Elliott Heads State School has partnered with Surf Life Saving Queensland to introduce an after-school surf lifesaving program.
Year 5/6 teacher Colin Crowther said the after-school activity started because of the school’s proximity to the coast.
He said the program introduced students to safety in a fun and safe environment.
“Most of the kids are down at the beach every weekend so this gives them a chance to have surf lifesavers teach them water awareness and safety,” Colin said.
Once the bell rings, students head down to the beach for a one-hour surf lifesaving lesson.
Elliott Heads State School is the first school in the Bundaberg Region to introduce the program, which creates linkages between surf clubs, schools and communities.
Georgia Martin from Surf Life Saving Queensland said the course taught useful skills.
“They’ll learn basic lifesaving,” she said.
“The kids learn how to do tube rescues and the basic signals to help keep themselves safe at the beach, like signalling to lifesavers.
“There’ll also be some general beach games to just keep them interested in having fun and a safe time at the beach.
“The age range from is from Year 1-6 and generally targets primary aged kids, which is really important because if we can do the education off the beach now it helps reduce the rates of rescues we have to do in the future.
“It all goes to achieving Surf Life Saving Queensland's mission of zero preventable deaths in Queensland waters.”
Colin said the program had opened up opportunities to improve beach safety education. It also enabled students, staff and parents the opportunity to enjoy the Bundaberg Region’s wonderful beaches.
“It’s great that the Active After School program gives us the opportunity and funding to run the surf lifesavers to come down and help us,” he said.
“We’re lucky that we’ve got some great teaching staff and this is a really great chance for the kids to get out and about.”
