Surf Life Saving
The Targeted Sports Participation Growth Program developed by Surf Life Saving Australia has two elements – School Surf League and Beach to Bush.
Both programs are targeted at boys and girls aged 9 to 18 years, and provide opportunities for individuals to move from grassroots participation through to elite levels, while maintaining significant membership growth within the organisation in all areas, including regional and remote locations.
Telstra School Surf League
School Surf League is a combination of active surf sports and surf safety. The program aims to increase participation in surf lifesaving by introducing educational surf safety messages, with a continuing emphasis on fun, friendship and the development of participants’ personal, social and technical skills through surf sports activities.
Schools are linked with a sister surf lifesaving club, with participants being taught water safety and surf awareness before competing in inter-school competitions. Surf Life Saving Australia then implements strategies – including the establishment of a community membership category – to encourage participants to become a member of the local surf lifesaving club.
Telstra Beach to Bush
Beach to Bush offers school-aged children in regional and rural areas an introduction to surf lifesaving, using local waterways and surf lifesaving equipment. As with the School Surf League, Beach to Bush links with the nearest club in the region and participants have the opportunity to become active members of that club.
Furthermore, in the targeted regional areas, rural lifesaving clubs will be established with participants in the Beach to Bush Program encouraged to become active members of these Clubs. These clubs will provide participants a structured program of regional competitions and events with opportunities to continue to develop their surf skills. There will be links created between rural life saving clubs and surf life saving clubs to provide support and create relationships between the clubs and participants.
In targeting specific areas to roll-out these programs, SLSA intends to develop its non-traditional membership base including indigenous communities, multicultural groups and community youth groups in regional areas. In addition, SLSA will look to further develop its traditional membership base in areas where clubs have the capacity to take on increased membership.
Visit the Surf Life Saving Australia website for more information.
