Nippers Surf Education and Safety

The Nippers Surf Education and Safety program, organised by Black Rock Life Saving Club, is perfect for children in Melbourne aged 5 to 13 years who want to learn important lifesaving skills and enhance their personal safety, fitness, and first aid knowledge at the beach. Just to clarify, Nippers is not a learn-to-swim program, so it's great if your child already has some swimming experience. Before enrolling in the program, your nipper will need to pass a swimming assessment. Until they pass, it's significant for parents to supervise their children one-on-one.

At Black Rock Life Saving Club, the Nippers program is run entirely by passionate volunteers, and parental involvement is crucial for its success. There are many ways parents can get involved, including helping with nipper activities on the beach and in the water, achieving the Bronze award to assist in the water, and organising social activities for both nippers and parents.

The program is divided into different age groups, from Under 6 (5 years old) to Under 14 (13 years old). Throughout the season, Black Rock Nippers get to enjoy a variety of social events, including discos, beach games, water park obstacle courses, and bake sales. As part of the surf education aspect, nippers learn essential water safety and survival skills, as well as the importance of respecting and protecting the environment. As they progress through the age categories, they'll acquire knowledge in health, lifesaving rescue techniques, first aid, and resuscitation. If they wish, at the age of 13, they can even achieve their Surf Rescue Certificate and join beach patrols.

Starting from the U8 age group, nippers have the opportunity to participate in competitive events where they can develop their beach and surf skills while having loads of fun and working as a team. Remember, competition is encouraged but not mandatory. Carnivals take place at various Bay and Surf beaches around the State each year, providing an excellent opportunity to explore different parts of Victoria.

Black Rock Life Saving Club is dedicated to nurturing well-rounded, healthy lifesavers within a supportive, fun, and educational environment. They prioritise family and community-based values. The program runs from November to February on Saturdays, focusing on fitness, fun, and games to promote beach safety in the future. The curriculum covers a range of topics, including beach and surf conditions, aquatic animals, first aid, swimming and board skills, as well as beach sprints and flags. Please note that this program is not designed to teach swimming, and all participants need to achieve the preliminary skills (PS) level for their respective age group.

In addition to the regular program, the club also offers extra skills training for those interested in competing at carnivals. They have a successful track record in teaching and training life savers, and their junior competition programs cater to different age groups, such as U9-U14 and U8-U11. Some of these programs have specific award requirements for participation. Training sessions usually take place on Thursdays, Sundays, and surf trips, depending on the program and time of the year. Some programs may involve additional costs for lane fees.

Black Rock Life Saving Club greatly appreciates the support of local businesses as sponsors and supporters. Their contributions enable the club to provide a patrolled beach throughout the summer and deliver vital water safety and training programs to the community. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch with admin@brlsc.org.au.