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Sutherland Shire Council Surf Education Programs

For over 20 years, Sutherland Shire Council Lifeguards have delivered surf education programs to students across the region, teaching vital beach safety and survival skills. What began as school visits in the 1980s has grown into a range of engaging, self-led and partner-supported programs promoting safer, smarter time at the beach for all ages.

Surf Awareness Course

4 hours – Primary School Students

 The Surf Awareness course is a four-hour interactive and practical course tailored to suit abilities of upper primary aged
children.
The program involves basic surf theory, First Aid and water work in the pool. Students will apply their knowledge learnt during
a beach walk and in the pool. Water work in the surf is dependent on surf conditions.

Students will learn how to:

  • identify potential dangers
  • recognise safe and unsafe swimming areas
  • identify rips and currents
  • identify wave types and how they are formed
  • implement emergency response procedures
  • apply deep water floatation techniques
  • apply correct board paddling techniques

This course requires students to complete a 100m swim without stopping.

Surf Survival Course

8 hours – High School Students

The Surf Survival course is eight lessons where high school students master both theory and hands-on components of surf safety. Lessons can be presented in various orders dependent on the surf conditions on the day. Students are required to swim 200m in 5 minutes at the beginning of the course to satisfy legal and safety requirements.

On completion, students will be issued with a Surf Survival certificate, which is recognised by the New South Wales Department of Education.

Safety Talks

45 minutes – All Students

Sutherland Shire Council Lifeguards attend education settings for an interactive surf safety talk. The talk is accompanied by a presentation that covers all safety information needed to stay safe while visiting the beach.

For More Information

 For further information on Sutherland Shire Council’s Surf Safety programs visit the following link:
https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/play-and-explore/beaches-and-waterways/beaches/surf-education-programs

Our Partners

Our partners are committed to surf safety and have been central to developing SURFHERO. Each run programs for kids, volunteer activities, competitive sport development, surf safety research and promote active and healthy lifestyles. We encourage schools and the community to book programs provided by these organisations.

Vegemite SurfGroms

VEGEMITE SurfGroms is a national junior development program for 5-12yr olds that encourages kids to get involved in surfing all around Australia. VEGEMITE SurfGroms is available exclusively through licensed Surfing Australia Surf Schools.

Surf Lifesaving Australia

Surf Life Saving is Australia’s major water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority. We create a safe environment on Australia’s beaches and coastline through patrols, education and training, public safety campaigns.

Surfers Rescue 24/7

Surfers Rescue 24/7 is a free CPR and board rescue course. Surfers are on the beach from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. A lot of them are responsible for hundreds of thousands of unsung rescues. In conjunction with pro-surfers who are currently working as lifeguards, Surfing NSW have identified board rescue techniques that may prove to be crucial in times of need.

University of New South Wales

Welcome to the University of New South Wales, one of Australia’s leading research and teaching universities. At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs.

Our Providers

These are surf education based companies that provide programs that schools (particularly those not in the Sutherland Shire) may like to take advantage of. These businesses are provided adverting space on SURFHERO in order to promote surf education opportunities.

Cronulla Surf School

Founder of the Surfschool Mark Aprilovic, started surfing as a grommet. He was a competitive surfer at a state and national level and started coaching in 1981. He holds a Level 1 and a Level 2 Surfing Australia Accreditation, and is a Mentor Coach.

Cronulla Surf Academy

Surf Life Saving is Australia’s major water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority. We create a safe environment on Australia’s beaches and coastline through patrols, education and training, public safety campaigns.

Apola

APOLA Inc is a non-profit professional association that is recognised as the peak professional association for Australian professional beach inspector ocean lifeguards. It promotes best practice in ocean water safety and beach management and coordinates professional ocean lifeguard activity in lifeguard training, community education, tourism support, public relations, regulation and risk management in consultation with Councils and their professional lifeguards.

Trent Munro Surf Academy

Trent started surfing before he could actually swim, on the inside of Scotts Head point of his Dad’s surfboard, wearing ‘floaties’! Now after 25 years of surfing competitively, and 10 years on the professional tour itself, Trent wants to share his experiences, knowledge, drive and love of the surf with you. With his Surfing Australia license, Level 2 Surf Coaching award, Professional Ocean Lifeguard Certificate (POL) trained through APOLA Inc. and many, many hours of experience over the 20 years you can rest assured that you will be in safe hands at all times.

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