INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Activity days are held every second Sunday starting at 9 am. Rain and wind doesn’t stop us – only thunder and lightning.
WHY JOIN NIPPERS ?
With over 180,000 members and 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs, Surf Life Saving Australia represents the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world! Surf Life Saving Clubs save lives, create great Australians and build strong communities. The Nipper program promotes learning valuable skills and knowledge about the beach in a safe, stimulating and fun environment. You don’t need any equipment – just yourself and the nippers cap and vest. By joining the club, you and your Nipper will:
• Develop the surf skills to enjoy our beaches and waterways
• Contribute to the local Austinmer community
• Make new friendships!
• Participate in a healthy and active lifestyle
• Develop confidence and water safety knowledge
• Make new friends
The club offers opportunities to join in broader activities – such as Patrolling, First Aid, Surf Sports, Coaching, Age Managing and social activities for the whole family. We welcome everyone, no matter what your experience is in the water and on the beach. Your Nipper however, must turn 5 before 30 September to join for the coming season.
Click here for Life Saving NSW FAQS – Information for parents
NIPPER AGE GROUPS
In accordance with regulations from SLSNSW, a child must have turned 5 prior to 30 September for the upcoming season to be eligible to join. Children are registered in their age group according to the age of the child on 30 September. For example, if your child is 11 on 30 September, the child will be in U12’s.
| Age on 30 Sep 2024 | Age Group |
| 5 | Under 6 (Green Caps) |
| 6 | Under 7 (Yellow Caps) |
| 7 | Under 8 |
| 8 | Under 9 |
| 9 | Under 10 |
| 10 | Under 11 |
| 11 | Under 12 |
| 12 | Under 13 |
| 13 | Under 14 |
ALL under 6 parents are required to stay with their children every activity day for the whole session.
ALL children must be signed off by the age manager before leaving the beach. You must tell your age manager if you take your child off the beach if you need to leave early, to go to the toilet etc.
From Under 8 upwards children are required to do a swimming proficiency test and a survival float. This will be held during the first few Nippers sessions. The results of this test indicate the level of supervision that your child requires. To obtain a SLSA certificate at the end of the season, 4 of the first 5 sessions must be attended.
UNIFORMS
All nippers will be supplied with a vest and cap after registering and must be worm to participate.
This is a safety rule set out by Surf Lifesaving Australia and must be complied with.
NO CAP/HIGH VIS VEST = NO NIPPERS.
NIPPERS REGISTRATION
Please click here for Registration Information
NIPPERS PARENTS WE NEED YOU !
What makes Nippers such a learning and fun environment for the kids is our brilliant Age Managers, and Assistant Age Managers. We would love for YOU to be an Age or Assistant Age Manager for one of the Nippers Groups. For more info on being an Age Manager see: https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/resources/junior-activities-nippers
If you are interested please contact the committee at: austi.nippers@gmail.com
ALL parents are required to help out. The Age Managers need assistance especially with the younger age groups and we need lots of parents to help run the activities. The more parents we have on the beach and in the water the more activities we can organise for the kids.
Some parents and helpers might need the NSW Working With Children Check. The information provided on the links below will indicate if you need one of these or not.
SLSNSW Working with Children Check FAQs
SLSNSW Working with Children Check Requirements
The BBQ is our only form of fundraising and this is how we raise much needed funds to purchase new equipment and to run activities such as the Christmas Party. The parents of one age group each week will be rostered to help out. Enough parents are needed to provide two shifts.
We are always short of water safety officers. If you have your bronze medallion you can help out with water safety. If we don’t have enough water safety people on the day your children may not be able to do surf activities. We offer courses to train parents to achieve their bronze medallion.
For information about the type of activities each nippers age group will be doing through the season please click on the links below:
Nippers who complete their surf rescue certificates and bronze medallion training (U14 & U 15’s) are required to participate on beach patrols the following season. They will be included on the patrol roster and are expected to attend. It is a great way for young adults to learn some responsibility and contribute to the community. If your child doesn’t want to patrol and give back to the club they won’t be allowed to complete the training programme.
Uniform items can be purchased throughout the season in the clubhouse.
At Christmas time Santa always pays a visit and usually has a big sack full of lolly bags.
There will be a trophy and medal presentation on the last activity day. All nippers receive a medal.
Email: austi.nippers@gmail.com
Feel free to approach any of the committee members if you have questions or issues to discuss.
Dear parents of Austi nippers please join our Facebook Community at: Austi Nippers Facebook Community
Nippers is a fun way to develop surf awareness, boost confidence and meet new friends. We hope that the children will continue on to become active surf lifesavers.
We look forward to seeing you on the beach.