Trainer
Also known as: Training Officer
Trainers teach the skills and knowledge of SLSQ courses. You run sessions, guide candidates and help them develop their abilities. This is the ideal starting point for anyone new to training.
SLSQ Award Required
Hold the award you want to train in for at least 12 months and keep it proficient (annual Skills Maintenance current).
Examples:
Bronze Medallion to train Bronze
IRB Crew to train IRB Crew
Examples:
Bronze Medallion to train Bronze
IRB Crew to train IRB Crew
TAE Qualification Required
TAESS00014 — Enterprise Trainer-Presenter Skill Set
This is a 4-unit qualification — shorter and more accessible than a full Certificate IV. It is not the full Cert IV.
This is a 4-unit qualification — shorter and more accessible than a full Certificate IV. It is not the full Cert IV.
What You Can Do
- ✓ Teach and facilitate course sessions
- ✓ Run practical sessions on beach and in water
- ✓ Support and mentor candidates through their course
- ✗ Make final assessment decisions independently
- ✗ Sign off candidate competency alone
What You Get
- ✓ A nationally recognised TAE qualification
- ✓ A dedicated mentor for your first course
- ✓ Admin support before and after every course
- ✓ Patrol hour credits for your training time
- ✓ The chance to shape the next generation of lifesavers
Step-by-Step Process
1
Hold your SLSQ award for 12+ months
You must hold the award you want to train in for at least 12 months and keep it proficient with annual Skills Maintenance.
You do this
2
Complete the TAESS00014 Trainer Skill Set
4 units covering how to teach, facilitate and support learners. Available online or through a local TAE provider on the Sunshine Coast or Brisbane.
You complete this
3
Express your interest to the club
Get in touch with our Education team. The Chief Training Officer (CTO) recommends you to the Branch — a required step in the SLSQ endorsement process. Have this conversation early.
✉ Contact our Education Team
4
Probationary TAF registered in SurfGuard
A Form 14 is raised at Branch level, giving you access to restricted SLSA education resources including course delivery guides and assessment materials.
Club & SLSQ process
5
Complete the SLSQ TAF Induction
A one-off induction covering SLSQ systems, your responsibilities as a TAF, and course administration requirements. Required before your first course.
SLSQ requirement
6
Shadow and assist one full course
Observe and assist an experienced, endorsed Trainer through one complete course. A Probationary Trainers Observation Form is completed by the supervising Trainer. This is the most valuable part of the process — real experience with support alongside you.
With an MSLSC mentor
7
Endorsement processed — you're a Trainer! 🎉
Observation forms and your Form 14 are submitted to SLSQ for processing. Your Trainer award appears in SurfGuard and you're officially endorsed.
SLSQ processes
✓
Stay current every year
Annual TAF Proficiency (by 31 December) + annual Skills Maintenance in your award. The club supports you through this process each season.
Every year
👩🏫 Already a qualified teacher?
The Trainer Skill Set (TAESS00014) is still recommended even if you're a registered teacher, as it covers SLSQ-specific systems and the SLS RTO framework. Talk to our Education team before enrolling — we can advise on the best pathway for you.
Assessor
Everything a Trainer does — plus the authority to assess
Assessors teach course content AND make formal assessment decisions. You sign off candidate competency and provide quality assurance. Note: if you trained a group of candidates, a separate Assessor must assess them — you cannot do both for the same cohort.
SLSQ Award Required
Hold the award you want to assess in for at least 12 months and stay proficient.
You must also hold the Trainer award for that course before becoming an Assessor.
You must also hold the Trainer award for that course before becoming an Assessor.
TAE Qualification — Two Options
Option A — Full independence:
TAE40116 Full Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
Option B — With supervision:
TAESS401 + TAESS402 + TAESS403 + TAESS502
Can assess, but requires a Cert IV holder to liaise per course.
TAE40116 Full Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
Option B — With supervision:
TAESS401 + TAESS402 + TAESS403 + TAESS502
Can assess, but requires a Cert IV holder to liaise per course.
What You Can Do
- ✓ Teach and facilitate sessions
- ✓ Make formal assessment decisions
- ✓ Sign off candidate competency
- ✓ Full independence when holding full Cert IV
- ✗ Assess candidates you also trained in the same course
What You Get
- ✓ A nationally recognised TAE qualification
- ✓ A dedicated mentor for your probationary period
- ✓ Admin support before and after every course
- ✓ Patrol hour credits for your training time
- ✓ Greater responsibility and impact in course delivery
Step-by-Step Process
1
Hold your award 12+ months and hold Trainer award
You must already be an endorsed Trainer in the award you want to assess. Not a Trainer yet? Start there first — it's the foundation.
Trainer award first
2
Complete your TAE qualification — Option A or B
Option A: Full Certificate IV in TAE — complete independence as an Assessor.
Option B: 4 specific TAE units — can assess, but a Cert IV holder must liaise with you per course.
You complete this
Option B: 4 specific TAE units — can assess, but a Cert IV holder must liaise with you per course.
3
Express your interest to the club
Contact our Education team. The CTO recommends you to the Branch — a required step in the SLSQ endorsement process.
