RESPONSIBILITY

1. All members must be current financial members of the Lorne SLSC
2. Each member is responsible for ensuring their proficiency requirements have been fulfilled prior to any patrol.
3. Arrive punctually for all patrols.
4. When you arrive at the beach, report directly to your Patrol Captain and sign-in the patrol log book. If you are doing a “make up patrol” or substituting for another person, please note it accordingly in the log book.
5. At all times while on patrol wear the patrol uniform, especially your red and yellow quartered cap – which must be tied correctly under your chin and be visible on your head. If they are unable to do so they cannot sign onto patrol.
6. Replacement of any damaged or lost items of issued uniform must be actioned well before patrol commencement and paid for by the member. It is the sole responsibility of the Lifesaver to bring their uniform to each patrol.
7. While on duty, all Lifesavers shall devote their time and attention to the Lifesaving Service Operations, and shall direct and co-ordinate their efforts in a manner which will establish and maintain the highest standards of efficiency.
8. If you wish to go into the water, let your Patrol Captain know and do not enter the water without your patrol cap tied on. You must remain in the beach patrol area.
9. Do not leave the beach patrol area without the permission of your Patrol Captain. If you leave the beach, do not wear your patrol uniform or cap.
10. All Lifesavers shall carry out their duties within all OH&S guidelines to ensure their safety and that of other patrol members and the public.
11. All Lifesavers are to be actively involved in either the pack up or set up of the patrol (although both are preferred).
12. A minimum of three (3) hours must be achieved at any one time whilst on patrol. Any less than three (3) hours will not be counted in the Lifesavers total patrol hours.
13. Lifesavers shall not act or behave in such a manner as to bring disrespect upon himself/herself, Lorne SLSC, Life Saving Victoria or Surf Life Saving Australia.
14. If you are unable to attend your patrol, you must find a substitute and ensure that your patrol will not be deficient in any award that you hold. Contact your Patrol Captain in the weeks preceding to ensure this criteria is met.
15. For water safety, it is an individual’s responsibility to make sure they fill in a water safety patrol log on the day.

PERSONAL PATROL HOURS

To be eligible for competition at any SLSA Championship, a Lorne SLSC member must complete the following minimum patrol hours in the year prior to the respective championship event. All patrol hours must be recorded at the Lorne SLSC and not at any other Surf Life Saving affiliated organisation.
These hours are irrespective of LSV & SLSA requirements.

• For all Active and Under 15 members and any other categories of membership not mentioned, the minimum number of personal patrol hours required during the period of 1 January to 31 December of the prior year shall be:
  • Active Members – 16 Hours
  • Under 15 – 16 Hours
• For Reserve Active members, the minimum number of personal patrol hours required for the period of 1st January to 31st December of the preceding year of any SLSA Championship shall be:
  • 10 Hours
• New members joining the Lorne SLSC on or after 1 January, and prior to the closing date of entries in that year must complete (e.g. join in January 2023 and wish to compete at Aussies in 2023):
  • 4 Hours
• The personal patrol hour obligations of new members joining after January 1 and before December 31 of the prior year are required to complete patrol hours as per this table:

• The minimum patrol hour requirement for a new member, a member re-joining a club (was not a member of SLSA between 1 October to 30 September of the previous season), or a member returning after a leave of absence must not be less than 4 hours before the close of entries for the competition the member wishes to enter.

NOTE: For a leave of absence to be recognised in relation to this policy, it must be constituted by the Lorne SLSC and minuted at an AGM.

Hours shall only be calculated from the following:

• Rostered patrols
• Substitute patrols
• Make up patrols for approved absences
• Water Safety for Junior Activities (not including Surf Sports training) 50% only

Exclusions: Hours cannot be calculated from:

• Penalty patrol hours
• Patrol hours attained at another Life Saving Club
• Whilst Competing
• Personal Coaching
• Training squads (competition and Training & Assessment)
• General Club Duties
• Surf Sport Official
• Members employed as lifeguards, helicopter crew or beach inspectors: are not exempt from fulfilling personal voluntary patrol hour obligations.

Patrol Log Administration

• No amendment is to be made to the hard copy patrol log after the Patrol Captain has signed off the log.
• Any corrections to names, start times, finish times & patrol hours prior to sign off must be signed by the Patrol Captain.
• All remaining empty lines must be crossed out at the end of the patrol.
• Ensure each member has a minimum of 3 hours and has participated in a set up or pack up.
• If possible, take a photo of the log.
• The patrol log data will be entered into Surf Guard by the Club Administrator and checked by the Vice President of Lifesaving. Any transposition errors will be corrected before closing the log.
• Illegible handwriting will not be entered.
• If a transposition error is detected after the log is closed, the club administrator or Vice President will request it be re-opened, make the amendment and then close the log.

Appeals to amend patrol hours

• Where a member wishes to appeal the hours logged on Surf Guard:
  • Request a review of the Patrol Log to the Vice President – Lifesaving
    • If a transposition error is detected, the Vice President of Lifesaving will amend the log.
    • If no transposition error is detected, the matter will be closed at a Lorne SLSC level.
• Should a member wish to appeal further:
  • Apply in writing to the Director – Lifesaving Services at Life Saving Victoria
• Members wishing to claim hours retrospectively (patrolling or water safety):
  • Apply in writing to the Director – Lifesaving Services at Life Saving Victoria