General Information:

All nominations should respond to the following three questions.  Please limit answers to each question to 400 words as far as possible. 

• Tell us about the member/individual, or the program/innovation being nominated.
• What has been achieved during the 2024/25 season.
• What impact has this had on the Club, for example – how has it improved our patrolling activities, enhanced beach safety, helped our nippers, increased our fundraising income, etc.

When showcasing members achievements, you may want to consider the questions below to boost the quality of your nomination:

• What relevant positions, roles, or responsibilities do they hold?
• Have they done something in response to an identified need or problem?
• Have they done something new or different to achieve results?
• Have they inspired others to think or to do things differently?
• Have they had to overcome any challenges to make a difference or achieve success?
• Do they model positive and supportive attitudes, behaviours and actions?

For some awards such as coaches, competition officials, and awards for athletes, additional information is required.

All nominations should contain facts about the nominee’s achievements and performance during the 2024/25 season.  Achievements and performance in previous seasons are excluded from the judging process. 

Likewise generic comments such as Bill is a great patrol member, are disregarded in the judging process unless factual information that supports the statement is provided.  This would include for example facts such as his/her reliability for patrols, always arrives early to help with getting equipment ready and setting up on the beach, beach pack up etc.  You may need to approach the nominee’s patrol captain to obtain this information.  Actual patrol hours completed by individual members are available in Club records and will be added to your nomination when received.

SECTION 1 – CLUB AWARDS, with the Club winner nominated for the equivalent SLSI Award

(a)        Club Member of the Year

Criteria:  An impressive member who has made a difference through their volunteering efforts. 

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Volunteer of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

Note:  for SLS Illawarra awards, applications that focus on significant achievements in one particular area may not be considered if this area is also covered by other awards (e.g. Lifesaver, Coach, Official, Trainer and Assessor of the Year).

(b)       Youth Volunteer of the Year

Criteria:  An impressive member between the ages of 15 to 21 years, (the members age at 30 September 2024) who has made a difference through their volunteering efforts.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Youth Volunteer of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

(c)        Patrol Member of the Year

Criteria:  An active patrolling member who has made an outstanding contribution to the delivery and development of surf lifesaving frontline services.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Lifesaver of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

(d)       Youth Lifesaver of the Year

Criteria:  An active patrolling member between the ages of 15 to 21 years (the members age as at 30 September 2024) who has made an outstanding contribution to the delivery and development of surf lifesaving frontline services.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Youth Surf Lifesaver of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award

(e)        Patrol Captain of the Year

Criteria:  A Patrol Captain who is passionate about improving the service their patrol offers to the community, or the experience it offers to members.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Patrol Captain of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

(f)        Educator of the Year

Club Criteria:  The Educator of the Year should be either an endorsed Trainer, Assessor or Facilitator. The nominee will be a member who is passionate about building the skills of others, and who consistently delivers a positive learning experience and/or a supportive assessment experience, and who encourages other members to engage in training or assessment

Note: SLSI invites individual nominations for each category (trainer, assessor or facilitator) with SLSI winners nominated for equivalent State awards;  the Executive Committee will determine a nominee or nominees for the SLSI awards from nominations received for Educator of the Year award.

(g)       Rescue of the Year

Criteria:  A significant rescue that occurred during the 2024/25 season, and that was considered worthy of nomination to SLSI for consideration as Rescue of the Month.

(h)       Services Team of the Year

Criteria:  An outstanding team who has made a positive impact in Surf Life Saving or the community through their volunteer services.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Services Team of the Year Award.  There is no equivalent award at State level.

(i)         Innovation Award

Criteria:  a well-researched concept, piece of equipment, program or event which is/has been implemented to improve any facet of Surf Life Saving.  Note:  The innovation may have been developed in conjunction with an external body/sponsor but must be owned by a member or group of members of an affiliated SLS club.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Innovation Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

• What was the motivation or research which drove the program/innovation?
• What were the aims and objectives?
• What did it look like (location, duration, resources required etc.)?
• How was it evaluated to ensure it achieved its aims and objectives?
• Were there any challenges which needed to be overcome to achieve success?
• You may wish to attach photographs, include links to any promotional material created or media coverage received

(j)         Administrator of the Year

Criteria:  An Administrator who consistently goes the extra mile to make the lives of other members easier, or to make the services and programs delivered by the club run smoother.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Administrator of the Year award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

(k)        Junior Activity Volunteer of the Year

Criteria: An impressive member who has made a difference in our Junior Activities program throughout the season. 

