Education

At Taree Old Bar we regularly train men and women, boys and girls, from their teens till well into their senior years. The important factor is not your age, but your attitude and commitment.

To obtain these awards, you'll need to be committed to putting in a few weeks worth of training, and learning new, and sometimes challenging skills.

Obtaining the Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue certificate is only the start. We encourage our Lifesavers to obtain further awards, which are readily available to make you a better Lifesaver. If this does not suit your lifestyle we encourage you to play a part in other aspects of the club, such as education and competition. All of these are available to club members for little or no cost.

Training in Surf Life Saving does not stop with the Bronze Medallion. There are many awards to be achieved, some of which include First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, Radio Operator, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Crewperson, and IRB Driver. Remember you do not have to be a competent swimmer to be a Surf Life Saver. You can still become a Surf Life Saver and Patrol your local beach without having to complete the Bronze Medallion if you would prefer to concentrate your efforts in other areas rather than swimming. Rescuing a person from the water can be one aspect of ensuring a person survives after a drowning experience, with the resuscitation or first aid on the beach also being essential for survival.

Lifesaving awards are made available through the following training programs:

Surf Rescue Certificate

Probationary surf lifesavers can achieve this award from the age of 13 to help be prepared for active patrolling duties. The award trains candidates in rescue skills, first aid and patient management, resuscitation, plus a theoretical component exploring safety knowledge and surf awareness.

Bronze Medallion

This is the minimum requirement for a surf lifesaver. The holder of this award is over the age of 15 and has proved proficient in surf awareness, survival, patrol and rescue procedures, emergency care plus anatomy and physiology.

All members are required to complete a 400-metre swim in 9 minutes or less, in a swimming pool of no less than 25 metres or over a measured open water course. Once this competency is completed our club will provide qualified instructors who will train you to the level of a proficient lifesaver. All you need to do is have the right attitude and commitment to training and anyone is capable of becoming a surf lifesaver.

At the completion of their training a candidate's physical and mental fitness is tested by a 200m run - 200m swim - 200m run, simulated rescues using a rescue board and tube, resuscitation techniques, radio procedures, signals and a patrol based scenario. All these skills combine to train candidates to be an effective member of a patrol team tasked with providing a safe beach and aquatic environment.

For further information please contact Darren Moses, Director of Education on education@tareeoldbarsurfclub.com.au