SNB - Assessors Guidelines
Sydney Northern Beaches - Assessors Guidelines
These Guidelines are a live document and will ensure all assessors are carrying out
assessments to the same standard. It is intended that these guidelines will be updated as
assessments are fine tuned and reissued as required. It is important that all clubs, Chief
Instructors, trainers and assessors have a full understand of this document.
Bookings Essential - Clubs need to let Branch know if they wish to host a Central Venue Assessment for
either the DRY or WET or BOTH. Weekend Assessments will be 8.30am report for 9.00am start unless
requested otherwise.






Dry Part (Can be mid week night) - To be booked a least a week prior to the Wet Part.
The Branch in consultation with Clubs wishing to hold Either Assessment will decide the locations.
Candidates to Assessors ratio’s must be maintained and Clubs must bring all equipment as previously
stated
The Branch Education Coordinator & Director of Education will arrange Senior Assessors & Assessors
to attend the DRY & WET Assessments.
Clubs need to advise numbers of candidates to Branch, Assessments will be advised in Weekly Review.
Book early as numbers may be limited.
SRC Assessments can be arranged and run separately from Bronze if Assessors are available and
numbers sufficient.
.
Please forward any suggestions on improving the Guidelines to the SNB Branch Education Coordinator &
Director of Education
Item 1 - Central venue assessment guidelines:
Maximum number of candidates – 60 per central assessment (To be reviewed), this number of candidates
would require a minimum of 12 Assessors. Clubs with large groups of candidates (e.g. 12 or more) must
provide assessors to meet the 1:6 quotas
Prior to assessment:
 Book candidates and assessors attending from your Club through the Office (1:6 ratio)
 Organise the gear necessary for the assessment:
- 1 rescue board and 1 tube per 6 candidates
- Oxyviva
- First Aid Kit & Blanket
- Spinal board
- Club caps for each candidate
- Bum bags - Recommendation
- Paperwork – enrolment forms, assessors sign off sheet
- Participant evaluation form
- Training course report
1
18th September 2011
Version: 02
SNB - Assessors Guidelines


- Multiday attendance sheet
Ensure an endorsed trainer will be in attendance on the day
Bring 1-2 water safety personnel for the run, swim, run section
Assessment Day:
 Arrive half an hour prior to the assessment start time and check in with senior assessor
 Deliver gear to the hosting Club for allocation. Please ensure it is labelled.
 Organise candidates to be ready with caps etc prior to start time
Briefing:
 Senior assessor to brief assessors and allocate tasks for the day
- All assessors to sign the log sheet
- Run/swim/run – starter, timer etc
- Board rescues
- Tube rescues
- Carries/risk assessment
- Groups for scenarios (2-3 areas dependent upon numbers)
 Senior assessor to brief candidates and trainers on the procedure for the day (this can be done as a whole
or by club dependent upon numbers)
Assessment:
 Run swim run – to start as close to time as possible. Candidates to go through this section in groups of
approx. 20 at a time – dependent on water safety.
 Board and tube rescues, Carries and risk assessments – to start in their areas as soon as the first run,
swim, run is complete (2 to 3 areas for board and tube is ideal). Groups will rotate through the areas.
 Scenarios – 2 – 3 scenario areas to be set up at the completion of all other components. Assessors should
already be aware who they are working with (from briefing earlier in the day), and know the scenarios
they are doing. This helps the process move more smoothly.
Paperwork:
 All assessors move up to the Clubhouse at the completion of their particular scenario sections. Senior
assessor in charge and Club training officers will assist them to sign off the correct paperwork and
ensure everything is in order. Paperwork is returned to Club training officer for submission to Branch.
 After all paperwork is completed assessors debrief to discuss positive and negative aspects of the
assessment to ensure we improve next time.
 Bring & ensure VET Log books for Trainers and Assessors are signed off.
Host Club:
The host Club needs to provide:
 Clubhouse area for checking candidates in and paperwork/debrief after the assessment
 IRB, driver and crew for water safety
 Help to transport equipment to areas in ATV as necessary
 Notify surfcom that assessment is taking place
2
18th September 2011
Version: 02
SNB - Assessors Guidelines
Responsibilities of the Host Club:
 Setting cans and run, swim, run area with the Senior Assessor prior to the start time of the
assessment.
 Ensuring the IRB is in the water prior to start time so the first group can start right on time.
 Tea/ Coffee/ Water for assessors
Senior assessor
 Complete risk assessment prior to the start of the assessment
 Liaise with the Patrol Captain/Lifeguard reassessment area to use
 Ensure the cans are appropriately placed.
 Conduct a briefing with assessors and allocate tasks for the day
 Brief candidates and trainers on the procedure
 Act as Liason
Item 2 - Dry Component Assessment:
The Dry Component will be held at Branch Headquarters, or at Club’s that have requested a Central Venue Part A
through the Branch and Director of Education & Assessment.
Candidate to Assessor Ratio’s must be maintained.
Clubs attending Dry Component - must supply all their own equipment required for the assessment.
 Mankins
 Oxygen
 AED
 Masks , plus all cleaning aids as required

Signals- A minimum of one assessor to 6 candidates

Radio- A minimum of one assessor to 6 candidates. Two radios for each group. Candidates to
demonstrate the use of the radio and answer 6 or less questions as per the Bronze assessment guidelines.

