Endorsed Age Managers
Signing off JA Evaluations
Moving forward we will allow Age Managers who hold a current Age Manager award and who the club deem as an ‘Endorsed Age Manager’ to sign off evaluations.
This aims to ease the load on positions required at a Club level. This process should be managed with thorough care and consideration, considering that these members sign their name to Nipper competencies should any issues arise.
Each Club can have up to a maximum of 9 skilled and knowledgeable Age Managers who can complete this task. We ask that you please do not endorse first-year Age Managers for this role unless they have prior lifesaving experience.
Nipper Adult Assistant Induction (NAAI)
The NAAI is to provide a non-fitness orientated position to allow members to contribute to the beach and aquatic supervision of our youngest nippers (U6 – U8 age groups). Nipper Adult Assistants are qualified to provide water supervision for wading and ‘shallow water’ activities to the age appropriate depth.
Course Prerequisites
To complete the SLSQ Nipper Adult Assistant Induction, Candidates must have met the following course pre-requisites:
- Be a current financial member
- Minimum of 18 years old at date of assessment
- Hold a valid working with children suitability (Blue) Card which is linked to SLSQ
- Complete the SLSQ Child and Youth Risk Management Strategies e-learning Course
- Complete the SLSA Child Safe Awareness Course
- Ability to float in water
- Ability to swim 50m or more (freestyle)
- Self-declaration
Resources:
For more information on this, please refer to the SLSQ Club Management App – Nipper Adult Assistant Induction or contact your region’s Membership Development Coordinator.
Nipper Safety Assistant NSA
The Nipper Safety Assistant award 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. Please refer to the appropriate water safety procedure located in the SLS Members Area Library.
Note that reasonable adjustments can be made by the relevant State Centre to the qualifications and proficiency/assessment requirements of the NSA based on local conditions and the “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP) management of risk.
Roles and responsibilities
Nipper Safety Assistants (NSA) can support water safety personnel during Nipper activities when:
- It has been deemed suitable by the Water Safety Supervisor.
- Conditions are confirmed as low risk conditions by your risk assessment. It is highly recommended to use the Surf Risk Rating (SRR) tool.
- The age group is U8 or below.
- Activities are shallow water only, below the waistline of the NSA. Activity would not require the NSA to proceed past their waistline.
- NSA do not make up more than 50% of the water safety team for the Nipper Activity.
Pre-requisites
- Be a current financial club member.
- Minimum age of 13 years.
- Hold the relevant working with children check – Blue Card and CYRMS/CSA
*Proficiency / Assessment requirements *
An annual skills maintenance is required to maintain proficiency in the NSA incorporating the following:
- 50m Swim using a continuous stroke from waist deep water.
- Demonstrate treading water for 2 minutes.
- Demonstrate an Aquatic Rescue with Rescue Tube (Conscious tube rescue only).
- Demonstrate knowledge of Signals (Beach to Water Signals & Water to Beach Signals).
Bronze/SRC
Under 14’s can begin their lifesaving careers with undertaking their Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC). This course is the minimum water safety qualification for Junior Activity supervision on successful completion will allow members to begin patrolling.
The Bronze Medallion qualification can be gained at the minimum age of 15 and after you are able to complete a 400m pool swim in less than 9 minutes. As a Bronze Medallion holder, you will have the required skills and knowledge relating to surf awareness, rescue techniques, radio communication, CPR and first aid.
Officials
If you are interested in becoming an SLSQ Official, please reach out to your club’s Director of Surf Sports. Each Branch will have their official’s accreditation process that you will need to follow. There is an online component to complete along with practical assessments before you can be an official.
For more information, please refer to the SLSA website at Surf Sports Officials.
Or contact your Surf Sports or Officials Liaison Officer.
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