SSCBC runs an active Training Centre, conducting Australian Sailing programs under the Tackers, Dinghy and Powerboat programs as well as running our own in-house courses such as Sail & Play, Cara na Mara, Volunteer Masterclasses, Powerboating for Parents and Couta Conversations.
Our staff predominantly come from our Members who have learnt to sail at the Club and have grown up with our programs. We also recruit instructors from outside the Club, as having diversity of experience and style is essential in maintaining a first class program.
We know our senior instructors and coaches will complete their studies and obtain full-time employment, so we have a continual process of bringing in the next Members to join the team; It’s all part of the sailing life-cycle.
So how does the pathway work?
Typically, our Members will start off by obtaining their Assistant Instructor qualification, progressing to a Sailing Instructor, obtaining the Racing Instructor endorsement and finally becoming a Sailing Coach. As you progress on the pathway, you’ll need to get further supporting qualifications such as Power boat Handling, First Aid, and Safety Boat Operator.
Step 1 Assistant Instructor
This is relatively simple and it means that you can quickly complete the qualification and start working in the Training Centre.
Here’s how you can do it.
- Complete an Australian Sailing Dinghy Assistant Instructor Course
There’s one at the State Sailing Centre on Sunday 2nd December – Plus more dates in February and March - Obtain your Marine Licence
- You can do this at Vic Roads or complete a course at the Club
- Be water confident and at least 12 years old
- SSCBC has further requirements for Training Centre staff: you will need to have completed the Start Power Boating Course or a SSCBC Instructor Rib and Duck Operator Induction and Assessment
Step 2 Dinghy Instructor
Generally people build on their Assistant Instructor experience to take the next step and complete the course pre-requisites before attending the Dinghy Instructor Course.
Here’s how you can do it.
- Hold a Powerboat Handling certificate (course pre-requisite)
- First-aid certificate (Apply first-aid or above) (course pre-requisite)
- Complete an Australian Sailing Instructor Course
There are courses at the State Sailing Centre (check enrolment dates) on 10-11 Nov 2018 - Obtain a Working with Children Check
- Be 16 years old and water confident with a Marine Licence
Step 3 Dinghy Racing Instructor
Once you are a Dinghy Instructor, with ample racing experience at State and National Level, you can apply to become a Dinghy Racing Instructor which qualifies you to teach the Dinghy Start Racing and Better Racing courses.
Step 4 Sailing Coach
Details of the Sailing Coach Course are contained in the link above and this flyer
The course has been created with significant contributions from members of the Australian Sailing Team, including multiple Olympic medal winning coaches Victor Kovalenko and Michael Blackburn and has been further developed and piloted by Olympian Sarah Ogilvie.
The course builds on the Instructor’s knowledge and caters for those working with participants and athletes who have learnt the basics and want to develop their skills further, so that they can enjoy competing at Club, State and National events.
Before enrolling in the course, you will need to have the following pre-requisites completed and registered on your Australian Sailing Sailor profile:
• Safety Boat Operator certificate
• Apply First-Aid certificate
• Working with Children Check
• Instructor qualification or appropriate experience (teacher, coach, tutor, etc), with minimum expectation being the completion of the Australian Sailing Instructor General Principles online course.
The pre-course work is an online component known as the ‘Sailing Coach General Principles’ and takes six hours to complete.
These courses are run 1-2 times a year, so you will need to plan your steps on this pathway. The next 2.5 day course is 30 Nov to 2 Dec 2018
Powerboat Handling and Safety Boat Operator Courses at SSCBC
We run these courses at the Club from time to time, usually once a year or when we get a minimum of 4 people available to enrol in the course. Keep a look out for our courses during the second week of the school holidays.
More questions?
If you have any questions regarding these courses, please contact David White ([email protected]) or Ben Fels ([email protected]).
