IRB Awards Training

1.       Training sessions and assessments

Training for both crew and drivers is generally conducted on Sundays from 10:00 am onwards even in the winter season.  Please contact IRB Captain Clive Thompson on 0417 063 724 or at cthompson@cosolve.com.au if you want to confirm training on any particular Sunday. Both crew and driver candidates are also urged to train with qualified IRB drivers during their patrol hours. Hours should be recorded in each trainee’s individual log sheets held in the lever arch training file in the IRB shed.

To get your “learners” to drive you should have your crew award and must either complete your IRB Drivers Workbook 1 (see below) and have it duly signed off by Jonathan Farrell, or have a NSW Maritime boat licence (see www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/boatingsafety.html). Even then you may only drive with a qualified IRB Silver Medallion holder in the craft with you, and you must have your completed Workbook or licence available for inspection on the beach at the time.

2.       Workbooks

Candidate crew and drivers need to complete the crew and drivers work books respectively. For IRB Driver candidates, there is also a new IRB Driver Learner's Guide that you will need to complete as you progress through the various training sessions. Contact Clive for copy or simply download and print direct from here:

IRB Crew Workbook
IRB Drivers Workbook 1

IRB Driver Learner's Guide

Whether as crew or driver trainee, you also need to work through the Powercraft Manual, 6th edition, which is available for $25 from https://www.shop.creata.com/wcsstore/CreataCatalogueAUS/surftrade_index.html  or from Clive Thompson. In particular for IRB Driver candidates, you will need the Powercraft Manual as you work through the IRB Driver Learner's Guide.

Introduction

To gain your IRB Crewperson’s Certificate or Silver Medallion IRB Driver these days requires a significant amount of training. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of the IRB and the typical surf environments within which the IRB operates, SLSA has mandated certain procedures and rules with regard to training for these awards. Set out below is an outline of the training requirements, and a diagram showing the proposed training pathways to gaining the awards in Collaroy Surf Lifesaving Club.

The essential pre-requisites for gaining this award are that you must have your Bronze Medallion and be 15 years or older.  The first phase of training is a 2-hour theory session, which covers all the necessary theory for IRB crewing. During this session, each participant completes the IRB Crewperson’s Workbook. Once this has been done, the participants are given practical training in all aspects of crewing an IRB, from how to fill a fuel cell, to positioning themselves in the IRB when punching through a surf.

IRB Crewperson’s training will typically take around 6 to 8 hours depending on the surf conditions during the training. Once the IRB Training Officer considers them ready, the candidates can then be assessed for the award. This consists of four parts: a 20-question theory paper, a test of dry land skills, a test of crewing skills in the surf, and finally a scenario as determined by the Assessor.

Once candidates have gained their IRB Crewperson’s Certificate, they can proceed to commence the training for the Silver Medallion IRB Driver award.

The essential pre-requisites for gaining this award are that you have your Bronze Medallion, IRB Crewperson’s Certificate and be 17 years or older. (Training can commence before your 17^th birthday.) The first phase of training is a 3–4 hour theory teaching session, which covers all the necessary theory for completing Workbook 1 for SLSA Powercraft. This workbook must be completed and then examined and signed off by an SLSA Assessor before the candidate is allowed to drive the IRB. In some cases a candidate may already hold a current NSW Maritime boat licence. Although legally, s/he may drive the IRB, SLSA mandates that they complete Workbook 1 as it covers more theory than that covered by the Maritime NSW licence.

Following the theory session, each candidate will go through introductory IRB Driver training, which includes a revision of the work covered in the IRB Crewperson’s Certificate, and basic handling skills training, mainly performed outside the break. This typically takes around 2–4 hours depending on surf conditions and how recently the candidate gained their IRB Crewperson’s Certificate.

The second theory session covers more advanced topics with regards IRB driving. For example, it covers the theory of waves and the surf and the methods for handling an IRB in various surf conditions. This typically takes around 1–2 hours, following which the candidate can commence the next phase of training – driving the IRB in all types of surf conditions. This phase will normally take around 8–12 hours depending on the surf conditions and how quickly the candidate picks up the necessary skills.

Once the IRB Training Officer considers them ready, the candidate can then be assessed for the award. This consists of four parts: a multiple choice theory paper, oral questioning of various aspects of IRB operations including the rollover procedures, a test of driving skills in the surf, and finally one or more scenarios as determined by the Assessor.

Training – Requirements & Documentation

It is essential for both awards that complete documentation of all training is kept, as these must be examined by the Assessor prior to any assessment being conducted. In addition, the training MUST be under the direct supervision of someone who holds a SLSA Silver Medallion IRB Driver award or SLSNSW PowerCraft (PWC) Licence. Also, during the IRB driver training the candidate’s workbook must be on the beach during training.