Note: It is helpful for us to sight the birth certificate of your nipper when joining to confirm DOB to ensure placement in the correct age group.

A child may join a SLSC as soon as he/she turns five years of age.  No SLSC is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of five years to comply with insurance requirements.  A child who reaches five years of age after 30th September may join nippers at that time for the remainder of the season; however, this child will be required to stay in the U6 nippers age group again the following season. It is the SLSC’s responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where can the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation  (proficiency swims) take place?  These can take place in the ocean, rock pool, or local indoor/outdoor swimming pool.  If your child attends swim school, preliminary evaluations can be completed by a qualified Australian Swimming Coach using this document:  Junior Preliminary Evaluations 25-25
2. Why do we do Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluations?  To record the baseline level of a child’s competency in the water before they can commence junior activities.  It also assists with determining water safety numbers for Nipper sessions each week.
3. Who can assess the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation?  It is recommended that an 18+ Surf Life Saving member who is approved by their club, has a minimum of two years’ experience as an Age Manager and holds a proficient SRC/Bronze Medallion, or is a qualified Australian Swimming Coach.
4. Can children move down in Nipper age groups?  Yes, this is permitted however, they must complete the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation and program for the age group they are entering.  They will also receive the certificate of completion for this age group.  Eg, a child who is eligible to be in U9’s can move down to the U8 age group if they would like to.  This child will only complete the U8 Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation and program and will receive the U8 certificate of completion.
5. Can children move up in Nipper age groups?  Yes, however, they can only move up by one age level, and this undertaking requires that the child completes the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation for the age group they are entering.  Eg, a child who is eligible to be in U9’s can move up to the U10 age group if they have satisfactorily achieved the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation for the U10’s age group.  The child is only eligible to compete at carnivals (local, state and national) in their age group as designated by their date of birth.
6. What happens when a child does not pass the Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation?  Any child who does not meet the required preliminary evaluation level will require more supervision when involved in water based activities (at the club’s discretion).  Eg, If you have a nipper who doesn’t meet the requirements for the propulsion component of the evaluation, you will need to ensure that this child is provided additional water safety when completing in water activities – talk to JAC Shane for more information.
7. How to become an Age Manager:  Contact our Junior Activities Coordinator (JAC) Shane  to express interest in becoming an Age Manager.  Online learning courses must be undertaken as part of the Age Manager Training through the SLSA eLearning section in the SLS Hub.
8. How to become an Age Managers Assistant:  Contact our JAC Shane to express interest in becoming an Age Managers Assistant.  Age Managers Assistants play a vital role on the beach, supporting Age Managers each week during Nippers activities.  These assistants are aged 13-15 yrs and are required to complete both the online Child Safe Awareness course and the online component of the Age Manager course to be eligible for the role.
9. Both the Age Manager and Age Managers Assistant awards require annual skills maintenance, which is completed online by watching a designated video available through the SLS Hub.
10. Do you need a Working with Children Check (WWC)? It is recommended that all age managers over the age of 18 have a valid WWC.
11. Can Nippers wear goggles and/or wetsuits?  Yes, children are permitted to wear wetsuits and goggles at any time during Nippers activities for comfort and protection, however, a high visibility rash vest (pink Freemasons) must always be worn as the outermost layer.  Goggles can be worn in the water at any time.  Please note that during competition (local, state and national), wetsuits are only permitted if the water temperature drops below 16 degrees celsius, in accordance with competition regulations.