✉ Contact our Education Team
4
Probationary TAF registered in SurfGuard
A Form 14 is raised at Branch level, giving you access to restricted SLSA education resources.
Club & SLSQ process
5
Assist one full course as Probationary Assessor
Assist an endorsed Assessor through one complete course. A Probationary Assessor Observation Form is completed by the supervising Assessor. IRB only: must complete both an IRBC and an IRBD course under supervision.
With an MSLSC mentor
6
Endorsement processed — you're an Assessor! 🎉
Observation forms and Form 14 are submitted to SLSQ. Your Assessor award appears in SurfGuard.
SLSQ processes
✓
Stay current every year
Annual TAF Proficiency (by 31 December) + Skills Maintenance. First Aid and ART Assessors also require annual ECT Proficiency.
Every year
👩🏫 Already a qualified teacher?
A teaching degree enabling school teacher registration combined with a diploma or higher in adult education may be accepted as equivalent to the Certificate IV for Assessor level. This must be confirmed with SLSQ before you rely on it — speak with our Education team first.
Facilitator
The highest level — full course ownership, end to end
Facilitators can independently train and assess candidates in a complete course. You run courses without needing a separate Assessor. This is the most impactful role — and the most rigorous to qualify for.
SLSQ Awards Required
You must hold both the Trainer award and the Assessor award for the course you want to facilitate. All awards must be proficient.
You must also have trained and assessed at least one course in the past two seasons.
You must also have trained and assessed at least one course in the past two seasons.
TAE Qualification — No Alternative
Full Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
TAE40116 or equivalent*
The full Cert IV is mandatory for Facilitators. There is no alternative — the 5-unit cluster accepted in previous seasons is no longer sufficient.
*Equivalent: TAE40110 + TAEASS502 + TAELLN411
TAE40116 or equivalent*
The full Cert IV is mandatory for Facilitators. There is no alternative — the 5-unit cluster accepted in previous seasons is no longer sufficient.
*Equivalent: TAE40110 + TAEASS502 + TAELLN411
What You Can Do
- ✓ Run a complete course fully independently
- ✓ Train and assess a course end-to-end
- ✓ Sign off all candidate competency
- ✓ Maximum autonomy and responsibility
- ✗ Train and then assess the same candidates in one course
What You Get
- ✓ The highest TAF qualification in surf lifesaving
- ✓ A dedicated mentor through your probationary period
- ✓ Admin support before and after every course
- ✓ Patrol hour credits for your training time
- ✓ A central role in shaping how MSLSC runs its courses
Step-by-Step Process
1
Hold Trainer AND Assessor awards for the relevant course
You must have completed both the Trainer and Assessor pathways first. Not there yet? Start with Trainer — you'll build toward this over time.
Trainer + Assessor first
2
Complete the full Certificate IV in TAE (TAE40116)
The full Cert IV is mandatory — no alternative. Available through TAFE Queensland and registered TAE providers. Our Education team can advise on options.
You complete this
3
Express your interest — the club nominates you
Contact our Education team. The club formally nominates you to the Branch. The Branch endorses at a BOLS meeting — this is different from the Trainer and Assessor pathway.
✉ Contact our Education Team
4
Branch endorses — JotForm submitted to SLSQ
For Facilitators, a Form 14 is NOT raised. The Branch submits a Facilitator JotForm to SLSQ following endorsement at the BOLS meeting.
Branch → JotForm → SLSQ
5
Probationary Facilitator period
Complete a probationary period using the Probationary Facilitator Observation Form (or ECT-specific form for First Aid/ART). Note: for Bronze and IRB, holding the full Cert IV with Trainer and Assessor awards may mean a probationary form is not required — confirm with SLSQ.
With an MSLSC mentor
6
SLSQ processes your award — you're a Facilitator! 🎉
SLSQ reviews and processes your Facilitator award. Your award appears in SurfGuard and you are officially endorsed.
SLSQ processes
✓
Stay current every year
Annual TAF Proficiency (by 31 December) + Skills Maintenance + ECT Proficiency for First Aid/ART. You must also deliver at least one course every two seasons to maintain Facilitator status.
Every year · 1 course per 2 seasons
👩🏫 Already a qualified teacher?
A teaching degree enabling school teacher registration combined with a diploma or higher in adult education may be accepted as equivalent to the Certificate IV for Facilitator level. This must be confirmed with SLSQ before you rely on it. Speak with our Education team first.
— Quick Comparison —
| 🎓 Trainer | 📋 Assessor | ⭐ Facilitator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLSQ award needed | Hold award 12+ months, proficient | 12+ months + hold Trainer award first | Hold Trainer + Assessor awards, proficient |
| TAE qualification | TAESS00014 Skill Set (4 units) | Full Cert IV or 4 units with supervision | Full Cert IV — no alternative |
| Can assess independently? | No | Yes (Cert IV) · With supervision (4 units only) | Yes — full independence |
| Endorsement route | Form 14 → Branch → SLSQ | Form 14 + Observation Form → Branch → SLSQ | Club nominates → Branch JotForm → SLSQ |
| Annual requirement | TAF Proficiency + Skills Maintenance | TAF Proficiency + Skills Maintenance (+ ECT if FA/ART) | All of above + 1 course per 2 seasons |