Water Safety

water & Beach safety

water & beach safety

keeping our kids safe!

Welcome to your go-to guide for water and beach safety and supervision in Junior Activities. This page brings together all the key policies, procedures, and safety expectations to ensure our youngest members can enjoy the beach in a safe, structured, and fun environment.

Water safety requirements for Junior Activities

Ensuring a safe and supportive environment for every Nipper

At Surf Life Saving Queensland, safety is at the heart of everything we do.

Here’s what you need to know to ensure your group is safe, supported, and ready for action.

Pre-Session Requirements

Risk Assessments are essential.
Before any water-based training begins, a documented risk assessment must be completed for the area being used. You can access the relevant form through SLSA Policy 1.01 – Water Safety.

Water Safety Coverage

All Junior Activities involving water require formal water safety supervision.

To meet minimum requirements, SLSQ mandates:

1 qualified water safety officer per 5 participants
All water safety personnel must hold the appropriate awards
Clubs must ensure safety coverage is tailored to the group’s size, activity type, and conditions

Your Branch Junior Activities Chairperson may have additional local guidelines—always check for any updates or branch-specific requirements.

What to Wear in the Water

All Nippers participating in competition or open water activities must wear high-visibility clothing, including:

A hot pink rash vest (compulsory for competitors)
Check your local branch policy for additional uniform requirements

Refer to the SLSQ MS13 – High Visibility Clothing Policy for full details.

Signing On and Record Keeping

To support safety and accountability, all participants and personnel must sign on before starting their session.

Records can be kept by the Age Manager, Coach, or Water Safety Coordinator
Standard patrol logbooks or club attendance systems can be used

Water Safety Qualifications

Water safety personnel must:

Hold the correct SLSQ qualifications
Be approved by the club before taking part
Be included in the session’s planning to ensure the right ratio and coverage

Patrol Hour Accreditation

Members rostered to water safety can have their time officially recorded if approved by their club:

Clubs must decide at the start of the season whether water safety hours will be accredited
These decisions should be minuted by the club committee
Hours must be accurately logged for patrol recognition

Even if patrol hour accreditation doesn’t apply, recording time volunteered by all water safety personnel is encouraged. These contributions can be recognised at season-end presentations and in your club’s annual report.

Water Safety Supervisor

As a Water Safety Supervisor, you play a vital role in keeping our members safe during all water-based training and activities.

Whether you’re overseeing a Nippers session, supporting club training, or managing a larger event, your leadership ensures the right supervision is in place—and that all activities meet Surf Life Saving Australia’s safety requirements.

Your Role and Responsibilities

As the Water Safety Supervisor, you are responsible for:

Implementing appropriate water safety coverage during all Junior Activities and club training sessions
Leading and coordinating the water safety team, ensuring each person is qualified and ready
Completing Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form
Working closely with key club personnel such as Patrol Captains, Lifeguards, Coaches, and Junior Activities Coordinators
Ensuring SLSA policies and procedures are followed and adapted to your local conditions

This role is essential in promoting a safe, structured, and responsive environment for everyone participating in water-based training.

Final Note

Water Safety Supervisors are at the heart of safe aquatic operations. By leading risk assessments and managing supervision, you help deliver professional, compliant, and enjoyable experiences for all participants.

If you’re taking on this important role, ensure you’re supported with the right training, resources, and communication with your Junior Activities or Club Management team.

Water Safety Personnel

Behind every surf lifesaving activity is a team of dedicated Water Safety Personnel ensuring every child, athlete, and member is safe in and around the water. Whether you’re supporting Junior Activities or surf sports events, your role is crucial to our success on the sand and in the surf.

As part of the water safety team, you’ll work closely with:

Water Safety Supervisors
Junior Activities Coordinators
First Aid Officers
Event officials and patrol teams

Together, you’ll provide the supervision and support that keeps our members safe and confident in the water.

Water Safety Requirements

To be part of the water safety team, you must:

Hold a Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion
Be rostered and signed on appropriately
Be in suitable water safety uniform (e.g., high-vis rash vest, cap, etc.)

Minimum ratios apply:

For Junior Activities, there must be at least 1 qualified water safety officer for every 5 participants in the water.

Note: Your club or branch may have additional water safety coverage requirements. Always check local policies before an event.

U6 & U7 Water Safety Requirements

Surf Life Saving Queensland is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for all young members—especially those in the Under 6 and Under 7 age groups. These early years are about building confidence, having fun, and introducing beach safety in a gentle and playful way.

To help clubs deliver a high-quality and compliant experience, the following guidelines apply to all U6/U7 Junior Activities sessions.

Key Safety and Participation Guidelines

1. Minimum Age Requirement

Children must be 5 years old before they can participate in Junior Activities.
Age is determined as of midnight, 30 September in the year of joining.
Children who turn 5 after this date can join mid-season but will remain in the U6 age group again the following year.
Clubs must sight proof of age (e.g. birth certificate) before accepting membership.

