Surfing - People

Staff

All staff members must comply with current Department of Education and Early Childhood Development police check requirements or the Working with Children Check.

A teacher registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and either employed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development or the school council must be present and have overall responsibility for the activity.

Where not directly responsible for the activity or assisting the instructor, the teacher responsible for the activity must understand the activity and the environment in which it will be conducted.  This teacher must confer with the designated instructor about the supervisory role and establish areas of responsibility.  If the teacher is not the designated instructor, he/she is to act on the advice of the designated instructor and guides on technical safety issues.

Any staff member with a known medical condition that might compromise the group’s risk management plan should make accompanying staff aware of this condition.  Issues of confidentiality and privacy will apply to any such disclosure.

Experience and qualifications

The designated surfing instructor(s) must hold both a surf lifesaving qualification and coaching qualification/documented experience, that is:

• a current Surf Bronze Medallion (SLSAA) or
• Surf Rescue Certificate (SLSAA) for every twenty students (surfing with boards)

       and

• a Level One coaching qualification from Surfing Victoria, or
• equivalent documented training and experience from another training provider or educational institution, or
• equivalent documented experience in lieu of certification/accreditation.

There must be at least one staff member with a current Surf Bronze Medallion (SLSAA) or a Surf Rescue Certificate (SLSAA) for every twenty-four students, or part thereof.

The designated assistant to the instructor must be a confident swimmer and:

• have an AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Certificate, or
• hold a current Bronze Medallion (RLSS) or a Bronze Medallion (SLSAA) or a Surf Rescue Certificate (SLSAA)

       and

• have experience in the activity at the level being offered to students
• be able to assume a supervisory role during the activity
• be able to competently assist in emergency response procedures, including CPR
• have conferred with the instructor to establish the emergency response and supervision responsibilities.

Documentation of Staff Qualifications and Experience (Word - 151Kb) can be used to document staff qualifications/experience in lieu of qualifications.

Where an external contractor is chosen to run all or part of this activity, the guidelines for the use of External providers should be followed.

Supervision

A minimum of two staff members must be present for each activity.  One staff member is to have responsibility for instruction in the activity and the other is to assist the instructor.

The following table shows the minimum staff-to-student ratios for surfing.  These must be applied when establishing the instructional and supervision strategy for the activity.

Activity	Staff required	Student numbers
Type 1 and 2 venues	2	1-20
	3	21-30
Type 3 venues	2	1-16
	3	17-24

Note:  Type 1 and 2 venues are included as they may be used for practice and training, before entering the surf environment.

Decisions about staff numbers and suitability for the activity should be based on the:

• age, maturity, gender and physical characteristics* of students
• ability and experience of students
• needs of individuals
• dynamics of the student group
• experience, qualifications and skills of staff
• location of the activity
• anticipated conditions at the location.

*For example, if a group includes any physically large students, supervising staff must have the required training and qualifications to undertake any necessary rescue and the required physical attributes.

The teacher in charge is responsible for the supervision strategy, which must be endorsed by the school council as part of the excursion approval process.  Staff members should supervise students according to this strategy.

Lifeguards at beaches can only be used for supervision and included in staff–student ratios if they do not have general lifeguard duties at the venue at that time and their sole responsibility during the activity is for the students undertaking the activity.

However, in situations where a rescue is necessary, it would normally be expected that the duty lifeguards would take charge of the rescue.  In situations where the duty lifeguards are otherwise occupied, the staff member(s) must undertake the rescue.

To ensure that there is no confusion between the roles of duty lifeguards and excursion staff members, staff must consult with the relevant lifeguard on arrival at the venue.

If a decision is made to vary the recommended allocation of supervising staff, reasons for the variation must be documented.  The minimum requirements for this activity are provided above.

Overnight excursions

 

Informed consent

Informed consent should be based on an understanding of:

• the educational purpose of the activity
• the nature and details of the activity
• the supervision strategy
• other information deemed relevant by the school, parents or guardians.

Informed consent must be given in writing and signed by parents or guardians.

First aid

Staff members must carefully consider the nature and location of the excursion as well as the medical history of the students, to determine the level of first aid training required by staff.  For example, if any student in the group has a history of anaphylaxis and may require the use of an epi-pen, appropriately trained staff must be present.