Make sure to check our club calendar  https://www.cairnslifesaving.org.au/surf-sports/calendar/ which includes a full list of upcoming course dates.

New and returning members to our Club can undertake a range of courses to obtain the skills necessary to be involved in patrols on our beach, or to help out at Nippers or during carnivals.

Below is a list of our most popular courses & awards. For further information please contact the club surf.admin@cairnssurfclub.com.au 

• Bronze Medallion. Course 2, 28th June-1st July at Etty Bay.
  • Participants will be taught the skills necessary to become a patrolling lifesaver and/or undertake water safety at nippers and training
  • Prerequisites:
    • be a financial member
    • be at least 15 years of age on the final assessment date.
    • have your own members portal
    • hold a valid blue card, child Safety Modules (if over 18)
    • attain your Unique Student Identifier (USI) Get your USI | Unique Student Identifier
    • 400m pool swim in 9mins or less F_POOL_SWIM_ASSESSMENT_TEST_FORM.01
    • Bronze Medallion Course Overview Bronze Medallion (BM) Course Overview
    • Once the above are all ticked off, head over to your aXcelerate account to enrol
• Surf Rescue Certificate
  • • Course 1 Start Date 5th April
    • Course 2 Start Date 11th July (this is an intensive 3 day course)
  • Participants learn skills and knowledge of basic patrolling and surf awareness in order to be able to participate in lifesaving operations and act in the role of Water Safety Personnel.
  • Prerequisites:
    • be a financial member
    • be a minimum of 13 years of age by assessment date
    • hold blue card, child safety modules if 18 or older
    • have your own members portal
    • LUI number
    • 200m swim in 5minutes or less
    • Once the above are all ticked off, head over to the SLSQ Hub in your members portal.
• Radio Operators Certificate
  • Prerequisite age 14 years or older
  • To enrol head over to the SLSQ Hub in your members portal
• First Aid Certificate 
  • A first aid course teaches essential lifesaving skills, including CPR, wound care, and handling emergencies like choking or fractures. Participants learn to assess and respond swiftly to medical crises, gaining confidence to assist others effectively in critical situations.
  • Prerequisites:
    • financial member
    • age 14 years or older
    • hold blue card, CSA & CYRMS if 18 or older
• Advanced Resuscitation Certificate
  • Advanced Resuscitation Techniques are advanced methods used to save someone’s life during emergencies like cardiac arrest. They involve specialized skills and tools to help restart the heart and improve chances of survival.
  • Prerequisites:
    • hold a Bronze Medallion
    • hold a First AID HLTAID011
    • hole blue card, child safety modules if 18 or older
    • age 15 years or older, (basic resuscitation knowledge recommended)
• Marine Licence
  • You are required to have a Marine License prior to undertaking your IRB Drivers course
  • Prerequisites:
    • hold a Bronze Medallion
    • hold a car licence
• IRB Crew & Driver Certificate
  • Want to be a crew member or drive the Inflatable Rescue Boats? Each Patrol Group must have at least one of each on each patrol, and IRB Crews are often required at Nipper carnivals. These are crucial skills for our lifesavers to obtain.
  • Prerequisites:
    • be financial
    • hold a Bronze Medallion
    • hold a blue card, child safety modules if 18 or older
    • IRB Crew award is a prerequisite to obtain IRB Driver
    • Marine boat licence listed in their members portal before commencing IRB Driver Course
• Patrol Captains Course (Silver Medallion) 
  • The first coourse of 2025 is now complete
  • This course allows you to become a Patrol Captain
  • Prerequisites
    • hold a Bronze Medallion
    • have patrolled for a minimum of 2 year.

• SSV Induction
  • Get qualified to drive our SSV
  • Prerequisites:
    • min 17 years old
    • P or Open licence
    • proficient award holder
• Officials Course
  • Great way to be involved at carnivals and help volunteer at the club. If you don’t have an active role. For further details click on this link officials-web-page-doc-2025.pdf
• Observers Course 
  • The aim of the Observers course is to develop your knowledge of surf awareness and skills, which will enable you to be able to read the surf, identify potential risks and hazards in the surf and identify persons in difficulty in the surf.
  • To enrol head on over to the SLSQ Hub in your members portal.

There are many other awards available, for more information contact the Chief Training Officer, Club Captain or Club Administrator.

The development of the skills necessary to become the ‘best’ lifesaver you can be is a task that is taken very seriously throughout the whole movement. The club in conjunction with the North Queensland Branch regularly holds courses that will assist members in becoming active members.