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Junior Activity Volunteer of the Year award.  There is no equivalent award at State level

(l)         Coach of the Year

Criteria:  An accredited coach who has made a significant contribution to athlete performance at a state, national and/or international level, to the development of athletes in SLS activities outside of surf sports, and to the educational development of other coaches in SLS.

The Club winner is nominated for SLSI Surf Sports Coach of the Year Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

• What coaching qualification does the member currently hold, Foundation, Development or Performance Coach?
• What coaching roles has the member fulfilled during the 2024/25 season at Club, and where applicable, Branch, State, National and International Level?
• List the competition results attributed to the coach, where this member was the primary coach for the athlete and/or team, in the 2024/25 season.
• Has the coach been involved in any mentoring and development of other coaches, creating of supporting documentation and/or programs. Please provide examples of where the coach has shown a positive and supportive attitude, behaviour and actions (including who it has impacted and how) in the 23/24 season?
• Has the coach undertaken any personal development to improve themselves as a coach in the 2024/25 season.

(m)      Official of the Year

Criteria:  An accredited surf sports official who has made a significant contribution to both officiating at a state, national and/or international level, and to the educational development of other officials in SLS.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Sports Official of the Year Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award. 

• What officiating qualification does the member currently hold, Core, Technical or Senior Official?
• List the member’s officiating roles which they have fulfilled during the season at Club, Branch, State, National and International level (where applicable).
• Describe the Officials achievements during the 2024/25 season, including examples, areas of achievement may be in mentoring, training, documentation and process, new programs, solving problems etc.
• Please provide examples of how the official adheres to and is a role model of the values of SLSA, Surf Sports and the SLSA Match Fixing Policy.
• List any training or development the official has undertaken this season to improve themselves and their impact.

(n)       Athlete of the Year

Criteria:  An athlete aged 15 or older (member’s age at 30 September 2024) who has achieved sporting excellence in Open Aged Competition.   

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Sports Athlete of the Year Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award. 

Note – for SLSI awards, a youth aged competitor (i.e. aged 15 to 18 years as at 30 September in a season) may be nominated for both the Athlete of the Year and Youth Athlete of the Year. However, only results achieved in Open Age Events and Open Age Team representation are considered for Athlete of the Year Award.

• Has the athlete competed in any representative teams (including international competition) during the 2024/25 season? If so, please list the team and how they contributed to the success of the team?
• List the competition results achieved by the athlete in the 2024/25 season at championship carnivals or major surf sports events?
• In the 2024/25 season how is the athlete a positive role model, a good sportsperson and/or an ambassador for Surf Life Saving? How do they contribute to broader lifesaving activities and engage with other members (including juniors or mentoring)?
• Does the athlete hold any coaching and/or officiating qualifications?

(o)       Youth Athlete of the Year

Criteria:  An athlete between the ages of 15 to 18 years (member’s age as at 30 September 2024) who has achieved sporting excellence in competition.   

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Youth Athlete of the Year, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

Note – for SLSI awards, a youth aged competitor (i.e. aged 15 to 18 years as at 30 September in a season) may be nominated for both the Athlete of the Year and Youth Athlete of the Year. However, only results achieved in Open Age Events and Open Age Team representation are considered for Athlete of the Year Award.

• Has the athlete competed in any representative teams (including international competition) during the 2024/25 season? If so, please list the team and how they contributed to the success of the team?
• List the competition results achieved by the athlete in the 2024/25 season at championship carnivals or major surf sports events?
• In the 2024/25 season how is the athlete a positive role model, a good sportsperson and/or an ambassador for Surf Life Saving? How do they contribute to broader lifesaving activities and engage with other members (including juniors or mentoring)?
• Does the athlete hold any coaching and/or officiating qualifications?
  

(p)       Junior Athlete of the Year

Criteria:  An athlete up to the age of 14 years (member’s age at 30th September 2024) who has achieved sporting excellence in Junior Competition.

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Sports Junior Athlete of the Year Award.  There is no equivalent award at State level.

