He said the organisation was working with a third-party provider and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on the project.

Drop capabilities - where a drone can drop a flotation device to a swimmer in difficulty in the water - are currently not CASA approved.

"We want to realise that (drop capabilities)," Mr Pearce said.

The viability and reliability into drop capability for drones was one of eight recommendations handed down in the Port Macquarie Coroner's Court over the findings into the 2017 drowning of Bronson Rhodes. Those findings were handed down in September.

Mr Pearce said surf life saving would be embracing and implementing all recommendations.

"Running parallel to the coronial findings, we were always rolling out and increasing the capability for more drones up and down the coast.

"At Port Macquarie we have a drone that flies each Saturday and Sunday during patrol at Flynns Beach. That drone is part of the department of primary industry's shark program.

"During the school holiday period the drone operations shift to seven days a week.

"On top of additional pilots in and around the Port Macquarie area we will expand provisions of drones to other clubs as we build that capability," he said.

"Surf Life Saving is currently working with a provider on research and development of the ability for drones to drop a flotation device to persons in the water."

Mr Pearce said the organisation was ensuring that all eight of the coroner's findings are being implemented.

"I can say that categorically. We are well on our way to achieving that already," he said.

Surf Life Saving NSW is currently calling for nominations for people interested in undertaking training to become a UAV (drone) pilot.

The drone training is providing a new pathway into Surf Life Saving.

The training comes as part of the continuation of the Surf Life Saving NSW and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) UAV drone surveillance program established in 2017.

Training will be provided free-of-charge to applicants at eight locations between Forster, on the NSW Lower North Coast and Cudgen Headland on the Far North Coast.

Training program dates in other locations will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Upon completion of the UAV training program, new pilots will be required to join their local surf club and volunteer to pilot SLSNSW's drones for a few hours once or twice a month. It is a similar time commitment that traditional Surf Life Savers make.

People who have a current Remote Pilot's Licence (RePL) or other aviation qualifications, may be granted recognition of prior learning and only be required to complete the operationally-specific aspects of the course.

More information on Surf Life Saving NSW's free UAV pilot training program, including online registration, can be found on the SLSNSW website. To contact a member of the SLSNSW UAV team email drones@surflifesaving.com.au

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