2. Session Duration

U6/U7 sessions should be shorter and less intensive than older age groups to match children’s attention spans and physical ability.
Clubs are encouraged to keep sessions flexible, engaging, and age-appropriate.

3. Parent Involvement and Supervision

Clubs may require additional parental support for these age groups.
Consideration should be given to increased duty of care, especially during transitions and water-based activities.

4. Distinctive Cap Colour

All U6 and U7 participants must wear a bright, easily identifiable cap (e.g. fluorescent green) that is clearly different from all other age groups.
This helps Age Managers and Water Safety personnel monitor younger children more effectively.

Water Activity Guidelines

5. Water Depth Restrictions

All U6/U7 water-based activities must be conducted in shallow water only—no deeper than knee height of the child.

6. Approved Equipment Use

Children may use club-issued foam boogie boards in shallow water (e.g. whitewash or broken waves only).
Boards must have no hard plastic, rails, or fins to ensure safety.

7. No Structured Competition

U6 and U7 Nippers must not take part in competitive activities.
All sessions should focus on social interaction, beach games, and confidence-building—never performance or competition.

The Nipper Safety Assistant Award

Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form

Your essential tool for managing water safety risk

Before any water-based activity begins, the Aquatic Risk Check and Management Form must be completed. This form is:

Mandatory for all Surf Life Saving water activities
Required for use by accredited Water Safety Supervisors, Coaches, Activity Leaders, or Training Officers
Designed to identify and manage risks based on local conditions

Activities covered include:

Junior Activities and member training sessions
Public programs and education sessions
Surf sports competition activities

The form ensures a thorough review of environmental conditions, participant needs, and available resources before any session starts.

Where to Access the Form

You can complete the form:

Through the SLSA Members Portal
Go to: Library > Governance > Policies, Forms, SOPs > Forms > SLSA

Club and Branch Responsibilities

Branches regulate use of the Aquatic Risk Check Form to ensure compliance across all clubs
Clubs must ensure every water-based activity begins with a recorded risk assessment
Branches may apply additional requirements, so always check with your local branch for updates or procedures specific to your area

As a mobile app, for use directly on the beach or training area

To access the app:

Download and complete the F049 – IT Systems Access Form via the Members Portal
Once approved, you’ll be able to complete risk assessments from your mobile device in real-time

Mid-Week and Pre-Season Training

Some clubs may wish to conduct additional training, pre-season or mid week, outside of the normal Nipper program day/s.

For each training session, clubs are required to nominate a primary and a secondary venue along with a Water Safety Supervisor. This must then be submitted to the club for approval and recorded in the club minutes.

Note: As per the SLSA Policy 1.01 – Water Safety, adequate water safety procedures must be place prior to any water-based junior activities are conducted.

Please use the Nipper App for mid-week training attendance.

On-Beach Ratios

Sun Safety

In Queensland, when visiting the beach or venturing into the ‘great outdoors’, there is a need to be sun safe. Too much exposure to the sun can cause serious damage to your skin and, in the worst case, may result in melanoma.

Whenever you are going in the sun, make sure you take adequate precautions to avoid sun damage. By following the simple steps of ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Slide, Slurp and Seek’, you can enjoy the beach and outdoors safely.

Slip on a shirt

Long‐sleeved shirts will provide the best protection against harmful ultra violet (UV) rays.

Slop on some sunscreen

Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going into the sun. For the best protection use 30+ sunscreen and be sure to re‐apply every two hours or after swimming.

Slap on a hat

Wide‐brim hats are best as they cover your head and provide shade for your face.

Slide on some sunglasses

Eyes are one of your most important assets and you have to take care of them. UV‐protective sunglasses will help prevent your eyes from getting sun‐damaged.

Slurp lots of water

When visiting the beach or staying out in the sun for extended periods, ensure that you drink plenty of water. Even if you are in the water, you can still dehydrate.

Seek some shade

Protective tents are a great way to protect you from the sun, but take care to ground them properly so they don’t fly away and cause injury to other beach visitors.

Recommendations:

Avoid direct exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day – between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Clubs and branches are advised to ensure they have adequate measures in place to ensure the protection of Junior Activities members from the sun, e.g. Tents for shade cover, drinks stations on the beach, wearing of hats when not in the water

It is mandatory for all North Queensland Branch Junior Activities competitors to wear one of the following sun protection clothing options during beach events: Long sleeved club shirts, long sleeved rash shirts, or full length stinger suits.

SLSQ HEAT MANAGEMENT POLICY

SLSQ has a heat management policy, which aims to provide a framework for the effective management of activities where because of high temperatures, members may be at an elevated risk of heat illness. The objective is to modify the format of the activity so it may continue on a basis which minimises the risk of heat stress to participants.

For all heat management requirements, please refer to the SLSQ Policy ADM 17 – Heat Management Policy.

Beach Layout Example