Overview

The Surf Education Program (Nippers) is a national lifesaving program for 5 to 13 year old Club members. It is not a 'learn to swim' program.

Children who are not five (5) years old as of midnight 30 September 2013 are not permitted to participate.

All nippers from 7 to 13 years old must complete a swim evaluation in our pool to enable us to assess water safety requirements that we must adhere to for the program to run. Refer to the Nipper Swim Requirements page in this section.

*Parents/Legal Guardians please note that ALL PROSPECTIVE members 18 years and over must apply for a Working with Children Check as per Life Saving Victoria Member Protection Policy AD6-05.

*WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS MUST BE APPLIED FOR PRIOR TO JOINING THE CLUB AND REGISTERING FOR THE NIPPER PROGRAM.

Children under 13 years of age must join the Cub with an adult family members.

Working with Children Checks applications lodged, Membership and Nipper Registrations will need to be done by the 11 October 2013.

To avoid disappointing your youngsters please ensure that you apply for a Working with Children check. apply for membership and register your nipper by the 11 October to ensure your child is registered in our Nipper Program which will commence in early November (date to be confirmed on this page in July 2013).

For all membership details refer to Membership page in the Main Menu at left

Our Junior Activities Program - Nippers

To make children aware of safety in an aquatic environment, and to develop the young lifesavers of tomorrow, our Surf Education Program combines fun and practical surf skills with raising awareness of beach hazards such as rips, through to learning basic resuscitation and first aid skills.

Children are allocated to their age groups (taken as on midnight 30 September) and an age appropriate program is provided. Usually this takes place on the beach in front of the Clubhouse. In the case of inclement weather, alternative indoor activities are arranged.

After each session a warm milk drink is provided to nippers. There is also a sausage sizzle with all proceeds of the BBQ going towards our junior activities program. Parents are required to put their name on a roster for Milo or BBQ duty. We also require parents to take up some administration roles such as Age Managers.

Parent participation is a great way to meet other parents, make friends and help deliver a viable and successful program to our junior members.

Surf Education (“Surf Ed”) is for 5 to 13 year old members and is run on Friday afternoons. It is a national surf education program designed to provide age-appropriate surf awareness and skills to help make our nippers safer in an open water environment.

Age groups are taken as at midnight 30 September -

Under 6 to Under 8 Age Groups commence at 4.30pm.

Under 9 to Under 14 Age Groups commence at 5.45pm.

'Aquanuts' for Under 14'S at 6.45pm - Cadets - 13 year old nippers will train for a Surf Rescue Certificate. A Surf Rescue Certificate enables our 13 and 14 years to become junior lifesavers and ensures that they can compete at Junior and/or Senior Life Saving competition events.

2012/2013 Nipper Handbooks will be distributed to all registered nippers.

Nippers can participate in the Surf Ed Program only, but if 7 to 13 year olds wish to compete for the Club at Surf carnivals they are required to participate in our Junior Surf Sports Program too-

Junior Surf Sports (run after Friday “Surf Ed” and each Sunday) is a training and competition program for 7 to 13 year olds to develop competition skills and fitness to compete in open water and beach events at Club, Regional and State competitions. Competition Nippers must also attend the Surf Ed program to gain the appropriate Surf Ed awards to compete at Junior Carnivals.

Note that only 7 to 13 year old children are able to compete at Life Saving Junior Carnivals. Only 8 to 13 year old children can compete in the Victorian Junior Life Saving Championships. Refer to the Life Saving Victoria website for Junior Carnival updates.