Surf Life Saving

TAS may be 200km inland, but for generations the school has given Year 11 students the opportunity to attain their surf bronze medallion. Not only does it give students an opportunity to gain an understanding of the ocean, but also to learn new skills and appreciate and develop a sense of service as exemplified by the TAS Activities program.

Surf life saving commenced at TAS in 1967, as the service component for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme introduced at the school earlier that year. For the first few years, the students did their training at Nambucca Heads, and during the 1990s, with Yamba SLSC. Currently the relationship is with Sawtell SLSC, where students spend several days during the year and then an intensive week of training and assessment in November.

In order to attain their surf bronze medallion, the students must learn rescue techniques, compete a fitness test and be competent in resuscitation and defibrillation techniques.

They hit the beach in terms 1 and 4 each year and spend the winter months preparing for the theoretical component of the course and revising in the TAS indoor pool.