Our Summer Bronze Medallion course has reached capacity - our next course will run in Spring 2025.

To register your interest in the Spring course, please complete the sign up form on this page.

Want to become a lifesaver at Tamarama?

Getting a lifesaving award lets you join Surf Lifesaving Australia’s Foundation Clubs and be part of Tamarama’s lifesaving tradition. To wear the Red & Yellow uniform and help patrol the beach, you need the Bronze Medallion (Certificate II in Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue) or the Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC).

The course lasts nine weeks and requires a strong commitment beyond the Wednesday and Saturday sessions. This includes completing self-paced modules, participating in a five-hour shadow patrol, and attending two Sundays for First Aid and Advanced Resuscitation Techniques courses. Optional weekly ocean swim skills and rescue board training are also available. We’ll provide the training, but you’ll need to review and study the course manual independently.

Requirements for the Bronze Medallion:

• Swim 400 meters uninterrupted freestyle, in a pool, in under nine minutes.
• You must attend all sessions to keep up with the course. Missing more than one session could affect your progress and your bronzie cohort's performance. If you miss more than one week, you may not be able to continue with the course.
• Be available to patrol Tamarama Beach half a day every three weeks during the season (September to April).

What You Will Learn:

• Surf skills and safety
• Surf rescue techniques
• Emergency first aid and resuscitation
• How to make the beach safer for everyone

Benefits:

• Boost your fitness
• Improve your surf swimming and board paddling
• Join a supportive, inclusive and friendly team
• Access club equipment: racing boards, surf skis, surf boats, and gym
• Participate in group training for surf swimming, boards, and skis
• Compete in surf club events

While not on my bingo card for 2024, completing my Bronze Medallion at Tamarama SLSC was easily a highlight for me.

Inclusivity is the fabric that truly binds the club together, creating a ripple effect that fosters one of the most nurturing and inspiring environments to grow and thrive as a lifesaver.

Reflecting on the Tama Bronzey course, for me, the biggest “pinch me” moment has been realising how fortunate I was to learn from trainers (who are more like mentors), tirelessly sharing their insane knowledge, skills, and time with unwavering dedication and care. Swimming with dolphins, learning how to complete successful spinal rescues and what felt like endless sausage sizzles to fuel our cohort are all definitely up there too.

Being part of a collective cause to make our local waterways safer with such a legendary crew at Tamarama SLSC has been so incredibly fulfilling and something I wholeheartedly encourage others to dip their toe in—I guarantee, sooner or later, you’ll want to take the full plunge and dive right in.

- Jess B

Never having competed in swimming before, I was nervous about doing my Bronze, but the Tama education team made it an amazing experience! From learning first aid and board rescues to improving my swim technique, I gained so many new skills while being welcomed into an incredibly supportive community. If you’re considering it, do it - you won’t regret it!

- Morgan L

After moving to Sydney 12 months ago, my first year in the emerald city was at risk of passing without a uniquely “Sydney” experience. The Tama Bronze Medallion course - full of ocean swimming, dolphin meet cutes, board and rescue skills, and quality laughs - became the landmark experience I was looking for. Deeply rewarding, and brimming with purpose and connection, I would recommend the Tama SLSC bronze medallion to everyone.

- Robbie L

From never swimming in the ocean before, to now having to do a swim every week sums up how much the Bronze Medallion has impacted my life! Tamarama is full of amazing, inclusive and hard-working volunteers that pushed me to be better and have fostered a new found love of volunteering and ocean swimming! I made so many amazing new friends and life long skills, Tamarama is now my second home! 🥰

- Reilly W

Course Outline

Tamarama's dedicated volunteer education team ensures a 100% pass rate, and we believe you’ll pass if you commit to the course. After completing the course, you'll be assigned to a patrol and work at the beach for one weekend morning or afternoon (4-5 hours) about every three weeks. Our club trains those who want to be long-term members and help patrol the beach for many seasons.

The information below is an indication of what to expect and may slightly differ between courses.

Dates (for Summer 2025) 

There is a minimum attendance requirement, and missing more than one session will put you at risk of falling behind. Much of the assessment is team based and therefore if you’re not up to standard, you’d be putting the success of your team at risk. Where a candidate has missed more than one week of training, the Tamarama Education Team will make a case-by-case determination whether that candidate can complete the remainder of the course.

Fees

The following fees include all training and materials for the Bronze Medallion or SRC course, patrol uniform and keys to the club.

Includes 2 Years of Membership Fees (valued $90 per year) and uniform.

* Full time student, pensioner or unemployed, please bring proof of concession with you. Parents or Guardians of Children who are Cadet (Under 15) Members or enrolled in Tamarama SLSC Nippers may access this concession rate. New Surf Life Saving members under 30 can also benefit from this concession rate.

** Tamarama is committed to gender diversity within our inclusive club. We offer a 2-for-1 deal to all groups of 2 women, and to any trans, gender diverse and/or non-binary folks and their friend.