Bronze Camp is a six day, live-in camp where you train for your Bronze Medallion, the national qualification that lets you patrol as a fully fledged surf lifesaver.

Across the six days you’ll combine practical work, fitness training, and theory. By the end, you’ll be tested on your knowledge and physical ability across first aid, life support, surf knowledge, and rescue technique. Pass, and you earn your Bronze Medallion and the right to call yourself a qualified surf lifesaver.

Bronze Camp is hugely popular and oversubscribed every year. We do our best to make the process fair, weighing prior involvement with the club alongside attitude and behaviour. See Eligibility and the Bronze Ticket section below for how priority entry works.

REGISTER ON HELLO CLUB

PROGRAM DATES

THE BRONZE CAMP RUNS:
  • Sunday 13 December 2026
  • Monday 14 December 2026
  • Tuesday 15 December 2026
  • Wednesday 16 December 2026
  • Thursday 17 December 2026
  • Friday 18 December 2026

Bronze Camp is a live-in camp at Portsea SLSC, with overflow accommodation at Portsea Camp. You must be able to attend every day.

REGISTRATION DATES AND PROCESS

Registration links are sent to members via E-Boomer.

  • Priority registration opens: Sunday 4 October 2026, 12pm AEST
  • General registration opens: Sunday 11 October 2026, 12pm AEST
  • Registration and waitlist closes: Friday 23 October 2026, 12pm AEST

If Bronze Camp is oversubscribed, you’ll be added to a waitlist and contacted if a place opens up.

THE BRONZE TICKET (PRIORITY ENTRY)

The Bronze Ticket (formerly the Golden Ticket) rewards members who’ve shown commitment to the club with priority entry to Bronze Camp. Only your contribution from the previous season counts, so make sure you’re meeting these requirements in the season before you apply.

To qualify, you’ll need to have:

  1. Successfully completed Portsea Cadet Camp the previous year
  2. Completed at least 16 hours of volunteering at Portsea, made up of:
    • At least 10 hours patrolling at Portsea Back Beach (two full-day patrols)
    • At least 6 hours of general club volunteering (helping at major events, instructing Nippers, or other approved activities)
  3. Volunteered at one of our major events: Bay to Surf, Swim Classic, or Pier to Perignon

The 10 patrol hours are non-negotiable, regardless of how much you’ve volunteered elsewhere, you won’t be eligible for a Bronze Ticket without them.

ELIGIBILITY

To take part in Bronze Camp, you must:

  • Be a current financial member of Portsea SLSC
  • Be 15 years of age by 13 December 2026
  • Swim 400m in under 9 minutes in a pool of at least 25m (you’ll do an accreditation swim before camp starts)
  • Complete all e-learning modules before camp begins

FEES

Bronze Camp costs $450 per candidate.

If your family is facing financial hardship, please contact the Education Director directly to discuss support options.

ENQUIRIES

For anything Bronze Camp related, contact the Education Administrator: education@portseasurf.com.au

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

By the end of Bronze Camp, you’ll be able to:

  • Read surf conditions and apply that awareness on the beach
  • Use surf skills to navigate the surf effectively
  • Perform basic surf rescues with a range of techniques and equipment
  • Take part in patrol operations, including emergencies
  • Provide basic emergency care and life support, including CPR and AED use
  • Apply basic first aid principles
  • Use SLSA approved radios and communication methods
  • Apply spinal management techniques
  • Work as part of a lifesaving team

You’re also expected to help instruct our Nipper program over the summer, it’s how we keep the cycle of learning and teaching going at Portsea.

FAQS

I WANT TO VOLUNTEER MORE THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, IS THIS ALLOWED?

Yes, and we encourage it. The minimums are just a baseline for clarity, not a cap.

I PATROLLED OVER 10 HOURS BUT DIDN’T HELP WITH NIPPERS. AM I STILL ELIGIBLE FOR A BRONZE TICKET?

Yes. You’ve already met the 10 patrol hours and the 16 total hours. Nippers instructing is simply one way to top up your hours once you’ve hit the patrol minimum. You’ll still need to have volunteered at the Swim Classic or Pier to Perignon.

I DIDN’T HIT 10 PATROL HOURS LAST SEASON. AM I STILL ELIGIBLE?

No. The 10 patrol hours are required regardless of any other volunteering you’ve done.

I DID OVER 6 HOURS AT NIPPERS, CAN THAT COVER MY PATROL HOURS INSTEAD?

No. Nippers hours can top up your total, but they can’t substitute for the 10 patrol hours.

I HELPED AT BOTH THE SWIM CLASSIC AND PIER TO PERIGNON LAST SEASON, DOES THAT MAKE ME AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE?

No. That satisfies the major event requirement, but you still need the full 16 hours, made up of at least 10 patrol hours plus 6 more from patrol, general volunteering, or Nippers. Volunteering at a second major event doesn’t count toward the 16 hours.