spinwing,
It was "Sling Ops: all heli <2750kg" plus individual type approvals for those >2750kg, back in the days of DoT, then Australia CAA.
Now our enlightened CASA (as you say) have just a Sling Ops endorsement for all types, regardless of weight. Much the same story for Hoist Ops, too
I'm surprised that the UK CAA, with such stringent requirements for far more mundane issues, do not have similar approvals 