Education program the best in Australia

Beachport Surf Life Saving Club picks up national award for schools program

Beachport Surf Life Saving Club is now home to the national Community Education Program of the Year award after taking out the top prize at the Surf Life Saving Australia Awards of Excellence event held on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

The award was received for the club’s School Nippers Program, an initiative established by the club three years ago.

The program (picured in action above left) was started to promote the club and encourage primary school aged children to learn about water safety.

The club was established in 2016 and was on probation until the Surf Life Saving SA Board unanimously endorsed the club to be fully affiliated in 2021.

The club won the South Australian Community Education Program of the year award at the state awards in June this year putting them in the running for the national award against finalists from QLD, WA,TAS,NSW and VIC.

The award was accepted by the club’s chief instructor Julie Moran (pictured above right at the presentation ceremony), who has led the program using her skills as a teacher and instructor to deliver the successful program with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers.

The pilot school for the program, St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, did not have access to school-based swimming lessons and the School Nippers Program was a great opportunity for the students to become more confident in and around the water, learning about beach safety and developing their swimming skills.

The theoretical aspect of the program was delivered in schools through a series of sessions, and then the practical aspect of the program was presented at the beach to reiterate skills taught in the classroom as well as learn about water safety.

Funded by Sporting School grants which assists schools with travel and access to the program, members of the Beachport Surf Life Saving Club will once again volunteer in the coming months to run the program for approximately 250 students from three schools in the region.

This year’s program will see students attending from Beachport Primary School, Mary Mackillop Memorial School in Penola, and St Martins Lutheran College in Mount Gambier.

Beachport Surf Lifesaving Club is now looks forward to the upcoming season, with Nippers, for children five years and older as well as Youth programs commencing on Sunday, December 4.

Preparations are already underway, with training currently taking place for the Surf Rescue Certificate, Bronze Medallion and Advanced Resuscitation Awards.

The club is also hosting a Boat Licensce course on Monday, December 12, from 5pm – 8pm. Details about upcoming courses and Nippers/Youth programs for the season can be found on their Facebook or Instagram pages.