7. JUNIOR EDUCATION

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (Nippers)

The Nipper program is designed to ensure children have fun at the beach while participating in lessons that will provide them with a pathway to become fully-rounded participants in both lifesaving and sports activities. The program includes a wide range of subjects and skills relative to the aquatic environment and prepares Junior Activities members for their transition to becoming senior members and aims to promote the spirit of camaraderie and citizenship within the community.

Junior Evaluations
Preliminary Skills Evaluations

There have recently been major changes to the Preliminary Skills Evaluations; at SLSQ, these will now include:
- Pool Swim with 3 components – Floatation, Submersion and Propulsion – requirements differ for specific age groups.
- Preliminary Beach Run-Swim-Run Component – distances specific to each age group.

The following tables outline the national standard for Preliminary Evaluations, some branches may set distances above the standard in these tables. Please ensure that you consult with your respective branch to determine your requirements. Should you need further assistance, there is also a Junior Activities Preliminary Award Processing Procedure Flowchart on the SLSQ App.

All pool swim and beach evaluation sheets are on the SLSQ App under Junior Evaluations.

The following tables break down the Pool swim requirements for each stage/ age group.

Competition Skills Evaluation
The competition skills evaluation should be completed by all nippers in Under 8 and above; however, it is not compulsory unless the nipper wishes to partake in competition events. The competition evaluation consists of a run-swim-rum, with distances specific to each age group. Competition Evaluations should be recorded on the sheets found on the SLSQ app under Junior Evaluations. These may need to be submitted to your branch for processing depending on their requirements. Should you need further assistance, there is a Junior Activities Competition Skills Evaluation Processing Procedure Flowchart.

Junior Age Awards
Each age group has specific lesson guides they must complete throughout the season. Following the completion of all lessons, nippers will be eligible to receive their age award. These age awards need to be recorded on the NEW SLSA Junior Activities Record Sheet. may require these to be submitted with the age award Form 14, please confirm your specific requirements with your respective branch.

Age Managers
New Age Manager
The role of an age manager is both to develop our Junior Activities members into competent Surf Lifesavers and to provide a supportive environment in which they can learn and grow.

For the Age Manager award, SLSQ has implemented prerequisites that supersede SLSAs current prerequisites. You must adhere to the current SLSQ prerequisites to be qualified as an age manager and eligible to assist with Nipper programs.

SLSQ prerequisites to become an Age Manager include:
1. Current financial member.
2. Minimum 16 Years old / 18 years old for U6 & U7 age groups.
3. Hold a valid Blue Card linked to SLSQ.
4. Complete SLSQ CYRMS
5. Complete SLSA CSA
6. Hold a current Bronze/SRC/Observers

To be signed off as an age manager, you must complete the Age Manager Online Theory Course on the SLSA Members Area, Attend 2 on the beach mentoring sessions with an age manager mentor/supervisor (mentor to complete third party report) and meet all prerequisites.

Paperwork that needs to be submitted to your branch for processing includes the Online Theory Certificate of Completion (from the member’s area), Age Manager Third Party Endorsement Form and a Form 14.

For more info on becoming a new-age manager, please see SLSQ – Age Manager – How to be an age manager process flowchart V5

Age Manager Renewal
The Age Manager Course award has an expiry of 5 years, it is the club’s responsibility to keep track of their age managers’ expiry dates and notify the age manager when it is time for them to renew or within 12 months of their expiry date. Renewal is only for current Age Managers, if you have not been a current age manager in the past season, you will need to complete the full requirements of a new age manager.

In order to renew as an age manager, the candidate must meet all requirements of an age manager, re-complete the Age Manager Online Theory Course on the SLSA Members Area, and Complete the Age Manager Renewal Form.

Both the certificate of completion from the SLSA Members Area and the” Age Manager Renewal Form”:https://slsqcm.entegyapp.com.au/Page/10/4617, along with a Form 14, should be submitted to the branch for processing.

For more information on the Renewal process, please see SLSQ Age Manager Renewal Process Flow Chart v7

Nipper Adult Assistant Induction (NAAI)
The NAAI was created to provide a non-fitness-oriented position to allow members to contribute to the beach and aquatic supervision of our youngest nippers (Under 6 – Under 8 age groups. Nipper Adult Assistants are qualified to provide beach and water supervision for wading and ‘shallow water activities.

