth proficiency’ and you will need to either sit an assessment again or undertake Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

 

Returning Member Review - What’s next?

  • With your Chief Instructor complete the following documents:

    ·       Bronze Returning Members Checklist

    ·       BM Skills Maintenance members returning after 5 years

    Submit to member.ed@surflifesavingsa.com.au for review.

  • Approved for a Standard Proficiency

    If you are approved to participate in a ‘standard proficiency’, you will need to:

    ·       Complete the current Skills Maintenance eLearning, located in the Members Area

    ·       Attend both Wet and Dry Skills Maintenance practical sessions

    Button: More Info – link to proficiency page [once created]

    Approved for an ‘in Depth proficiency’

    If you are approved to participate in an ‘in Depth proficiency’, you will need to:

    ·       Address any training gaps organised with your club Chief Instructor

    ·       Complete the current Skills Maintenance eLearning, located in the Members Area

    ·       Attend both Wet and Dry Skills Maintenance practical sessions

    Approved for Course Participation

    If you are required to undertake training and complete a course again, you will need to:

    1.      Talk to your Chief Instructor about when the club is holding a course

    2.      Complete the 400m swim, as this is a risk control measure for water activities

    3.      Complete the eLearning

    ·       Some may need to complete eLearning for the first time, for others who have previously completed the eLearning, you will need to review the content and complete any online assessment tasks

    ·       See below for support guide to do this

    4.      Attend face to face training

    ·       Gap training is acceptable, as long as the Trainers are satisfied you have the skills/knowledge to complete assessment. Eg you may not need to attend every board session

    5.      Attend and complete a Bronze Medallion assessment.

 

Resources

*Link all with the relevant documents* ********

·       Bronze Returning Members Checklist

·       BM Skills Maintenance members returning after  5 years

·       GAP Analysis (update each year) – make a webpage

·       Returning Members Flow Chart

·       Returning Members – eLearning Access Support  

 

FAQ

What systems do I need to set up?

As a returning member you will need to ensure that you are set up on the following SLS and SLSSA systems.


*Add in the Table*


How can I check my last proficiency date and awards I hold?

You can check when you were last proficient by accessing your Awards in the Members Area. To do this:

1.      Log in to your Members Portal and under the ‘Memberships Tab’, click on ‘Awards’.

From here, look for your award and then look at the ‘Expiry Date’ for that award. If the date has passed and in red text, you are not proficient.

I am not currently proficient but plan to be this season, can I train, use club equipment or compete in SLSSA events before I am proficient again?

If you are not proficient, you should not be training or using club equipment until you have met the prerequisites for the Bronze Medallion is the 200-metre run-swim-run /SRC 100-

This will provide a practical demonstration of your current level of water competence and fitness, ensuring you are adequately prepared to re-engage in water-based activities.

It is also crucial that any training is restricted to non-high intensity training activities, and is in calm surf or still water conditions, to ensure your safety.

Reference SLSA Policy water safety 1.02 [link].

How many patrol hours do I need to compete if I am a returning member?

If you are looking to compete at any championship events (State or Aussies) the season you gain your Bronze Award or as a returning member, when you become proficient, you should be aware of how many patrol hours you need for eligibility.

As noted in National Policy, ‘5.04 SLSA Guidelines for Competition Eligibility’, [link] the patrol hours required for State and National Titles eligibility will depend on when someone gained their Bronze Award.

  • 16 hours is the standard requirement

  • 8 hours for those who have approval for the shorter time (ie long service)

  • For those who gained their Bronze this season or as a returning member, when you became proficient, it is the minimum hours plus “extra”

  • Those competing in u14s don’t need hours but those in under 15s and above do.

  • For those competing in March Past, you may participate with just a proficient Resuscitation Award and no patrol hours are required

 

From the policy:

The minimum personal service hour obligations of new members joining or re-joining after January 1 and before December 31 of the preceding year is a minimum of four patrol hours plus proportionate additional patrol and service hours up to the minimum hours.

 The proportion is determined as 1/12th of the hours for each month from the next month after the member has obtained their award/become proficient (as applicable).

For example:

*Add Table*