{"id":820,"date":"2026-09-02T21:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/symalnippers.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=820"},"modified":"2026-09-02T21:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:48:12","slug":"water-safety-information-for-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/?page_id=820","title":{"rendered":"Water Safety Information for Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"820\" class=\"elementor elementor-820\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5fb7010 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5fb7010\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" 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data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7458fab\" data-id=\"7458fab\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e42acec elementor-widget elementor-widget-ld_button\" data-id=\"e42acec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ld_button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-button btn btn-naked btn-icon-block btn-no-label\" data-localscroll=\"1\" data-localscroll-options=\"{&quot;scrollBelowSection&quot;:true}\" href=\"#\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"btn-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"lqd-icn-ess icon-ion-ios-arrow-down\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e4d53f elementor-widget elementor-widget-hub_fancy_heading\" data-id=\"9e4d53f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"hub_fancy_heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"ld-fancy-heading-6aa5191719023\" class=\"ld-fancy-heading pos-rel\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"ld-fh-element d-inline-block pos-rel  elementor-heading-title lqd-highlight-classic lqd-highlight-grow-left h1\"  > For Volunteers<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-42ce9ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"42ce9ac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b03c14b\" data-id=\"b03c14b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f2525b elementor-widget elementor-widget-hub_fancy_heading\" data-id=\"8f2525b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"hub_fancy_heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"ld-fancy-heading-6aa5191719a01\" class=\"ld-fancy-heading pos-rel\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ld-fh-element d-inline-block pos-rel  elementor-heading-title lqd-highlight-classic lqd-highlight-grow-left h2\"  > Keeping Symal Nippers safe in the water<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc21a8d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cc21a8d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b9cb453\" data-id=\"b9cb453\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-786fe75 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"786fe75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Welcome to your go-to guide for water and beach safety and supervision in Junior Activities. This page brings together all the key policies, procedures, and safety expectations to ensure our youngest members can enjoy the beach in a safe, structured, and fun environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b4e916b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b4e916b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ed40edf\" data-id=\"ed40edf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92c1c51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-hub_fancy_heading\" data-id=\"92c1c51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"hub_fancy_heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"ld-fancy-heading-6aa519171aa73\" class=\"ld-fancy-heading pos-rel\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ld-fh-element d-inline-block pos-rel  elementor-heading-title lqd-highlight-classic lqd-highlight-grow-left h2\"  > Quick Reference Information<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e6a838 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ld_accordion\" data-id=\"8e6a838\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ld_accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion accordion-sm\" id=\"accordion-6aa519171b6cc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel  active\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1491\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1491\" data-target=\"#collapse-1491\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1491\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1491\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Water Safety Requirement for Junior Activities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1491\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse  show\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1491\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Ensuring a safe and supportive environment for every Symal Nipper<\/strong><\/p><p>At Surf Life Saving Queensland, safety is at the heart of everything we do.<\/p><p>Here\u2019s what you need to know to ensure your group is safe, supported, and ready for action.<\/p><p><strong>Pre-Session Requirements<\/strong><br \/>Risk Assessments are essential.<br \/>Before any water-based training begins, a documented risk assessment must be completed for the area being used. You can access the relevant form through SLSA Policy 1.01 \u2013 Water Safety.<\/p><p><strong>Water Safety Coverage<\/strong><br \/>All Junior Activities involving water require formal water safety supervision.<\/p><p>To meet minimum requirements, SLSQ mandates:<\/p><ul><li>1 qualified water safety officer per 5 participants<\/li><li>All water safety personnel must hold the appropriate awards<\/li><li>Clubs must ensure safety coverage is tailored to the group\u2019s size, activity type, and conditions<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Your Branch Junior Activities Chairperson may have additional local guidelines\u2014always check for any updates or branch-specific requirements.