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Course Set - Inland Open Water Lifeguard Annual Refresher

Maintain Proficiency & Regulatory Compliance for Aquatic Professionals

Stay rescue-ready and compliant with the Inland Open Water Lifeguard Annual Refresher.

Stay rescue-ready and compliant with the Inland Open Water Lifeguard Annual Refresher. This course is specifically designed for current lifeguards and outdoor recreation leaders across the Mid North Coast who require annual recertification of their skills in line with industry standards and Australian legislative requirements.

Delivered by SALT Training Academy, this refresher ensures that your response times, rescue techniques, and first aid knowledge remain sharp and aligned with current Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines.

 

Comprehensive Recertification Set

 

This refresher updates your proficiency across the full suite of essential inland lifeguard units:

  • HLTAID009: CPR updates.

  • SISCAQU019: Patron Safety Supervision.

  • SISCAQU021 & SISCAQU029: Complex and Open Water Rescues.

  • SISCAQU022: Oxygen Resuscitation and Therapy.

 

Refined Skills for Real-World Environments

 

This course covers both built and natural flatwater environments, including lakes, lagoons, dams, slow-moving rivers, and modern wave parks. The curriculum includes vital updates on:

  • Advanced Rescue Crafts: Refreshing skills with rescue boards, tubes, and non-motorised craft.

  • Specialist Supervision: Updated protocols for snorkel watch and competitive events like triathlon swim legs.

  • Hazard Management: Managing evolving risks such as currents, debris, and crowded public waterways.

Who Should Attend?

 

This course is strictly for current, experienced lifeguards and outdoor leaders who have previously completed their initial Inland Open Water Lifeguard certification. It is the ideal solution for regional NSW councils, water park staff, and recreation camp leaders looking to renew their qualifications.

 

Requirements for Enrolment

​

  • Prerequisites: Participants must hold a current HLTAID011 Provide First Aid certificate and have substantial industry experience.

  • Physical Standards: To maintain industry best practices, it is highly recommended that participants can swim 400 metres in less than 8 minutes.

  • Workplace Standards: All training is aligned with the latest clinical peak body standards to ensure your certification is recognised nationwide.

 

Why Refresh with SALT Training Academy?

Our training is tailored to the specific conditions found in the Port Macquarie and regional NSW areas. We focus on hands-on, scenario-based assessments that reflect the actual challenges you face in the field, ensuring you return to your workplace with total confidence.

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First Aid courses Port Macquarie

Units Delivered

The following units will be included in your certificate:​​​

  • HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation

  • SISCAQU022 - Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment

  • SISCAQU019 - Supervise patron safety in aquatic locations

  • SISCAQU021 - Perform complex water rescues

  • SISCAQU029 - Perform open water rescues

  • Open water lifeguard update certificate - Pre-req requirement for Inland Open Water lifeguard refresher students)

Course Delivery

This course can be delivered/assessed in the workplace or at facility organised by the training provider.

Course Durations

Course durations can vary for multiple reasons, so the durations below are the minimum possible amount.

  • Refresher Face to Face: N/A

  • Blended Face to Face: N/A

  • Face-to-Face minimum duration N/A

  • Online with face-to-face assessment Face to Face contact time of at least 8 hours.

Entry Requirements

This course set has a pre-requisite unit of:

  • HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

  • Any individual undertaking this course will be required to provide a copy of their current Inland Open Water Lifeguard Certificate or Statement of Attainment prior to training taking place.

An individual undertaking this course with Allens Training Pty Ltd will need to demonstrate the following to be eligible for entry:

  • An official form of photo identification (e.g., driver’s licence, passport, or student ID).

  • Physical capability to be able to meet the demands of the practical demonstration skills including:

    • CPR*

    • Swim 25 metres and perform a 25 metre non-contact tow of a casualty. Working as a team, extract a casualty from deep water using extraction equipment and demonstrate advanced resuscitation techniques

    • Swim 10 metres and then complete a minimum 10 metre contact tow of a conscious casualty and remove the casualty from the water without assistance.

    • Swim 25 metres and then retrieve an object replicating a person at the deepest part of the aquatic facility (but no greater than two (2) metres) and perform a 25-metre contact tow of an unconscious casualty, negotiating prevailing conditions and environmental hazards. 

