Skills Maintenance (Requalification) Guide

What is Skills Maintenance?

Skills Maintenance ensures that all members involved in patrol duties, Nipper Program water safety, or state/national competitions remain proficient in their skills and display full knowledge and understanding of the patrol award criteria for which they are being assessed.

Skills Maintenance helps to:

  • Ensure ongoing competency of members in their area of training and activity

  • Maintain lifesaving standards of knowledge and expertise

  • Satisfy legal and statutory requirements

  • Support our commitment to public beach safety

Who Needs to Complete Skills Maintenance?

All patrolling members, including instructors and water safety personnel, are required to complete Skills Maintenance annually by 31 December to ensure their awards remain current and valid for the season.

Maintaining your awards is not only essential for patrol duties - it is also a mandatory requirement for participation in State or National competitions. Specifically, your Bronze Medallion must be current if you wish to compete.

What’s Involved?

  • Online Theory Modules (see below)

  • Practical Assessments for all relevant awards

Point Lonsdale SLSC holds at least one session in December each year for:

  • SRC

  • Bronze Medallion

  • IRB Crew & Driver

  • SSV Operator

  • ART

You can also attend Skills Maintenance sessions at other clubs across the state.

ART & First Aid Awards:

  • If you’ve earned an ART or First Aid award within the last three years, you must complete a CPR (HLTAID009) course every 12 months and attend an ART Skills Maintenance session to keep the award current.

  • Note: There is no separate First Aid requalification session.

  • If your ART/FA award is older than three years, you will need to complete the full course again.

How to Complete Skills Maintenance:

  1. Renew Your Membership

    • You must be an active (financial) member for the 2025/26 season.

  2. Complete Online Theory

    • Log in to the LSV Member Training Portal using your SLS Members Area account login details.
      Please note that if you need to reset your SLS Members Area login details you should do so via the SLS Members Area, not the LSV Member Training Portal.

    • Click ‘Skills Maintenance’, enroll in the relevant modules, and complete the e-learning.

  3. Book a Practical Session

    • After completing the theory, book your practical session - walk-ins on the day are not accepted.

    • Only book sessions that match the awards you’re maintaining (e.g., don’t book an ART session if you don’t hold the ART award).

  4. Attend Your Practical Session

    • Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and briefing.

    • Follow your group through all activities and ensure your attendance is marked.

  5. Confirm Completion

    • Make sure all activities are signed off on the iPad before you leave.

Skills Maintenance Step-by Step Guide

Important Notes:

  • You MUST complete the e-learning and be enrolled in a session before attending.

  • There is no option to complete theory on the day of your practical session.

  • If you are starting to gain awards (U14), it is recommended that you create your own SLS Members Area account. This will allow you to login to the LSV Member Training Portal as well as keep track of your own awards and patrol hours and book into new awards and Skills Maintenance practical sessions. You can remain part of your Family Group, but it allows you access to your individual membership details.

    How to Create Your SLS Members Area Account

  • If you need to withdraw from a booked practical session, please contact:

    LSV Volunteer Training at volunteertraining@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6980.


Point Lonsdale Skills Maintenance (Requal) Date:

(SRC, Bronze Medallion, IRB Crew & Driver, SSV, ART)

TBA

Geelong Region Skills Maintenance (Requal) Dates:

TBA

Common Questions:

Do I need to requalify if I got my award this season?
No. New awards completed during the current season remain current until:

  • 31 December the following year (if obtained on/after 1 July)

  • 31 December of the same year (if obtained on/before 30 June)
    Example: A Bronze Medallion obtained in October 2024 is valid until 31 December 2025.

I haven’t requalified in a while. Can I still requalify?
Yes, if it’s been less than 5 years (60 months) since your last valid date for:

  • SRC

  • Bronze Medallion

  • IRB Crew & Driver

You can check your award proficiency date under ‘Awards’ in your Members Area account.

Can I requalify my ART/FA awards if they’re over three years old?
No. You’ll need to complete the full ART or First Aid course again.

Need Help?

For more information:

Stay current, stay safe, and thank you for your commitment to lifesaving!