<\/p><p><strong>What to Wear in the Water<\/strong><br \/>All Symal Nippers participating in competition or open water activities must wear high-visibility clothing, including:<\/p><ul><li>A hot pink rash vest (compulsory for competitors)<\/li><li>Check your local branch policy for additional uniform requirements<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lifesaving.com.au\/member-hub?_resource_search=high%20vis\">SLSQ MS13 \u2013 High Visibility Clothing Policy<\/a> for full details.<\/p><p><strong>Signing On and Record Keeping<\/strong><br \/>To support safety and accountability, all participants and personnel must sign on before starting their session.<\/p><p>Records can be kept by the Age Manager, Coach, or Water Safety Coordinator<br \/>Standard patrol logbooks or club attendance systems can be used<\/p><p><br \/><strong>Water Safety Qualifications<\/strong><br \/>Water safety personnel must:<\/p><ul><li>Hold the correct SLSQ qualifications<\/li><li>Be approved by the club before taking part<\/li><li>Be included in the session\u2019s planning to ensure the right ratio and coverage<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/><strong>Patrol Hour Accreditation<\/strong><br \/>Members rostered to water safety can have their time officially recorded if approved by their club:<\/p><ul><li>Clubs must decide at the start of the season whether water safety hours will be accredited<\/li><li>These decisions should be minuted by the club committee<\/li><li>Hours must be accurately logged for patrol recognition<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Even if patrol hour accreditation doesn\u2019t apply, recording time volunteered by all water safety personnel is encouraged. These contributions can be recognised at season-end presentations and in your club\u2019s annual report.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1492\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1492\" data-target=\"#collapse-1492\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1492\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1492\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Water Safety Supervisor<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1492\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1492\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>As a Water Safety Supervisor, you play a vital role in keeping our members safe during all water-based training and activities.<\/p><p>Whether you\u2019re overseeing a Nippers session, supporting club training, or managing a larger event, your leadership ensures the right supervision is in place\u2014and that all activities meet Surf Life Saving Australia\u2019s safety requirements.<\/p><p><strong>Your Role and Responsibilities<\/strong><br \/>As the Water Safety Supervisor, you are responsible for:<\/p><ul><li>Implementing appropriate water safety coverage during all Junior Activities and club training sessions<\/li><li>Leading and coordinating the water safety team, ensuring each person is qualified and ready<\/li><li>Completing Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form<\/li><li>Working closely with key club personnel such as Patrol Captains, Lifeguards, Coaches, and Junior Activities Coordinators<\/li><li>Ensuring SLSA policies and procedures are followed and adapted to your local conditions<\/li><li>This role is essential in promoting a safe, structured, and responsive environment for everyone participating in water-based training.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Final Note<\/strong><br \/>Water Safety Supervisors are at the heart of safe aquatic operations. By leading risk assessments and managing supervision, you help deliver professional, compliant, and enjoyable experiences for all participants.<\/p><p>If you\u2019re taking on this important role, ensure you\u2019re supported with the right training, resources, and communication with your Junior Activities or Club Management team.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1493\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1493\" data-target=\"#collapse-1493\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1493\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1493\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Water Safety Personnel<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1493\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1493\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Behind every surf lifesaving activity is a team of dedicated Water Safety Personnel ensuring every child, athlete, and member is safe in and around the water. Whether you\u2019re supporting Junior Activities or surf sports events, your role is crucial to our success on the sand and in the surf.<\/p><p>As part of the water safety team, you\u2019ll work closely with:<\/p><ul><li>Water Safety Supervisors<\/li><li>Junior Activities Coordinators<\/li><li>First Aid Officers<\/li><li>Event officials and patrol teams<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Together, you\u2019ll provide the supervision and support that keeps our members safe and confident in the water.<\/p><p><strong>Water Safety Requirements<\/strong><br \/>To be part of the water safety team, you must:<\/p><ul><li>Hold a Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion<\/li><li>Be rostered and signed on appropriately<\/li><li>Be in suitable water safety uniform (e.g., high-vis rash vest, cap, etc.)<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/><strong>Minimum ratios apply:<\/strong><\/p><p>For Junior Activities, there must be at least 1 qualified water safety officer for every 5 participants in the water.