Training program

Apply for membership - Unlicensed Applicants

• What happens
  • Apply via the "Apply Online" page on this website, then follow the prompts and please ensure you READ EVERYTHING. Juniors will be prompted to download and complete the Parental Consent Form.
  • The Membership Officer (membership@sipc.org.au) will arrange a suitable time for you to visit the club, be shown around the Club facilities, explain in more detail the training program, the required commitment and answer any of your questions.
• Documentation required/provided
  • Juniors - Completed and Signed Parental Consent Form.
  • Application fee

Application form processed

• What happens afterwards
  • SIPC membership officer will contact you and advise of details for the next available induction night and seminar dates
  • You will be required to pay all fees within 7 days of the offer of enrolment.
  • You will be sent further information by email appx 30 days prior to Induction Night and advised of tasks that require completion.  

Induction Nights held three times a year - early February, May and August (6.30pm sharp)

• What happens
  • Introductory address by senior Committee Member
  • Information on pistol shooting, training and Club membership provided
  • Standard Firearms Registry (FAR) forms completed (P650, etc.)
  • Access to Club Members Reference Manual provided (on-line)
  • Club gate key provided, and use explained
  • You are now a P650 Member of the Club
• Documentation required/provided
  • 2 passport size photos of you (provided by you)
  • 2 passport size photos of your parent/guardian for juniors (provided by you)
  • Completed Form P650 and other FAR forms (provided by club) kept in the "Blue Book"
  • Club training manual (Members Reference Manual - provided on-line by Club)
  • Gate key with instructions (provided by Club)

Coaching Seminar No 1 Usually the 1st Sunday after Induction Night - 8:30am - 3:30pm

• What happens
  • Introduction
  • The Law explained
  • Club and training procedures explained
  • Introduction to pistol shooting
  • Basic techniques
  • Safety presentation
  • Introduction to air pistol shooting on range
  • Requirement for eye and ear protection and a shooting box explained
  • On satisfactory performance, Pistol Safe Handling Course Completion Certificate issued; required for licence application
  • Receive Certificate of Club Membership (Genuine Reason); required for licence application 
  • Membership Officer issues “What to do” instruction sheet.
  • Online application process for Probationary Pistol Licence (PPL) through NSW Police Community Portal and Service NSW explained. This must be carried out within the following few days and requires the Certificate of Club Membership, the Pistol Safe Handling Course Completion Certificate and licence fee (currently at $100).
• Documentation required/provided
  • Date and signature from coach in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"
  • Temporary Club P650 membership card provided with card holder, lanyard and Club cap
  • Attention is drawn to the Range Roster, Range Standing Orders and Club Updates to Members which are all accessible on the Club website.
  • Pistol Safe Handling Course Completion Certificate prepared by coaches and issued to member; copy kept in ‘Blue Book’
  • Certificate of Club Membership with Genuine Reason provided by Membership Officer.

Air pistol shootsbetween Seminars 1 and 3 on Saturdays (10:00am – 2:00pm)

• What happens
  • Two one hour mandatory air pistol training sessions on next 2 Saturdays immediately following Seminar 1. You will be given a specified time and be directly supervised by coaches.
  • You will then complete another Four air pistol "matches": again on Saturdays at specified times, 60 shots in 1.5 hours for adults and 40 shots in 1 hour for juniors (supervised by coaches)
  • Scores entered into the Club scoring system
• Documentation required/provided
  • Dates and signatures from coaches or committee members in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"

Coaching Seminar No 2 usually 8th Sunday after Seminar 1 - 8:30am - 3:30pm

• What happens
  • Discussion on what has been learned to date
  • Range commands and safety explained
  • Introduction to cartridge pistols, action types and mechanical features
  • Revision of all course material
  • Sausage Sizzle lunch provided by Club
  • You take and pass a multiple-choice written exam
• Documentation required/provided
  • Date and signature from coach in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"

Next Step in your Application for Probationary Pistol Licence (PPL)

• What happens 
  • At some point during training, and after the mandatory 28 day “cooling off” period, a letter from FAR will be received requiring the member to attend a Service NSW office to have their photo taken for the PPL. The visit to the Service NSW office must be carried out within the following few days. The licence itself will arrive within 5-15 business days. The date of attendance at Service NSW must be recorded by the member and entered in the ‘Blue Book’ when convenient.
• Documentation required/provided
  • Letter from FAR 
  • You must advise the Secretary of the date of attendance at Service NSW, your licence (PPL) number and expiry date, once received.

