Fairhaven’s annual Lifesaving Camp offers candidates the opportunity to obtain either their Bronze Medallion or two components of the Advanced Awards (First Aid and Advanced Resuscitation Techniques). Fairhaven has a great group of volunteer instructors with a broad range of skills and experience across volunteer lifesaving as well as lifeguarding through the Australian Lifeguard Service. Led by this strong volunteer instructor group, the Fairhaven Lifesaving Camp has a pass rate and candidate quality that is the envy of the district and State. We take pride in our ability to train all comers, and anyone is welcome on Fairhaven Lifesaving Camp no matter previous experience, perception of ability or background.

The BM is an award that trains you to become a lifesaver on the beach, and is the stepping stone to other skills and awards within the lifesaving movement. You’ll learn to read and negotiate the surf effectively and safely, patrol as a member of a team, provide CPR, basic first aid, and use rescue equipment. To achieve the Bronze Medallion, you will need to complete a timed swim
beforehand, attend our course where you will practice practical components and
work through a workbook, then finally complete a written and practical
assessment. This award is reassessed annually at Skills Maintenance sessions.
Fairhaven runs the BM during our pre-Christmas Lifesaving Camp as well as
during the post-Christmas summer period.

Like the Bronze Medallion, the SRC is an award that acts as a gateway to the lifesaving movement. It provides the core skills of the Bronze Medallion required to act in a patrol team environment and to contribute to rescue and first aid events. To achieve the SRC, you will need to complete a timed swim beforehand, attend our course where you will practice practical components and work through a workbook, then finally complete a written and practical
assessment. This award is reassessed annually at Skills Maintenance sessions, unless you achieve the Bronze medallion which replaces and supersedes the SRC. Fairhaven will run one SRC over the post-Christmas period.

As of next season (2024-2025), the Bridging Bronze course will be introduced to Fairhaven in replacement of the current Bronze Medallion. The course bridges the practical and theory components of SRC and Bronze.

In serious medical emergencies, we look to our Advanced Resuscitation Techniques award holders to take the lead in managing patients. This award gives you skills in: the assessment of patients, the use of the Bag and Mask ventilator system, Asthma Management, Airway Suctioning and use of a Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator. The course builds upon resuscitation and oxygen skills learnt in the Bronze medallion. This award is reassessed annually at Skills Maintenance sessions.

First Aid is a program that equips you to manage common occupational medical problems. It covers a broad range of issues and is a nationally recognised First Aid award. This award can be completed by anyone and does not require candidates to hold the Bronze Medallion. This award expires every 3 years and candidates must complete the course in entirety upon expiration of their award to ensure that all First Aiders are up to date with the most recent practices. The CPR aspect of this award expires annual and should be updated by attending the Resuscitation course.

The IRB is one of our most effective pieces of rescue equipment, requiring skill and dexterity to fully exploit its capabilities. The IRB Crew and Driver provide the knowledge and skills to do so safely and these awards form a crucial component in lifesaving operations and water safety. To undertake the courses you must hold a current Bronze Medallion and be at least fifteen years old on the day of assessment for Crew, and seventeen for Driver. To achieve the IRB awards, you will need to attend our course where you will practice practical components and work through a workbook, then finally complete a written and practical assessment. This award is reassessed annually at Skills Maintenance sessions. Fairhaven runs IRB camps where we offer both IRB awards and these typically run outside of the main season when we have the resources and personnel available to give candidates the time in the boat required to gain the essential skills.