Mr Miller is a local paramedic, a member of the Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club and a lecturer at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie.

Mr Miller's passion to unite surf lifesaving and paramedic training has seen him receive awards at the Mid North Coast Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence on Saturday, June 15.

Thanks to Mr Miller's efforts the relationship between the surf club and university has strengthened and both have benefited, with a flow-on impact for the community.

Mr Miller identified the surf club needed to strengthen its membership numbers, while students at the university also wanted to connect with the wider community.

"It was a logical fit," he said.

The enhanced engagement has resulted in a large scale real-life scenario exercises in the Camden Haven area.

At the awards Mr Miller received the Best New Initiative Award for his part in coordinating the exercises between the club, university students and local emergency services.

The initiative has attracted attention from CSU researchers on how multidisciplinary training can benefit students for their future profession.

Mr Phillip Ebbs, senior lecturer in paramedicine in the Charles Sturt School of Biomedical Sciences in Port Macquarie, is the research chief investigator.

"What's clear from our research is that when paramedic students work with community agencies such as surf life saving clubs, they learn the skills and attitudes that will help them thrive in the real world of paramedic practice," he said.

Mr Miller and club president Michelle Garvan also received the Community Education Award.

They established a program which enabled paramedic university students to complete their Bronze Medallion qualification, so they could help save lives on the beach.

Mr Miller has been a paramedic for 15 years, a CSU lecturer for six years and in the surf club for three years.

He has always been community orientated and is also a foster parent, along with his wife.