2018 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence - Get Your Tickets Now!

The 2018 SLSNSW Awards of Excellence is fast approaching with ticket sales closing next week! It's a night of celebration and recognition achieved from rescues to team work, education, leadership and sport from what was an incredible season. From the waves to the sand, into our clubs and through our communities, we again celebrate our outstanding members. This is a night not to be missed, get your tickets online now. 

Ever Wondered What a Day in The Life of an ALS Lifeguard Is?

With over 330 positions available across 90 locations, the Australian Lifeguard Service NSW is encouraging Surf Lifesavers to apply to become a lifeguard! The following roles are available:

• Lifeguard Supervisors
• Season Staff
• Casual Staff

Find out more on the Australian Lifeguard Service website and watch this video to see what a day in the life of an ALS lifeguard is like!

Member Mental Health & Well-being Survey

Please take 10-15 minutes to complete this hugely important survey on member mental health and well-being. We’ll be utilising your input to ensure that effective strategies and initiatives are implemented to support your health and well-being needs while volunteering. As such, we value and ask for your full and frank feedback.

The survey will ask you questions on factors relating to member well-being while volunteering for Surf Life Saving. The questions assess a number of identified 'psychological factors' utilised by CommuniCorp Group, a specialist psychological consultancy. The survey has been developed based on international research into best practice approaches to developing and maintaining health and well-being. 

Your responses to this survey are completely anonymous and are maintained as confidential. CommuniCorp Group are hosting this survey, and all participant responses will be collated and reported on in aggregate before being presented as a report to SLSNSW with associated recommendations. 

Please complete this survey before Friday 31st August, 2018.

Thank you in advance for your valued participation. Please contact info@communicorpgroup.com if you have any questions relating to the survey.

Active Kids - Surf Club Account Activation

Clubs who are looking to engage in the Active Kids Program this year, can now access a number of key fact sheets and frequently asked question documents available to assist Surf Life Saving Clubs and parents. These fact sheets can be found on the SLSNSW website and provide step by step information for clubs to activate their account and redeem Active Kids vouchers.

2018 SLSNSW State Conference Resources

Photos, videos and other useful resources from the 2018 SLSNSW State Conference will be available online via Dropbox. Recordings of the presentations will continue to be added over the coming weeks. 

2018 Beach To Bush - Presenters Needed

This year marks the 25th year of the Beach to Bush program with over 250,000 students benefiting from this free resource. SLSNSW is now calling for expressions of interest for those wishing to be a presenter for this years program which will run from the 19 - 23 November. To register your interest please contact Mike Anderson, manderson@surflifesaving.com.au or 9471 8000.

Branch Duty Officer Review - Expressions Of Interest

SLSNSW is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from appropriately experienced and qualified SLS members to participate in a comprehensive review of the Branch Duty Officer role. The review will make recommendations for minimum skill and experience standards required for the role, as well as essential training required to ensure consistency and currency across all Branch Duty Officers in the state. Committee applications close 5pm 12 August 2018. Further information can be found on our website.

VET Funding Local Grants Program – Closing Date 2 September 2018

Have you thought about what you’ll apply for yet? Any programs or projects which aim to attract new volunteers into Club Education Teams, to increase the diversity of these teams or to retain and recognise existing trainers and assessors will be considered. This is a great opportunity for Clubs and Branches to work collaboratively and to innovate to solve local recruitment and retention issues. The team at Surf Life Saving NSW are available to assist with idea generating, application development and application writing if required. Contact vetgrants@surflifesaving.com.au for assistance.

Annual Compliance Requirements for Clubs and Branches

Submissions for the Annual Compliance Requirements for clubs and branches for the 2018/19 season are now open. Submissions can be made online here, please read Circular 3559: Annual Requirements for Clubs and Branches to be Compliant With SLSNSW for the 2018/19 Season for further information. 

Nominations For Life Membership of SLSNSW

SLSNSW is inviting nominations for members to be recommended for election to Life Membership of SLSNSW.

To be considered for Life Membership, a nominee must have rendered distinguished voluntary service to SLSNSW for a period of at least 20 years, with the following condition being applied; for service to be considered as distinguished, it must be sustained and of a conspicuous contribution. Download the Life Membership nomination form.

Nominations are to be forwarded via Branch to;

CEO, Surf Life Saving NSW
PO Box 307
Belrose, NSW, 2085
Marked Private & Confidential by Friday, 28 September 2018.

Successful nominations will be announced at the SLSNSW Annual General Meeting, to be held Friday, 2 November 2018.

Circular Reminders

• SLSA Circular: 09 18-19 2018 Australian and Interstate Pool Rescue Championships - Results

• Circular 3560: 2018/19 SLSNSW Annual Gear & Equipment Inspections Program

• Memo: 2019 NSW State Championships - Volunteer Safety Requirements
• SLSA Circular: SLSA Regulations Review and Update
• SLSA Circular: 78 Member Area Upgrade, Patrol Ops App and Changes to Membership Categories
• Circular 3558: 2018 NSW Midford Board Riding Championships - Entry Circular
• Circular 3557: 2018 NSW Midford Board Riding Championships - Official Nominations

Lander & Rogers Lawyers have released an informative Risk Management Checklist for carnivals and sporting events which can be viewed online here.

• 22 September - 2018 Lennox Head Enduro
• 29 September - The Professionals Weekend of Surf
• 8 December - 2018 SLSNSW Interbranch Championship

Volunteer Grants 2018

The Volunteer Grants 2018 is now open, closing 18 September 2018. This grant was incredibly popular when it was last run in 2016 and numerous clubs were successful in securing funds through this program. We encourage everyone to apply for this opportunity. 

Eligible not-for-profit community organisations can apply for grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to purchase portable, small equipment items for use by volunteers, contribute to the costs of training courses and/or undertake background screening checks for their volunteers and more. For more information on what the grants can be used for and to apply please click here.

Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program

Round two of the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program is now open. The Program provides NSW sports clubs the opportunity to acquire an AED package for their club or sports facility at a reduced cost. Grants are available for up to 50% of the AED package in Zones 1 and 2 and up to 75% in Zone 3 (Zone regions are mapped out in the Local Sport Defibrillator Program Guidelines).

SLSNSW is an AED Panel Service Provider and stockist of AEDs in all three zones, therefore successful applicants will be able to purchase their AED directly through SLSNSW by contacting Holly Chave, Academy Business Manager.

More information about the Grant and application process can be found on the Office of Sport website or via the Local Sport Defibrillator Program Guidelines.

Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program 2018-19

The Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program 2018-19 is now open with applications closing 14 September 2018. This grant program is designed to assist small to medium scale projects up to $500,000 to improve local sport infrastructure across Australia. These improved facilities will support greater community participation in sport and physical activity and/or offer safer and more inclusive sporting hubs. With a total pool of funding of $29.7 million nationally for all sporting codes, this will be a highly competitive grant program. For more information please click here.

The NSW Sport & Recreation Local Sport Grant Program 2018/19

Applications for the Local Sport Grant Program will be closing 24 August 2018

The program aims to increase regular and on-going participation opportunities in sport and active recreation. This year the program will have two focus areas:

1. Targeted opportunities specifically for women and girls
2. Overall participation opportunities

Each NSW State Electorate has a total of $50,000 to award under the program. For more information please click here.