<\/p><p>Note: Your club or branch may have additional water safety coverage requirements. Always check local policies before an event.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1494\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1494\" data-target=\"#collapse-1494\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1494\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1494\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">U6 and U7 Water Safety Requirements<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1494\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1494\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Surf Life Saving Queensland is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for all young members\u2014especially those in the Under 6 and Under 7 age groups. These early years are about building confidence, having fun, and introducing beach safety in a gentle and playful way.<\/p><p>To help clubs deliver a high-quality and compliant experience, the following guidelines apply to all U6\/U7 Junior Activities sessions.<\/p><p><strong>Key Safety and Participation Guidelines<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>1. Minimum Age Requirement<\/strong><\/p><p>Children must be 5 years old before they can participate in Junior Activities.<br \/>Age is determined as of midnight, 30 September in the year of joining.<br \/>Children who turn 5 after this date can join mid-season but will remain in the U6 age group again the following year.<br \/>Clubs must sight proof of age (e.g. birth certificate) before accepting membership.<\/p><p><strong>2. Session Duration<\/strong><\/p><p>U6\/U7 sessions should be shorter and less intensive than older age groups to match children\u2019s attention spans and physical ability.<br \/>Clubs are encouraged to keep sessions flexible, engaging, and age-appropriate.<\/p><p><strong>3. Parent Involvement and Supervision<\/strong><\/p><p>Clubs may require additional parental support for these age groups.<br \/>Consideration should be given to increased duty of care, especially during transitions and water-based activities.<\/p><p><strong>4. Distinctive Cap Colour<\/strong><\/p><p>All U6 and U7 participants must wear a bright, easily identifiable cap (e.g. fluorescent green) that is clearly different from all other age groups.<br \/>This helps Age Managers and Water Safety personnel monitor younger children more effectively.<\/p><p><br \/><strong>Water Activity Guidelines<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>5. Water Depth Restrictions<\/strong><\/p><p>All U6\/U7 water-based activities must be conducted in shallow water only\u2014no deeper than knee height of the child.<\/p><p><strong>6. Approved Equipment Use<\/strong><\/p><p>Children may use club-issued foam boogie boards in shallow water (e.g. whitewash or broken waves only).<br \/>Boards must have no hard plastic, rails, or fins to ensure safety.<\/p><p><strong>7. No Structured Competition<\/strong><\/p><p>U6 and U7 Nippers must not take part in competitive activities.<br \/>All sessions should focus on social interaction, beach games, and confidence-building\u2014never performance or competition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1495\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1495\" data-target=\"#collapse-1495\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1495\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1495\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">U8 Guidelines<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1495\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1495\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>SLSQ U8 Board Training<br \/><\/strong><br \/><strong>1. Criteria<\/strong><\/p><p>Under 8 Nippers participating in activities within Surf Life Saving Queensland affiliated clubs are approved to use an SLSA approved Soft \u201cNipper\u201d Board on both Nipper &amp; Training days, ONLY when ALL the following conditions are complied with:<\/p><ul><li>Prior to any training, the Under 9 Preliminary Evaluations must be completed.<\/li><li>A completed Under 9 Junior Activity Competency Record needs to be kept in the Documents section on Surfguard or the Club JAC can keep a registered list within your clubhouse. Please note you must not raise an Under 9 award in Surfguard.<\/li><li>Training can commence from 1st January each year \u2013 (Exception North Queensland Branch from 1st August).<\/li><li>Under no circumstance can an Under 8 compete in ANY competition board event.<\/li><li>U8s on boards must be conducted on flat water only, NOT in surf conditions. (The definition of flat water can be found in Section 2 of this policy below).<\/li><li>Participants must be Active, Financial members.<\/li><li>The Club Risk Assessment must be completed by the coach and maintained as current.<\/li><li>All U8 Board Training must be approved by the clubs Management Committee.<br \/>NOTE: The training approval form specifically requests the Age Group and Location to be provided.<\/li><li>Correct Water Safety is in place<\/li><\/ul><p>Clubs should provide U8\u2019s with an introduction to Soft \u201cNipper\u201d Boards as per the SLSA learner plan<br \/>prior to any approved training session or at the end of the season prior to entering the Under 9 age<br \/>group.<\/p><p><strong>2. Flat Water Definition<\/strong><\/p><p>Flat water is defined as; Water with no or little current, little wind influence and very small waves.<\/p><p>Hazards are minimal and there is ready access to safe landing. The Risk Assessable elements to determination of flat water for the conduct of Under 8 Board training are explained in the below table.