Nipper Safety Assistants (NSA)

SLSA have now released a Nipper Safety Award which overrides SLSQs previously delivered the Nipper Adult Assistant (NAA) Induction.

The Nipper Safety Assistant award (NSA) is designed to assist clubs with additional resources for water safety during Nippers. This Award allows individuals who do not hold a Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion to support water safety personnel during Nipper activities under certain conditions.

All members must follow the SLSA Water Safety Procedure, or the State Equivalent, as a minimum when providing water safety services for members activities.

Roles and responsibilities
Nipper Safety Assistants (NSA) can support water safety personnel during Nipper activities when:

1. It has been deemed suitable by the Water Safety Supervisor.
2. Conditions are confirmed as low risk conditions by your risk assessment.
3. The age group is U8 or below.
4. Activities are shallow water only, below the waistline of the NSA. Activity would not require the NSA to proceed past their waistline.
5. NSA do not make up more than 50% of the water safety team for the Nipper Activity.
   

Pre-requisites

1. Be a current financial club member.
2. Minimum age of 13 years.
3. Hold the relevant working with children check for your state/territory (if over 18yrs)
4. Have completed the relevant Child Safety Courses (if over 18yrs)
   

Proficiency / Assessment requirements
An annual skills maintenance is required to maintain proficiency in the NSA incorporating the following:

1. 50m Swim using a continuous stroke from waist deep water.
2. Demonstrate treading water for 2 minutes.
3. Demonstrate an Aquatic Rescue with Rescue Tube (Conscious tube rescue only).
4. Demonstrate knowledge of Signals (Beach to Water Signals & Water to Beach Signals).
   

Who can assess and deliver?
The award must be conducted by a qualified and proficient SRC / Bronze Medallion Trainer.

There is no online learning for the NSA Award. All content will be taught face to face via practical application followed by an assessment. A Form 14 will then be submitted by the club along with the members sign off sheet and attendance record for processing. A simple step by step process can be found here: Nipper Safety Assistant – Flowchart