NAAs must always wear the appropriate uniform consisting of a high visibility bib style vest with “NAA” clearly printed on the front and back. As per SLSQ High Visibility Clothing Policy MS13, the NAA vest is to be fluorescent green.

Prerequisites for the Nipper Adult Assistant Induction include:
1. Be a current financial member.
2. Be a minimum of 18 years old.
3. Hold a valid Blue Card that is linked to SLSQ.
4. Complete the SLSQ CYRMS Course.
5. Complete the SLSA Child Safe Awareness Course.
6. Able to float in water.
7. Able to swim 50m or more (freestyle).

To become an NAA, candidates must first meet all prerequisites, read through the NAA induction PowerPoint (provided by the club from the SLSA Members Area document library), Complete the NAA Assessment JotForm (linked in PowerPoint) & complete the Online Assessment Portfolio.

A copy of the JotForm completion, the Online Assessment Portfolio and a Form14 should all be submitted to the branch for processing.

Please see SLSQ – NAAI – Process Flowchart March 2023 for more information.

Junior Activities Accreditation Officer (JAAO)
The JAAO role has been introduced to allow another level of volunteers who are able to sign off on the Junior Evaluations and Junior Age Awards to ease the load on existing Assessors. Clubs are still able to use Bronze/SRC Assessors.

JAAOs can sign off on all junior evaluations as well as Age Awards up to U13 (as per the SLSA Junior Development Age Guides)

Prerequisites to become a Junior Activities Accreditation Officer include:
1. Minimum 18 years old.
2. Hold a valid Blue Card, Linked to SLSQ
3. Be proposed by the JAC & CTO for endorsement and recorded in the club management committee minutes each year.
4. Hold the award in SurfGuard & have a proficiency raised each year.
5. Sign and submit the JAAO code of conduct to your branch.

It is also strongly recommended to hold a proficient Bronze Medallion award (including Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue)) or a Proficient Surf Rescue Certificate (CPR Endorsed).

Paperwork that needs to be submitted to your branch for processing includes the JAAO signed code of conduct, Club management meeting minutes, and Form 14.

For further information, there is a JAAO – Quick Reference Flow Chart on the SLSQ App.

Junior Activities General Information & FAQs

There have been several changes to the Junior Activities space throughout the last season.

Joining Nippers Age Requirements
A child may now join Nippers as soon as they turn 5 years of age. No club is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of 5 years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches 5 years after the 30th of September may join nippers at that time for the remainder of the season; however, this child will be required to stay in the Under 6 age group again the following season. It is the club’s responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child. Note: proof of age must be sighted for all new children joining a club.

Nippers Moving Up & Down Age Groups
There are several reasons nippers may move up or down an age group, i.e., competency, ability, social situations, same school year but different age groups due to birthdate etc.

Moving down an age group – if a child moves down an age group, they are not permitted to compete in that age group, and they will only gain the age award for the lower age group. Nippers who move down an age group are still required to complete the junior evaluations of their registered age group.

Moving up an age group – Children are permitted to move up 1 age group, and they are unable to compete in the higher age group. The child will need to complete the junior evaluations for the higher age group, and they will gain the age award of the higher age group, not their birth-registered age group.

Whatever age group the nipper participates in is the age award they will receive.
All nippers must compete in their birth-registered age groups. For more detailed information on competition guidelines (i.e., competing up for team events), please refer to the current sport manual.

SLSA Nipper App
The SLSA Nipper app has been rolled out across the country and is ready for clubs to utilise from the 23/24 season onwards. It is not a requirement for clubs to utilise the nipper app. However, this will allow clubs to process their own junior evaluations and age awards. Many clubs have chosen to still do paper-based awards through branch and trial the app for attendance only for the first season. It is completely club specific how you chose to utilise this app.
For information on how to use the app please see the SLSA how to guide.

For more information, please refer to the Junior Activities section of the SLSQ App & the Junior Activities Frequently Asked Questions document.

For any further questions or allocation of Nipper App Admins please email ja@lifesaving.com.au