<\/p><table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\"><thead><tr><th>RISK<\/th><th>CONTROL LIMIT<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Current<\/td><td>No rip and minimal tidal current<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wind influence<\/td><td>&lt; 15 knots<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wave height and shape<\/td><td>&lt; 0.2 metre full or broken<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Max distance from shore<\/td><td>50 metres (In line with Competency)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hazards<\/td><td>No hazards<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Access \/ Exit to training area<\/td><td>Gradual slope, firm clean bottom, no structure<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p>If any control limit is exceeded, then Under 8\u2019s on Boards cannot go ahead.<\/p><p>Any members taking part in Under 8 on soft nipper boards need to acknowledge this is taking place<br \/>on the overall Club Risk Assessment document.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1496\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1496\" data-target=\"#collapse-1496\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1496\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1496\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">The Nipper Safety Assistant Award<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1496\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1496\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>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<br \/>Medallion to support water safety personnel during Nipper activities under certain conditions.<\/p><p>All members must follow the SLSA Water Safety Procedure, or the State Equivalent, as a minimum when providing water safety services for members activities.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.manula.com\/manuals\/slsq-tom\/junior-activities-manual\/1\/en\/topic\/nipper-adult-safety-assistants-naa-nsa\">Read more here<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1497\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1497\" data-target=\"#collapse-1497\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1497\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1497\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1497\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1497\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Your essential tool for managing water safety risk<\/strong><\/p><p>Before any water-based activity begins, the Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form must be completed. This form is:<\/p><ul><li>Mandatory for all Surf Life Saving water activities<\/li><li>Required for use by accredited Water Safety Supervisors, Coaches, Activity Leaders, or Training Officers<\/li><li>Designed to identify and manage risks based on local conditions<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Activities covered include:<\/p><ul><li>Junior Activities and member training sessions<\/li><li>Public programs and education sessions<\/li><li>Surf sports competition activities<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>The form ensures a thorough review of environmental conditions, participant needs, and available resources before any session starts.<\/p><p><strong>Where to Access the Form<\/strong><\/p><p><br \/>You can complete the form:<\/p><p>Through the <strong>SLSA Members Portal<\/strong><br \/>Go to: Library &gt; Governance &gt; Policies, Forms, SOPs &gt; Forms &gt; SLSA<\/p><p><br \/><strong>Club and Branch Responsibilities<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Branches regulate use of the Aquatic Risk Check Form to ensure compliance across all clubs<\/li><li>Clubs must ensure every water-based activity begins with a recorded risk assessment<\/li><li>Branches may apply additional requirements, so always check with your local branch for updates or procedures specific to your area<\/li><li>As a mobile app, for use directly on the beach or training area<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>To access the app:<\/p><ul><li>Download and complete the F049 \u2013 IT Systems Access Form via the Members Portal<\/li><li>Once approved, you\u2019ll be able to complete risk assessments from your mobile device in real-time<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1498\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1498\" data-target=\"#collapse-1498\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1498\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1498\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Mid-week and Pre-Season Training<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1498\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1498\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some clubs may wish to conduct additional training, pre-season or mid week, outside of the normal Nipper program day\/s.<\/p><p><br \/>For each training session, clubs are required to nominate a primary and a secondary venue along with a Water Safety Supervisor. This must then be submitted to the club for approval and recorded in the club minutes.<\/p><p><br \/>Note: As per the SLSA Policy 1.01 \u2013 Water Safety, adequate water safety procedures must be place prior to any water-based junior activities are conducted.<br \/>Please use the Nipper App for mid-week training attendance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-1499\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-1499\" data-target=\"#collapse-1499\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-1499\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-1499\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">On-Beach Ratios<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-1499\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1499\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-body\">SLSA provides the following guidelines for Age Managers recommending the supervision ratio of two (2) leaders to 20 participants.