Surf Life Saving Northern Region

Surf Life Saving Northern Region is the largest of four regions that make up Surf Life Saving New Zealand.[1] As of the 2020/2021 season, it is made up of 17 clubs that look after 22 patrol locations from Ahipara to Raglan on the West Coast and from Whangārei Heads to Takapuna on the East Coast.

The organisation currently employs 16 full-time staff as well as more than 100 seasonal roles in the Volunteer Lifeguard Service, Paid Lifeguard Service, Community Education and Search and Rescue Services.[2]

Piha Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1934 and is the oldest club in Northern Region.

Patrol locations

There are currently 22 patrol locations in Surf Life Saving Northern Region. Season lengths vary from three weeks to 28 weeks depending on beach user numbers and the level of risk.

Historic Patrol Locations

Volunteer Lifeguard Service

The Volunteer Lifeguard Service in Northern Region is made up of 17 clubs that generally patrol their beaches on weekends from Labour Weekend in October to Easter Weekend in April, although a few clubs patrol until Anzac Weekend depending on the conditions and number of beachgoers.

The VLS also incorporates SLSNR's Rescue Water Craft programme, Event Lifeguarding and Patrol Advocates and is managed by the Patrol Operations Supervisor, a role previously known as the Volunteer Lifeguard Supervisor.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region also assists with the provision of lifesaving courses for volunteer members, an area managed by the Training Supervisor.

Rescue Water Craft

Rescue Water Craft are jet skis manned by some of Surf Life Saving's most skilled lifeguards. They are able to respond quickly to in-water incidents and also conduct roving patrols in their geographical region.[5]

Following recommendations made in the 2020 Support Services Review, RWCs were moved from being a regional support service to a patrol operations asset with SLSNR helping to facilitate training opportunities and fill gaps in club patrol rosters with members of the regional RWC team.

Event Lifeguarding

The SLSNR Event Lifeguarding team provide water safety, first aid and course set-up/pack down duties at sporting and lifesaving events.

Patrol Advocates

Patrol Advocates work with clubs throughout the season to ensure they are meeting the expected minimum standards set down by Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

Patrol Advocates are a liaison point for clubs who need assistance from Northern Region for equipment, training and information.

Prior to 2020, Patrol Advocates were known as Patrol Auditors. The name was changed following a membership review which recommended a more constructive approach to the auditing process.[6]

The Northern Region Paid Lifeguard Service runs from the first week of December to the first week of March and is managed by the Paid Lifeguard Supervisor.

Over the peak season four Assistant Paid Lifeguard Supervisors assist in the management and training of PLS lifeguards, with each covering a different section of the region: Northland, East Coast Auckland, West Coast Auckland and Waikato.

While volunteer lifeguards patrol most weekends during the summer, the Paid Lifeguard Service patrol weekdays and some public holidays such as Christmas and New Years. Paid lifeguards also work on weekends at locations not patrolled by volunteers such as on Auckland's East Coast.[7]

The Paid Lifeguard Service employs around 100 lifeguards in seasonal roles stationed at 22 locations around the region. Prerequisites include a high level of fitness, good lifesaving knowledge and current qualifications in First Aid, IRB crewing and a NZ recognised drivers license - restricted or higher.[7]

Community Education

Northern Region's Community Education programme provides water-and beach safety education in Northland, Auckland and Waikato. It is managed by Northern Region's Community Education Manager.[8]

Beach Education

Beach Education is a practical and theoretical programme run by Surf Life Saving instructors at beaches throughout the region. It teaches young people how to be safe near and in the water, and what to do if anything goes wrong.[8]

Surf to School

Surf Lifeguard Instructors bring the Surf to School trailer into schools around the region and deliver water and beach safety messages through interactive presentations and activities. Schools are able to book sessions through the Surf Life Saving Northern Region website[8]

City Nippers

An Auckland-based course designed to build children's confidence in the water and at the beach. The courses consist of five two-hour sessions delivered by Surf Life Saving instructors.[8]

Search and Rescue Services

Northern Region's Search and Rescue services are designed to support and enhance lifesaving activity on the beaches and are managed by the Search and Rescue supervisor.[9]

Emergency Callout Squads

There are 17 Emergency Callout Squads (ECOS) in Northern Region that are registered with SLSNZ and the NZ Police.[10] They are able to be tasked 24/7 through SurfCom to incidents occurring at beaches or along the coastline in their local area.

