Patrols

City of Perth patrol the beach from the Floreat groyne in the north to the border of the Rifle Range (where the tower is located in the sandhills, roughly 1.5km south of the City Beach groyne) in the south, and we patrol it from the first week in October to the last weekend in March. We patrol on Saturday and Sundays and all public holidays except Christmas Day.

Our patrolling area, duties and requirements are covered by a Lifesaving Service Agreement between the Club, the Town of Cambridge and SLSWA. Patrol captains have a copy and knowledge of this agreement.

Patrols are organised by a Patrol Officer who has overall responsibity for the conduct of patrols at the Club.

Each patrol has a Captain, who under the Clubs by-laws has full responsibility for the patrol. Patrol Captains will be required to have their Silver Medallion Basic Beach Management Award in the future. On each patrol there is also a Vice Captain and where possible an IRB Driver and an Advanced Rescuscitation Certificate (ARC) holder.

Once Members have their bronze they should look to add to their qualifications. Apart from IRB driver, IRB crew, and ARC - Senior First Aid, Defibrilation Certificate, Spinal Management are also very useful qualification and all are able to be obtained through the Club.

Classes of Membership can be seen here.

Patrol Roster All Active, Cadet and Active Reserve Members with Awards are rostered on Patrols. At this time the club is using an online rostering system which allows members to select their own patrol dates.

If unable to attend a rostered patrol, it is the member's obligation to arrange a substitute of similar qualifications to perform the Patrol in their place. The Member arranging such a substitute shall be responsible in the event of the substitute not attending. The Member doing the patrol shall receive the hours for the patrol but the Member whose patrol it was does not go down hours as they have arranged a substitute.

If a member doesn't arrange a substitute and doesn't perform a rostered partol they will go down hours. Members who go down hours are required to make up one and a half hours of patrol for every hour not attended. Down hours cannot be made up on Sunday morning except with the express permission of the Patrol Officer. Members who are down hours cannot compete for the Club until the down hours and the penalty are cleared.

Members who work shift work at late notice eg Doctors, Nurses or Police etc may apply to the Patrol Officer for relief from rostered patrols. They must still patrol the same number of hours but as arranged with the Patrol Officer.

Filling out the Patrol Log

To keep proper records the Patrol Log must be filled out accurately by each member. To help here are some guidelines:

  • Award - Bronze or SRC
  • Name - The name of the person who is rostered onto patrol
  • Substitutes Name - The name of the person substituing for the rostered person (when applicable)
  • Signature - The signature of the person who is doing the patrol (i.e. the rostered person or the substitute)
  • Patrol Type -
    • If it is your rostered patrol leave blank
    • If you are substituting write Substitute
    • If you are just doing an extra patrol write Voluntary
    • If you are down hours and doing a make-up write Make-up or Penalty
  • Time On - The time you logged on
  • Time Off - The time you logged off
  • Total Number of Hours - Total Number of hours patrolled

Patrols and Competition

To compete at any inter club carnival, State or Australian Titles competitors must be hold the appropriate award (SRC for Under 15 competitors, BRonze for everybody else); be proficient for that season; be eligible under the age category; be financial and have MET THEIR PATROL OBLIGATIONS.

There are two criteria that BOTH must be met to fulfill your patrol obligations and be allowed to compete:

  1. Minimum Hours (to compete in State or Australian Championships)
    • Cadet and Active members must have completed 16 hours in the calendar year preceding the event
    • Reserve Active members must have completed 8 hours in the calendar year preceding the event
    • Long Service members don't have any minimum hours to complete as they have no patrol obligation
    • Where a new award has been gained during a year there are pro rata requirements. A minimum of 4 patrol hours are required for a new member and former members, rejoining or returning in December and a minimum of 8 hours are required for a new member and former members, rejoining or returning in November (see policy 5.4 on the SLSA website for further details).
  2. Club Requirements
    • Members cannot compete in any interclub event if they are "down hours". Therefore, members must complete all their rostered patrols or arrange substitutes so they don't go down hours and if they do go down hours they must complete the required penalty hours to remove their down hours.
    • Just doing your 16 hours (Active Members) or 8 hours (Active Reserve Members) is not enough, you must also complete your rostered patrols.

[Patrol Roster] [Members Information]