Coaching Seminar No 3 - Introduction to Cartridge Pistolsusually the 1st Sunday after Seminar 2 - 8:30am - 3:30pm

• What happens
  • Participate in Sport Pistol Match on range (coaches will guide and assess your performance)
  • Issue of relevant documents and instruction by the Membership Officer on what further is required to complete your course
  • Participate in Standard Pistol Match on range (coaches will guide and assess your performance)
  • Record your scores in the Club database scoring system
• Documentation required/provided
  • Date and signature from coach in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"
  • Receive NSW Amateur Pistol Association ‘Blue Book’ (confirming your affiliation to NSW Amateur Pistol Association). (These are issued to the Club by the NSWAPA and may have been distributed earlier in the course.)
  • Club Membership Card issued
  • Membership Officer explains and issues "What to do" instruction sheet for the Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course 

Attend one regular club matchThis can be completed any Saturday soon after Seminar 3 -  arrive at 11:00am and see the Duty Officer

• What happens
  • Observe and assist Range Officer in conduct of a cartridge pistol match (1 - 1.5 hours)
• Documentation required/provided
  • Date and signature from coach or committee member in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"

Shoot Three .22 matches within 8 weeks after Receipt of your PPLon Saturdays between 9.30am and 1.15pm - you will need to book either a Standard Pistol or Sports Pistol Competition through the website.

• What happens
  • Undertake three full .22 Club matches (Standard Pistol, Sport Pistol and/or Rapid Fire Pistol - supervised by Range Officer) on three different dates
  • Enter each competition signed off by a Coach or Committee Member in the "Blue Book".
  • Enter each match score in the Club scoring system
• Documentation required/provided
  • Dates and signatures from coaches or Committee members in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book" and on FAR Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course (You will need this document to ultimately buy a pistol or obtain your full Pistol Licence)

Fulfill FAR and SIPC final requirements

• What happens
  • You have demonstrated understanding of safety and suitability for full membership
  • You are now a Full Probationary Member
  • You receive the original, Club-endorsed FAR Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course
• Documentation required/provided
  • Date and signature from coach or Committee member in Compliance Record in the "Blue Book"
  • FAR Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course, certifying training requirements have been met, for presentation to FAR (signed-off by accredited training officer/coach) – original to member and copy retained in the "Blue Book"
  • You are issued a "What to do sheet" covering several topics.

You have had your Probationary Licence for 6 months

• What happens
  • You may make up to two acquisitions (purchases) of pistols 
  • You must have safe storage meeting FAR requirements. Your safe keeping must be inspected by local Police and you must request that they issue you a “Cops E” (event) number and record the date of inspection; this number and date must be entered on your membership profile on the SIPC website
  • If you wish to buy a pistol you must first notify the Club Secretary that you intend to apply for a PTA. Ultimately he/she will be the person contacted by FAR for approval of your PTA application then;
  • You make online application through the NSW Police Community Portal for the Permit(s) to Acquire (PTA) requiring your COPS E number, Club Approval Number (listed at the bottom of this web page) your Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course and fee(s); the completion certificate should be uploaded with one or both of these first applications.
  • On receipt of your PTA(s) you may purchase your firearm(s). You will always require the Firearm registration (copy) to purchase the appropriate ammunition for the firearm(s) from firearms dealers. Note; the Firearm Registration document can take some time to arrive from FAR. You should consider what ammunition you need during this waiting period when you purchase your firearm.
• Documentation required/provided
  • Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course (issued previously)
  • Online Permit to Acquire application – Cops E number and Inspection Date, Club Approval Number.

You have had your Probationary Licence for 12 months

• What happens
  • You will receive notification approximately 45-60 days prior to the expiry of your PPL with instructions on how to apply for a full Category H firearms licence online via the NSW Police Cummunity Portal; you must apply online prior to the expiry of your PPL. Applications for your Full Licence submitted after the expiry of your Probationary Licence will be rejected by Firearms Registry.
  • Please note: You will be making a "New Application" NOT renewing a licence (a PPL is not able to be renewed and is not classified as a full licence, so you are making a NEW application)
  • Applications submitted prior to the expiry of the PPL provide for continuing authority to possess and use firearms on the PPL until the full category H firearms licence is issued or refused
• Documentation required/provided
  • Documentation sent by FAR prior to expiry of probationary licence
  • FAR Completion Certificate - Pistol Firearms Safety Training (PPL) Course if that has not already been provided to FAR, i.e. you have not applied to acquire a pistol (PTA)
  • Current Certificate of Membership, this can be downloaded from the club website under "Your Membership", "Your Details", "Membership" and click on the red writing to download.