Resuscitation- Candidates will be assessed on a live patient first. At least one assessor per pair of
candidates. Candidates may be paired according to gender. Note: candidates are expected to demonstrate
correct CPR hand position and directly place their hands on the ‘patient’ during the assessment.
Candidates and accompanying Training Officer will be advised prior as to whether the patient is from an
aquatic environment or otherwise - candidates must expect to be assessed in either situation. Time will
be of essence in the assessment.
Assessment will be made on, but not limited to the following:
- Effective checks for danger, response and send for help
- Candidates must take time to clear the airway if required, and look into the patient’s
mouth, not necessarily a ‘blind sweep’. There must be backward head tilt.
Candidates must ensure effective look, listen, feel.
3
18th September 2011
Version: 02
SNB - Assessors Guidelines
- Candidates must check their patient for normal breathing.
- Assessors will be observing the patient roll over, and head support and correct arm
position.
- In recovery position, a patients top leg to be placed at 90 degree angle as per BZ
Training manual. The hand may be under the head or across the arm. The head must be
tilted back and allow for downward drainage.

Body check- Basic Bronze level check. Approx 1 min for each candidate. Candidates to ask the patient
questions on status and listen to response during the body check.

Resuscitation with the manikin- Candidates will be asked to demonstrate mouth to mouth rescue
breathing and mouth to mask breathing. It will be expected that each candidate will have their own
resuscitation mask or one way value. The candidates are to have separate face masks or approved
cleaning equipment for this section of the assessment. In two person CPR there must be minimal
interruption to the CPR during change over.

Patient Vomit - After patient vomit, compressions to be recommence immediately before the 2 breaths.
EAR Operator (Head Person) or another patrol member will place the mask back into position. This will
ensure minimal interruption to CPR and allows sufficient time for the mask to be replaced before the 2
breaths are given.

Assessors will expect to see total re coil on each compression and that the patient’s head is not dropped.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate effective communication during this stage of the assessment.

Oxygen- Will be assessed in two sections. One section in a group with a minimum of one assessor to six
candidates. Candidates must demonstrate use of the oxy-viva and will be asked questions based on the
Bronze assessment sheet. The second section will be with a manikin simulating oxygen assisted CPR in
groups of four with one or more assessors. Oxygen may also be assessed in the final scenario.

AED- to be assessed with Oxygen (see above), AED pads to be placed in correct position and a number
of safety questions to be ask, recorded message not required.

First Aid- Candidates will be assessed according to the Bronze training manual and Learning and
Assessment Guide. Candidates will be placed in groups of 6 or less per assessor. Candidates to
demonstrate the use of bandages, slings, control bleeding etc Questions from the assessor will be asked
during this section of the assessment.
Item 3 - Water Assessment:
The Host Club is to ensure adequate water safety as per SLSA guidelines. A risk assessment of the beach and
surf conditions MUST be carried out before the commencement of the assessment. Only one training officer
4
18th September 2011
Version: 02
SNB - Assessors Guidelines
from each Club will be allowed in the vicinity of the assessments. Candidates will not be assessed without a
Club skull cap. At each section there will be 2 or 3 assessors, more for the scenario.
Recommendation: That each candidate have a bum bag.
A range finder will be used to measure the run swim run course. No more than 20 candidates will be on the
course at any time. Candidate’s times will be recorded by an assessor.
Recommendation: That the Board approve the purchase of a set of swim cans and flags for Central
Venue Assessments.

Rescues- Candidates will be expected to use appropriate signals during this section of the assessment.
Demonstrations must include two of the three types of rescues. Board, tube or unaided. Candidates may
select which type of rescue they perform

Carries and risk assessment - Candidates will be expected to demonstrate two person carry, two handed
seat and two person drag. Candidates will be assessed on the use of the spinal board in both the water
and on the sand. As part of the candidates own safety they must check their rescue equipment prior to
use.

Scenario- A minimum of 6 and maximum of 8 candidates per scenario. There will be three teams in this
section. 1. Patrol. 2. Patients 3. A document and form completion station. Candidates are expected to use
and turn on equipment as required. The AED will not be placed on the beach, however if required must
be called for. Assessors will be looking for good communication and teamwork. If a resuscitation mask
is required, it must be held above the patients face, with effective jaw support. The assessor can elect to
discard the mask. Radios will be used in the scenario and there may be a radio control ‘base’ manned by
a candidate. Patrol must be able to complete appropriate documentation, including Patrol Log, Hand
over form and Incident report.
Item 4 - The role of the Senior Assessor

The Branch will appoint one Senior Assessor to be the Assessor in Charge.
This assessor will not be involved in the assessments unless required. Their role is to oversee the assessment
process and be in control of the overall assessment.
Probationary Assessors to be paired up with experienced assessors and given the opportunity to assist on
different stations throughout the day.
A Liaison Officer will also be appointed for the day to deal with any problems or issues the candidates, training
officers, or assessors may have.
5
18th September 2011
Version: 02