<\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"content-body\">If two leaders are available, preference is for one male and one female.<\/div><div class=\"content-body\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"content-body\">It is a requirement that all leaders must be qualified SLSQ age managers and meet all the pre requisites.<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-14910\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-14910\" data-target=\"#collapse-14910\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-14910\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-14910\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Sun Safety<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-14910\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-14910\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Queensland, when visiting the beach or venturing into the \u2018great outdoors\u2019, there is a need to be sun safe. Too much exposure to the sun can cause serious damage to your skin and, in the worst case, may result in melanoma.<\/p><p><br \/>Whenever you are going in the sun, make sure you take adequate precautions to avoid sun damage. By following the simple steps of \u2018Slip, Slop, Slap, Slide, Slurp and Seek\u2019, you can enjoy the beach and outdoors safely.<\/p><p><strong>Slip on a shirt<\/strong><br \/>Long\u2010sleeved shirts will provide the best protection against harmful ultra violet (UV) rays.<\/p><p><strong>Slop on some sunscreen<\/strong><br \/>Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going into the sun. For the best protection use 50+ sunscreen and be sure to re\u2010apply every two hours or after swimming.<\/p><p><strong>Slap on a hat<\/strong><br \/>Wide\u2010brim hats are best as they cover your head and provide shade for your face.<\/p><p><strong>Slide on some sunglasses<\/strong><br \/>Eyes are one of your most important assets and you have to take care of them. UV\u2010protective sunglasses will help prevent your eyes from getting sun\u2010damaged.<\/p><p><strong>Slurp lots of water<\/strong><br \/>When visiting the beach or staying out in the sun for extended periods, ensure that you drink plenty of water. Even if you are in the water, you can still dehydrate.<\/p><p><strong>Seek some shade<\/strong><br \/>Protective tents are a great way to protect you from the sun, but take care to ground them properly so they don\u2019t fly away and cause injury to other beach visitors.<\/p><p>Recommendations:<\/p><ul><li>Avoid direct exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day \u2013 between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm<\/li><li>Clubs and branches are advised to ensure they have adequate measures in place to ensure the protection of Junior Activities members from the sun, e.g. Tents for shade cover, drinks stations on the beach, wearing of hats when not in the water<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>It is mandatory for all North Queensland Branch Junior Activities competitors to wear one of the following sun protection clothing options during beach events: Long sleeved club shirts, long sleeved rash shirts, or full length stinger suits.<\/p><p>SLSQ has a heat management policy, which aims to provide a framework for the effective management of activities where because of high temperatures, members may be at an elevated risk of heat illness. The objective is to modify the format of the activity so it may continue on a basis which minimises the risk of heat stress to participants.<\/p><p>For all heat management requirements, please refer to the <strong>SLSQ Policy ADM 17 \u2013 Heat Management Policy.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item panel \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-heading\" id=\"heading-14911\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"accordion-title  tabindex=\"-1\">\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                    tabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" href=\"#collapse-14911\" data-target=\"#collapse-14911\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-14911\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-14911\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-title-txt\">Beach Layout Example<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"accordion-expander\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-14911\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion-6aa519171b6cc\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-14911\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>The following beach layout is a possible way to set up beach operations during a normal nipper day.<\/p><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-822\" src=\"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Water-Safety-Layout-300x180.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Water-Safety-Layout-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Water-Safety-Layout.png 641w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f5861d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3f5861d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For Volunteers Keeping Symal Nippers safe in the water Welcome to your go-to guide for water and beach safety and supervision in Junior Activities. This page brings together all the key policies, procedures, and safety expectations to ensure our youngest members can enjoy the beach in a safe, structured, and fun environment. Quick Reference Information [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-820","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":825,"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/820\/revisions\/825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/symalnippers.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}