For people aged 15 and over training for or holding the Surf Life Saving Bronze Medallion, 2026/27 season. Covers minimum age, swim prerequisite, what the course covers, annual skills maintenance, lapsed proficiency, what the award leads to and surf sports.
You must be at least 15 years old on the date of final assessment. Surf Life Saving NSW lists the minimum age as 15 years, and Surf Life Saving Queensland says candidates must "be at least 15 years of age on the date of final assessment".
Younger members aged 13 and 14 can take the Surf Rescue Certificate instead (minimum age 13, with an unaided 200 m swim in 5 minutes or less). A member who turns 15 during the surf sports season and gains the Bronze Medallion can move up into some older competition divisions.
Before aquatic training begins you must complete an unaided swim of 400 m in 9 minutes or less (goggles and masks permitted). It is done in a pool at least 25 m long, or over a measured open water course, and is observed. Surf Life Saving Queensland says a qualified Training Officer Bronze Medallion, Assessor Bronze Medallion, or ASCTA/AUSTSWIM swim coach (or similar) can observe a pool swim.
You must also be a financial member of a surf life saving club (Surf Life Saving NSW). Surf Life Saving Queensland states the only listed prerequisites are the age requirement and the swim test.
The Bronze Medallion is delivered with the nationally recognised PUA20119 Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue). Surf Life Saving NSW lists the units covered as communications, surf awareness, aquatic rescue, emergency care, teamwork and work health and safety. Surf Life Saving Queensland describes the award as covering surf awareness, rescue techniques, radio communication, CPR and first aid.
The course is a minimum of 6 full days, which can be run as 2 to 3 hour sessions over evenings and weekends or as full-day sessions. Additional training may be needed before assessment. The course includes the HLTAID010 first aid unit of competency, which has a 3-year validity.
Holders may patrol in the role of an entry-level lifesaver on patrol, and as water safety personnel for SLS events (Surf Life Saving NSW). Surf Life Saving Queensland describes the award as "the pinnacle of Surf Life Saving patrolling awards" and your ticket to patrolling the beach, covering surf awareness, rescue techniques, radio communication, CPR and first aid.
The Bronze Medallion is also a prerequisite for the Silver Medallion Patrol Captain, IRB Crew, Silver Medallion IRB Driver, Gold Medallion and other awards.
Every year. Surf Life Saving NSW states that proficiency in the Bronze Medallion is renewed each year through SLS Skills Maintenance, and SLSA's circular says all active lifesavers must complete a skills maintenance (proficiency check) to demonstrate competency in each lifesaving award they hold and want to keep current.
The SLSA circular sets the minimum national requirements for each season, and state or territory centres may add their own. It also notes the SLSA Lifesaving Committee has previously approved a three-year cycle for skills maintenance for the Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion; for 2025/26 the practical focused on the introduction of Lifesaving CPR.
Separately, the HLTAID010 first aid unit of competency bundled with the Bronze Medallion has a 3-year validity (Surf Life Saving NSW). SLSA's circular says skills maintenance for emergency care pathway awards does not renew units of competency such as HLTAID009 CPR, which members renew through their state or territory centre.
The latest national requirements published openly are in SLSA Circular 74/24-25, Skills Maintenance (Proficiency Check) Requirements for the 2025/26 Season, issued 29 May 2025. The 2026/27 national requirements are set in SLSA Circular 80/25-26, which Surf Life Saving Queensland's 2026/27 proficiency update names as its source, so the content below was the national minimum for 2025/26 and may have changed.
2025/26 theory (online): watch a video update on changes to skills maintenance requirements, SLS procedures and ANZCOR guidelines, and, in states introducing Lifesaving CPR, complete a short eLearning module on those techniques.
2025/26 practical:
State or territory centres may add requirements. Surf Life Saving Queensland's 2026/27 update sets 31 December 2026 as the completion date for the state requirements it lists.
SLSA's skills maintenance circular says members who have not remained proficient for any period may not need to complete the award again, and are dealt with case by case with their club training officer. The gap analysis in the circular sets out what has changed in each award over the years so the member can be given the necessary updates through an in-depth proficiency.
The guideline set by the SLSA Education Committee is that a period of five or more years non-proficient would require re-completion of the award, though the experience of the individual member should always be considered.
According to Surf Life Saving NSW's education pathways page and the SLSA skills maintenance circular, a proficient Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for:
If a Gold Medallion holder's Bronze Medallion proficiency lapses during the season, they become non-proficient in the Gold Medallion until it is updated.
Yes, for most age groups. Under the SLSA Surf Sports Manual (38th Edition), the relevant award for Under 17, Under 19, Under 21, Under 23, Open, Senior and Masters competitors is the Bronze Medallion, and you must be proficient in it to compete in championships. Under 15s use the Surf Rescue Certificate.