Yes, this can be very beneficial, a great way to meet new people and gain more experience.

Volunteer members: operating at multiple locations is facilitated by your Branch UAV Coordinator, please contact them for more information.

Paid staff: Please contact your local UAV Supervisor to adjust your location preferences.

The season dates vary between locations, however, generally are based on School Holiday periods and based on visitation, rescue statistics, and shark sighting statistics for each service location.

The nature of each type of UAV operation changes depending on the use type, and you will be appropriately briefed and trained for these uses. These uses include:

• Beach safety
• Search and Rescue
• Night Visual Line of Sight
• Flood surveillance
• 2D/3D mapping
• Spatial data collection and inspections
• Thermal sensor use

The minimum age requirement to be a UAV Operator or UAV Pilot is 16 years of age.

If you are younger than 16 years old we do offer a Lifesaver Drone Outreach Program incursion into NSW and ACT School – this is a 2.5hr program where we teach groups of 30 students about the UAV industry, the work we do, and how to code and fly small drones.

Yes, volunteer UAV Pilot hours will count towards your patrolling hours. Please join your local club as any category of member and include this information in your Expression of Interest.

If your SLSC is interested in utilising UAVs as a patrolling tool, we can provide you with the AUAVS Guide to SLSC Owning UAVs, please contact contact your Branch for endorsement, and then contact uav@surflifesaving.com.au

Yes! Surf Life Saving NSW welcomes all interested members of the community to join and be a part of this great organisation. SLSC membership will be required to ensure insurances are in place, but you do not need to gain your Bronze (Lifesaver) Award to fly UAVs for Surf Life Saving.

Having your RePL is a fantastic start to your UAV operational experience, although you will still be required to complete the UAV Operator Induction Program (UAV OIP), which covers wildlife surveillance, shark identification, a practical flight check, emergency response, SLS operating structures, SLS radio use, induction into the AUAVS Standard Operating Procedures, and induction into the local operating procedures.

Volunteer members: No, you will not need to re-apply. You will be sent Skills Maintenance requirements on a yearly basis, through your Club UAV Captain or Branch UAV Coordinator. These fall due at the end of December yearly and are a mandatory part of operating within the SLSNSW UAV program.

Paid staff: Yes, we need to get an official application via the links above in order to re-hire you.

Please see the UAV Operations – Information Pack for more information.

The general process is as follows:

1. Complete the appropriate application form linked above;
2. Sign up to an SLS club, if not already done;
3. Complete a UAV Operator’s Induction Program (OIP);
4. Complete x2 probationary shifts with an attending UAV Operator;
5. Be signed off by Branch UAV Coordinator;
6. Begin being rostered and completing operations.

A RePL licence is not required nor acquired when inducted as a UAV Operator, as you would be operating with SLS under the Commercial Excluded Sub-2kg Category, we will provide you with the training required by way of the UAV OIP (Operator Induction Program).

As a UAV Pilot however, you will be conducting operations outside of this category, so an RePL licence is required and can be organised to be obtained through a training course conducted by our training partner, at the Pilot’s own financial expense.

No, the OIP (Operator Induction Program) is an internally recognised award only, that once complete allows you to operate UAV’s for SLSNSW in the sub-2kg excluded category only.