Gold Medallion (Advanced Lifesaving)

The Gold Medallion is the highest award a lifesaver can attain in surf life saving. It requires a high degree of fitness along with an extensive knowledge of surf life saving techniques and skills. In particular, the Assessment for the Gold Medallion is one of the most gruelling set of tests, rescues and scenarios for any award. Fewer than 5% of all lifesavers succeed in gaining their Gold Medallion, and its not an award that you can gain in a short space of time.

In addition to the Bronze Medallion, which every lifesaver must hold, a candidate for the Gold Medallion must also hold their Advanced Resuscitation Certificate, Senior First Aid, Silver Medallion Advanced Emergency Care, and either the Silver Medallion Patrol Captain or Silver Medallion Basic Beach Management. The following shows the connections between the awards and the pre-requisites for each award leading to the Gold Medallion.

Typically it takes several months to gain all the awards leading up to the Gold Medallion. In addition, it can also take several months to gain the skills and fitness necessary to pass all the tests, rescues and scenario of the Assessment.

There are four sections to the assessment for the Gold Medallion.

The first assessment is a timed pool swim of 800 metres, which must be completed in 14 minutes. Once you have achieved this, you can go on to the rest of the assessments.

This is a four part test comprising of:

• 400 metre swim;
• 800 metre run;
• 400 metre board paddle; and
• 800 metre run.

This must be completed in under 25 minutes.

You must achieve two rescues:

1. Tube rescue of a patient 100 metres out to sea (flippers are allowed);
2. Board rescue of a patient 200 metres out to sea.

In both cases you must return to shore with the patient.

The final assessment is a complex rescue scenario. You must swim out through the break, secure your patient and return to shore with them, ensuring you do not lose them on the way back. Once near or at shore, you must call for assistance and perform any emergency care as required by the assessor (i.e. DRABCD).

You must also be able to satisfy the assessors that you can:

·        Work Autonomously;

·        Plan and undertake work activities;

·        Accept responsibilities;

·        Set performance requirements;

·        Maintain team performance.