• Has the athlete competed in any representative teams (including international competition) during the 2024/25 season? If so, please list the team and how they contributed to the success of the team?
• List the competition results achieved by the athlete in the 2024/25 season at championship carnivals or major surf sports events?
• In the 2024/25 season how is the athlete a positive role model, a good sportsperson and/or an ambassador for Surf Life Saving? How do they contribute to broader lifesaving activities and engage with other members (including juniors or mentoring)?
• Does the athlete hold any coaching and/or officiating qualifications?

(q)       Masters Athlete of the Year

Criteria:  An athlete over the age of 30 (member’s age at 30 September 2024) who has achieved sporting excellence

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Sports Masters Athlete of the Year Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

• Has the athlete competed in any representative teams (including international competition) during the 2024/25 season? If so, please list the team and how they contributed to the success of the team?
• List the competition results achieved by the athlete in the 2024/25 season at championship carnivals or major surf sports events?
• In the 2024/25 season how is the athlete a positive role model, a good sportsperson and/or an ambassador for Surf Life Saving? How do they contribute to broader lifesaving activities and engage with other members (including juniors or mentoring)?
• Does the athlete hold any coaching and/or officiating qualifications?

(r)        Surf Sports Team of the Year

Criteria:  The 37th edition of Surf Sport Manual defines a team as an event that is contested by more than one competitor from the same club or lifesaving unit who may either complete an event or race together as a discrete unit (e.g., boat race, IRB race, surf teams, R&R etc.) or separately (e.g., relay events, board rescue etc.).

The Club winner is nominated for the SLSI Surf Sports Team of the Year Award, and the SLSI winner nominated for the equivalent State award.

• List the competition results achieved by the Team in the 2024/25 season at championship carnivals or major surf sports events?
• Has the Team competed as a Branch/State or National representative team during the 2024/25 season? If so, please list the events?
• In the 2024/25 season how has the Team been positive role models and shown good sportsmanship and/or been good ambassadors for Surf Life Saving? Do they contribute to broader lifesaving activities and engage with other members (including juniors)?

(s)        Patrol of the Year

Club award only;  this is the annual Patrol Competition with patrols judged on their performance over the whole season by the Deputy President.  Nominations are not required for this award

(t)        Community Education Program of the Year

SLSI criteria:  A non-commercial activity or program that is targeted to non-members who are an identified at-risk group within the community. The purpose should contribute significantly to the organisations mission of saving lives, creating great Australians and building better communities

This is an SLSI award, with the winner nominated for the equivalent State award. 

• What was the motivation or research which drove the program/innovation?
• What were the aims and objectives?
• What did it look like (location, duration, resources required etc.)?
• How was it evaluated to ensure it achieved its aims and objectives?
• Were there any challenges which needed to be overcome to achieve success?
• You may wish to attach photographs, include links to any promotional material created or media coverage received.

SECTION 2:  SURF LIFE SAVING ILLAWARRA AWARDS

The Executive Committee will determine nominees for the following SLSI awards.  Nominations from Club members are not required.

Support Operations Member of the Year

SLSI criteria:  A Member involved in Support Operations (Duty Officer, Rescue Water Craft, Jet Rescue Boat, Offshore Rescue Boat, UAV) who has made a difference through their volunteering efforts in support operations.

Club of the Year

SLSI criteria:  An outstanding SLS-affiliated club that is committed to improving the experience of its members, providing a safer environment for the community, and improving club operations.  

Most Improved Club of the Year

SLSI criteria:  An improving SLS-affiliated club that has demonstrated improvements in life saving, surf sports, education, member services and administration.

Patrolling Club of the Year

SLSI criteria:  Clubs will be considered for Patrolling Club of the Year based on the following:

• Patrol Audit Results during the 2024/25 season
• Club’s contribution to Branch patrolling needs, ie Duty Officers, Support Operations, Patrol Audit Team, and provision of patrol resources to other clubs.
• Adherence to Life Saving Agreements
• Adherence to SLSNSW Compliance checklist (e.g. annual gear inspection)

Clubs are to provide online submission with support information (maximum 400 words) deemed reflective of their efforts in the above area and other patrolling capabilities and initiatives.

Most Improved Patrolling Club of the Year

SLSI criteria:  An improving SLS-affiliated club that has demonstrated improvement across areas of surf life saving and patrolling activities year-on-year

Surf Sports Club of the Year

SLSI criteria:  SLSI Blue Scope WIN Community Branch Championships determine this award (no need to nominate)

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