    • Work as a team to extract the casualty with suspected spinal injury using spinal immobilisation extraction equipment from shallow water

    • Paddle 25 metres on a non-motorised watercraft such a rescue board, paddleboard or surfboard, to rescue and assist an exhausted conscious casualty onto the board and paddle 25 metres to shore, negotiating prevailing conditions and environmental hazards

    • Visual acuity to see the common visual signs and signals of a person experiencing difficulties in the water which includes “lack of movement” and ”arm waving”

    • Hear the common visual signs and signals of a person experiencing difficulties in the water which includes “calling for help”

Please note: As this unit applies particularly to open water lifeguards and individuals such as outdoor recreation leaders, who complete complex water rescues,  it is highly recommended that students will have a basic understanding of performing water rescues, prior to undertaking this unit.  In addition, it is recommended students can swim 400 metres in less than 8 minutes.

 

Please note, if you plan to work as a Lifeguard, there may be minimum age, health and fitness requirements of persons employed to be performing the role of a Lifeguard. The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation (GSPO) SV11 Lifeguard Health Assessments outlines the criteria regarding vision, hearing, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, pregnancy and immunizations. SV12 Lifeguard Fitness Assessments outlines the criteria to ensure lifeguards are physically fit enough to perform the required tasks and to provide a measure of safety should an emergency occur that requires physical ability. There may be additional on-the-job licensing requirement for lifeguards working in NSW. Please check with your employer regarding these requirements. There may be additional on-the-job licensing requirement for pool lifeguards working in NSW. Please check with your employer regarding these requirements.

*Important note: In order to issue an accredited certificate, CPR must be performed on the floor and rescue breathing techniques demonstrated on manikins, with no exemptions.

The online learning program can be found in the student portal. Students must have access to a computer, smart phone, tablet or other electronic device with access to the internet to complete the online studies and associated assessment tasks.

Delivery mode: Online with face-to-face - The online pre-course learning and theory assessment is expected to take approximately 6 hours to complete. These timeframes are estimates. Individuals with prior experience in similar training may complete the online component in less time, while those new to the subject may need more time to complete all the learning content and theory questions.

Assessment Requirements 

Individuals undertaking this course will be expected to complete both written and practical assessment tasks.

Certificate Renewal Requirements

The units have the following recommended renewal periods:

HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation12 months

SISCAQU022 - Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment12 months

SISCAQU019 - Supervise patron safety in aquatic locationsNot applicable

SISCAQU021 - Perform complex water rescuesNot applicable

SISCAQU029 - Perform open water rescues0 months

Open water lifeguard update certificate - Pre-req requirement for Inland Open Water lifeguard refresher students)13 months

Learner Rights, Responsibilities & Support

Please note that enrolment to this course is made with Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909. Please refer to the student handbook located on the RTO website allenstraining.com.au for all details relating to rights and responsibilities including complaints and appeals.

Assessment Activities

Performance Task

  • Infant CPR

  • Maintain Resuscitation Equipment and Child CPR and BVM

  • Recognise and respond to three (3) scenarios:

    • Unsafe patron behaviour resulting in breaches of safety rules

    • At-risk persons with additional needs

    • An emergency situation resulting in pool closure

  • Participate in a discussion with an aquatic industry leader to clarify safety rules for the activity

  • Identify the common signs and signals of a person experiencing difficulties in the water and possible contributing factors

  • Demonstrate fitness, strength, efficiency and speed, to perform the following aquatic rescues:

    • Swim 25 metres and perform a 25 metre non-contact tow of a casualty.  Provide oxygen therapy for shock.

    • Swim 10 metres and then complete a minimum 10 metre contact tow of a conscious casualty and remove the casualty from the water without assistance.

    • Perform a rescue of a casualty with suspected spinal injury using spinal immobilisation techniques and extraction equipment

    • Swim 25 metres and then retrieve an object replicating a person at the deepest part of the pool at the aquatic facility (but no greater than two (2) metres) and perform a 25-metre contact tow of an unconscious casualty and demonstrate advanced resuscitation techniques.

    • Perform an open water rescue using non-motorised watercraft such as a rescue board, surfboard, SUP or canoe

Documentation – complete an Incident Report and an Equipment Fault Log 

Theory assessment – A written exam consisting of multiple-choice and short answer questions must be completed at the end of the training session. Students must answer all questions

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