Gold Medallion

The aim of this award is to provide lifesavers with a benchmark of fitness and endurance that meets the minimum requirements for work in the professional lifeguard industry.

Pre-Requisites

To be eligible to attempt a Gold Medallion assessment, candidates will need to:

• Be at least 17 years old on the date of assessment
• Hold and be proficient in all of the following SLSA awards:
  o Bronze Medallion
  o First Aid o Advanced Resuscitation Techniques
  o Silver Medallion Beach Management or Silver Medallion Basic Beach Management

If any of these award proficiencies lapse during the season, even after successful completion of the Gold Medallion, then the member will become non-proficient in the Gold Medallion.

Content & Assessment

To be deemed competent in the Gold Medallion candidates will need to complete all of the following activities in the one day:

• 800m in under 14 minutes in an open water course not more than 400m in length (the course should be set around a single buoy so that candidates have to swim the same track but in different directions) or a swimming pool of no less than 25m in length, unaided and in freestyle
• Complete a mission test of a 400m swim, 800m run, 400m board paddle, 800m run in under 25 minutes
• Complete a tube rescue of an unconscious patient 100m out at sea (use of fins preferred) SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA – NATIONAL MEMBER AWARD SYLLABUS GOLD MEDALLION (ADVANCED LIFESAVING) Page 2 of 2 GOLD MEDALLION (ADVANCED LIFESAVING) – v5.1 October 2020
• Complete a board rescue of a novice swimmer 200 m out at sea
• Perform a complex patient rescue, including selecting equipment, returning patient to shore, and treating patient appropriately and completing post-operational requirements

Pool Swim

The member must complete an 800-metre swim in 14 minutes or less in a swimming pool of not less than 25 metres. The pool swim must be completed before any other component of the Gold Medallion skills maintenance check.

Mission Test

• The distance will be 400m swim, 800m run, 400m board paddle, and 800m run
• The time will be 25 minutes or less
• The run distance to be taken from waist-deep water, e.g. the run is from a flag, around a marker and to waist-deep water, the aquatic components are from waist-deep water around two swimming buoys and back to waist-deep water
• The preferred aquatic course is around two swimming buoys

Rescue

Demonstrate a board and tube rescue according to SLSA operating procedures in the current Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue Training Manual.

Tube Rescue

Complete a tube rescue of a patient 100 metres out to sea and return. Member should use swim fins during this rescue

Board Rescue

Complete a board rescue of a patient 200 metres out to sea and return.

Complex Rescue Scenario

May include one of the rescues as mentioned in point 3. Demonstrate a complex rescue scenario as set by the Assessor according to the SLSA operational procedures in the current Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue Training Manual.

The rescue must assess the following events:

• Negotiating the surf zone
• Securing the patient/s
• Calling for assistance
• Returning to shore without losing the patient/s
• Performing emergency care as required by the patient/s

Awards involving resuscitation are to be assessed annually. Once proficiency is achieved, resuscitation in other award skills maintenance checks is not required.

Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency is required in the prerequisites for this award to remain current.