ECOS are made up of senior lifeguards from each of SLSNR's 17 clubs, with the club's ECOS Coordinator responsible for organising regular training opportunities and ensuring all members meet SLSNZ's minimum standards.

SurfCom

SurfCom is a 24/7 service based out of the Auckland Marine Rescue centre. Its main role is to provide Search and Rescue coordination for surf lifeguards and to act as the communications link between Surf Life Saving Northern Region and other emergency services.[11]

SurfCom Operators are responsible for tasking assets during an incident including Surf Life Saving patrols, Emergency Callout Squads, Rescue Water Craft, Duty Officers, Peer Supporters and other emergency agencies. Operators also monitor incident information coming through its communication applications and keep a detailed log of all notable interactions.[11]

SurfCom monitors the region's Radio Network and ensures Surf Life Saving procedures and minimum standards are being met. Operators process patrol information collected over the radio or the Surf Patrol App and use this to identify beaches that may be in breach of their Patrol Operating Manual or may struggle to meet demand, such as those with low numbers of lifeguards but high beach-user numbers. They are then able to organise additional support for these patrols to ensure they meet the necessary standards.[11]

SurfCom manages initial inquiries from media and members of the public and package incident information for press releases. It also monitors weather and water-quality updates to ensure lifeguards and the beach-going public are kept safe and up to date about the best places to swim. Operators update Auckland Council's Safeswim website to notify the public of hazards at patrolled beaches such as large swells, strong currents, high winds, jellyfish, sharks or sea lice.[11][12]

Duty Officers

The Duty Officer service is made up of some of Northern Region's most skilled lifeguards, who lend their knowledge and experience to SurfCom and patrols during major incidents.[13]

Alpha 1

Alpha 1 is the operational call sign for the Duty Officer based in the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre. Their main role is to support SurfCom Operators and patrols to carry out their duties. During major incidents, the Alpha 1 liaises with other emergency services in the operations room to develop search and rescue plans.[13]

The Alpha 1 is responsible for ensuring lifesaving activity is carried out in accordance with national and regional procedures and for keeping member welfare at the forefront of decision making. They can also act as the media spokesperson for operational matters.[13]

Delta 1

Delta 1 Northern is the operational call sign for the Duty Officer rostered as first-responder in Northern Region. If a major incident occurs the Delta 1 can be tasked to support a patrol and be used as a sounding board for a Patrol Captain to bounce ideas off. They also handle on-scene media inquiries, run debriefs and coordinate Peer Support.[13]

During the summer season, Delta 1's travel the region visiting volunteer clubs to build rapport, deliver training and discuss operational updates.[13]

Delta 2

If a major incident occurs and the rostered Delta 1 is too far away or already dealing with another incident, SurfCom can reflex-task the area's Local Duty Officer network for a Delta 2.[13]

Delta 2's fulfill the same role as a Delta 1 when it comes to assisting patrols. Their callsign is designated by the location they're responding too. For example if the incident is occurring at Raglan, the Duty Officer's callsign would be "Delta 2 Raglan".[13]

Peer Support

Peer Support is a programme designed to support the welfare of Surf Life Saving members. Peer Supporters provide an ear for members who are having issues in their club or have experienced a traumatic situation through their lifesaving duties.[14]

There are five Peer Support networks in Northern Region including Northland, Rodney, East Coast Auckland, West Coast Auckland and Waikato. Each of these networks has a team of trained Peer Supporters who can be tasked by SurfCom to attend debriefs and support lifeguards involved in a traumatic or stressful incident.[14]

Peer Supporters also help organise formal psychological debriefing with trained counselors and educate members on stress reactions and natural coping mechanisms.[14]

References
  1. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  2. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Contact Us". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  3. Thomas, Abi (2008-12-29). "On guard at Matapouri". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  4. "Surf lifesavers struggling to stay afloat". Newshub. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  5. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Rescue Water Craft". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  6. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Search and Rescue & Support Services". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  7. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Paid Lifeguard Service". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  8. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Programmes". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  9. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Search and Rescue & Support Services". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  10. "Whangārei Heads rescue sparks multiple emergency services callout". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  11. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - SurfCom". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  12. "Safeswim". www.safeswim.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  13. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Duty Officers". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  14. "Surf Life Saving Northern Region, New Zealand - Peer Support". www.lifesaving.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
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