Water Safety Programs
Surf Life Saving SA offers a range of water safety programs focusing on awareness, lifesaving skills and basic emergency procedures, surf sport skills, swimming techniques, and confidence in and around the water.
These programs ensure all community members have the chance to be educated in a way that is suited to their needs.
Children’s Water Safety Programs
Nippers
The Nippers program is a valuable opportunity for children aged 5 to 13 to join an active and friendly community while developing crucial life skills in surf awareness, beach patrols and surf sports.
Every club in South Australia offers a Nippers program, delivered between October and March by specially trained volunteers.
Rippers
Rippers is a new junior activities program based on the river. The program is specially designed for children aged five to twelve. The program is a great way to help kids learn essential water safety skills, grow their confidence, and make lifelong friendships.
Rippers is offered in Lake Bonney, Renmark and Murray Bridge, delivered in February and March.
VACSWIM
VACSWIM is South Australia's most renowned summer holiday program, giving children aged three to twelve confidence in and around the water.
VACSWIM is structured in five-day blocks, with 130+ programs on offer across nearly 120 beaches, lakes, pools and rivers.
Surf Babies
Surf Babies is a program for families with children aged one to five.
Adults will learn key water safety skills and gain confidence taking young children to the beach by learning how to identify hazards, respond to a beach-based emergency, and supervise children appropriately in the open water.
Parnggi Yarluwar
Porlar (PYP)
Parnggi Yarluwar Porlar (PYP) is a water safety program for First Nations children.
Participants have the opportunity to engage in swimming lessons at local pools before heading to our surf life saving clubs to participate in our Nippers program.
Community Water Safety Programs and Sessions
Welcome to SA
Shores Program
The ‘Welcome to SA Shores’ program targets multicultural communities and enables participants to learn vital beach and water safety skills. It is suitable for both non-experienced and experienced participants.
The six-week program takes place at both pool and beach locations.
The Indigenous Surf
Sports Program (ISSP)
This program unites SLSSA and a range of local and regional Indigenous communities and programs.
Through the support of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, ISSP aims to work with communities to promote water safety and empower students to achieve Surf Life Saving Awards.
Community Water
Safety Sessions
SLSSA offers specialised water safety sessions for different community groups.
These sessions can be in the form of a practical beach or pool program, informative presentations at a specified location, or an accredited training course, including First Aid, CPR, Pool Lifeguard and more.
Surf Education
Surf Education is our surf safety program delivered through schools.
They are on-beach sessions facilitated by the Department of Education’s Surf Ed instructors.