Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue)

The role of an aquatic search and rescue team member is to prepare for search and rescue operations, recognise appropriate responses, perform complex rescues, demonstrate various search techniques, and participate in post-incident procedures.

The PUA30322 Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue) is designed for participants performing complex search and rescue operations on inland or coastal waters.

Qualification Details

The Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue) is made up of a total of 11 units of competency. To obtain credit, members must hold:

  • 5 core units (must do)

  • 6 elective units (can choose what to do)

Completing this certificate with Surf Life Saving SA will see you achieve the following awards, qualifications and units of competency.

To gain these units, you need to complete and gain several different Surf Awards. They include:

Most people tend to gain the required units in the following bundles:

Requirements

  • Must be a current financial member of a SA Surf Life Saving Club

  • Hold the PUA20119 Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue), obtained in the Bronze Medallion.

Please note:

  • A Bronze Medallion from other organisations, which are not surf-focused, does not meet the requirement, as a Bronze Medallion gained with SLSSA, is a ‘surf-focused’ qualification.

  • If you gained your Bronze Medallion interstate, please check if the PUA20119 Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) was issued alongside the Bronze Award. If not, you may be required to do some Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you are in this situation, please reach out to the Member Ed team to discuss.

Certificate III and SACE Points

Members who are Secondary School students can gain credits toward their SACE by gaining certain awards with SLSSA.

In the standard VET programme delivered by SLSSA, participants can expect to achieve 30 SACE points on completion of PUA30322 Certificate III in Public Aquatic Safety or 280 nominal hours. Due to the workload, it is recommended that students look to start the qualification in Year 10 or 11, but it can be completed by someone in Year 12.

Your teacher or SACE/VET coordinator can help you identify whether you may be eligible to earn SACE credits for your achievements and be able to assist with providing your qualifications with SACE.

Pathways to obtain the qualification

There are different ways a member can gain the qualification:

  • This option means that members manage and coordinate their own learning and training. SLSSA does not schedule people’s participation. When a course is open, it is up to the member to be aware and book themselves into the training.

    This option allows the member to pick from the additional units such as IRB crew and IRB Driver

    Who

    This pathway is open to anyone, and the benefit is that you can choose your own path to gain the required Units.

    Cost

    The cost of this pathway is $150 PLUS the cost of each award and qualifications gained.

    Process

    1. Download the ‘Member Credit form’

    2. Gain the required awards and qualifications

    3. Submit ‘Member Credit form’ by emailing it to member.ed@surflifesavingsa.com.au

    4. Staff will review your submission and if there are no issues, will take payment and issue the certificate.

  • This pathway is delivered in conjunction with St Michael’s College and Immanuel College. With this program, SLSSA coordinates the learning plan by setting the courses, dates and times. Students will gain the following awards and qualifications to ensure they have the required Units for the Certificate III.

    • SMAR

    • Provide First Aid

    • ART

    • Pool Lifeguard

    Delivery

    The course is approximately 7 days of face-to-face delivery, throughout 1-year, with prior online learning for each component. The Bronze Medallion/Certificate II in Public Safety component is completed separately with the SLS Club and is a prerequisite for selection.

    The program commences in May each year.

    Who

    This pathway is open to St Michael’s College and Immanuel College students, but limited spots are open to students from other schools.

    Spots are limited in this program and therefore there is a selection process in place.

    Application

    Open at the start of Term 3 and close in early February

    Applications can be submitted HERE

    Location

    Training will be delivered at St Michael’s College, Immanuel College (pool), SLSSA and Port Noarlunga Surf Lifesaving Club.

    Costs

    This qualification is valued at $950.

    Students should refer to their School VET team in the first instance regarding payment. SLSSA course fees vary depending on the student's existing training history with SLSSA and the agreement with their school.

    For students who will be covering the cost of their training, SLSSA will contact you before issuing your qualifications to arrange payment.

    For Schools making the payment on behalf of their students involved, you will be invoiced post-program.

  • Every year, the SLSSA holds a Leadership Development Camp aimed at those who are aged between 16 and 17. As part of the camp, members will gain Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue).

    For more information about this opportunity click HERE.

    Applications open September

    This program is managed by the SLSSA Club and Member Development Team

The following definition of terms will assist in your understanding of what you need and how to gain your Cert III:

Certificate = Nationally recognised qualification both within Surf Life Saving and other organisations outside of Surf.

Unit = a subject/topic that forms part of a qualification

Surf Award = can be made up of units (recognised across different industries) or topics not associated with a unit (only recognised by Surf Life Saving organisations)