Programs

Lifesaving Education Programs

LSV’s Lifesaving Education Programs create everyday lifesavers out of students, by teaching them practical and engaging water safety, lifesaving and emergency response skills. These skills empower students to make safe aquatic related decisions while enjoying their local waterways.
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What are Lifesaving Education Programs?

 

Many Victorians spend their holidays at the beach or at inland waterways such as rivers and lakes. These open-water environments are dynamic and hazardous, and every year there are multiple drowning incidents of children aged five to 14 years of age.

To help keep children safe, LSV has developed Lifesaving Education Programs that harnesses a three-pronged approach to swimming and water safety to ensure that children:

  1. Develop water safety knowledge

  2. Acquire swimming skills

  3. Transfer these competencies to various open-water environments.

With this program Victorian students are able to transfer the water safety knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom and swimming skills they’ve learned in the pool to stay safe in open-water environments.

Program Options

Lifesaving Education in the Classroom

LSV’s incursion program is an excellent opportunity to teach students about water safety from the expertise of a surf lifesaver. This interactive experience empowers students to stay safe in a range of aquatic environments without having to leave their place of learning.

Who is this program for?

While this type of program is most commonly delivered to students in a school and classroom setting, the program can also be delivered to children in kindergarten as well as scouts or community groups.

How does the program work?

The program is delivered as an incursion, at your school or nominated venue. This can be a school classroom, hall or gymnasium.

How long are our programs?

Courses are typically 1 hour in duration, however times can be flexible to suit your needs.

What’s covered in this program?

Participants in the Lifesaving Education Program will cover:

  • Supervision: ‘Never swim alone’ and ‘Always swim with a friend’
  • Swim between the red and yellow flags
  • Identify people who can help you (role of a lifeguard)
  • Read the safety signs & check the conditions
  • Lifejacket safety
  • How to identify and avoid dangers
  • Know what to do in an emergency situation
  • SunSmart
  • Know your limits ‘Don’t drink and drown (senior programs only)
How many students per program?

The suggested number of students for this program is 20-60 (1 or 2 class groups). Delivery to smaller groups is possible, however a minimum participant fee may be necessary for programs outside of metropolitan Melbourne.

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Lifesaving Education at the Beach, River or Lake

LSV’s Lifesaving Education Program is an open water program that is an engaging, practical opportunity for students to learn about water safety. Conducted in an open water environment similar to those they might visit with family and friends, students learn about the ever changing environment, the risks that are posed and how they respond in an emergency situation. Students will enjoy the opportunity to transfer the swimming skills they’ve learned in the pool and the water safety knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom to the natural open water environments of rivers, lakes and beaches.

What’s covered in this program?

Participants in the Life Saving Education Program at the beach, river or lake will learn:

  • Everyday Lifesavers (CPR and basic emergency response)
  • Be Aware and Be Prepared (water safety knowledge and understanding safety signs)
  • Survival Strategies (life jackets)
  • Rescue Strategies
  • Safe Bodyboarding
How long are our programs?

Our outdoor programs run for two hours with options to:

  • Book multiple days
  • Add a water safety in the classroom session
  • Add a second two hour beach carnival session

Note: Sporting Schools funding can be used for 2x two hour programs

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Specialist Development and Specialist Schools

We have two programs that have been developed specifically for delivery to Specialist and SDS schools. They can be delivered as an incursion (The Bubble) or excursion (At the Beach, River or Lake). Alternatively, we can also visit your school and deliver a standard program in the classroom.

Information Flyer can be found here.

In The Bubble

LSV’s sensory water safety experience teaches water safety and familiarisation in a dry, controlled environment, catering to a variety of sensory preferences and needs. The Bubble incursion provides a safe learning space where sessions can be tailored to the needs and abilities of students. From meeting a lifeguard to a fully facilitated education session, students will be learning water safety skills and gaining valuable knowledge in the Bubble.

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Tailored Beach, River Or Lake Programs For Specialist Schools

The LSV Education team can tailor the beach, river or lake programs to accommodate students of all abilities. The program aims to make the enjoyment of water-based activities safer for Victorian students of all abilities, educating them in an open water environment. With small group sizes, modified equipment and schedules, and a flexible program, we encourage participants to learn at their own pace and celebrate achievements big and small! 

Contact our team for more details.

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Program FAQs

Can I get government funding for these programs?

Yes! There are several government funding options that have been implemented to support the delivery of swimming and water safety education.

Swimming in Schools

The Swimming in Schools initiative provides funding to Victorian government primary, Specialist and English language schools as well as Catholic primary schools to meet the requirements of the swimming and water safety education component of the Victorian Curriculum F – 10 Health and Physical Education learning area.

Funding is provided directly to Victorian government schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) as a Targeted Initiative and to Catholic primary schools via the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA). There is no requirement to apply for Swimming in Schools funding as it is automatically provided to eligible schools.

Sporting Schools Funding

In addition, schools can apply for Sporting Schools Funding. Sporting Schools is an initiative developed by the Australian Government.

This initiative is designed to support primary and secondary schools to increase student participation in sport and community sporting activities.

This funding is available for all primary schools, as well as secondary schools to support their Year 7 and 8 students. It can be used to purchase equipment, fund coaching and lesson delivery, book transport, hire facilities and other similar costs.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

Schools can also use the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). This fund was developed by the Victorian Government for expenses relating to camps, sport and/or excursions for the benefit of eligible students.

Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to individual students.

How many programs can I book per year?

Schools have full autonomy over the design and implementation of their swimming and water safety programs with school schedules and budgets being key considerations.

Program design should be suited to the needs of the students based on their water safety knowledge, swimming skills and open-water experience.

LSV recommends that schools keep in mind the following factors:

  • the three-pronged approach will provide students with vital lifesaving knowledge, skills and experience
  • there is no set number of lessons that students should participate in
  • regular participation is crucial to maintaining and progressively developing competencies

When do the programs run?

Lifesaving Education Programs are delivered at open water venues by LSV during the warmer months of the year in Term 1 and Term 4. The limited timeframe results in programs booking out fast so planning can be crucial to the delivery of your program.

Classroom programs are delivered year round, and are a fantastic way to ensure water safety remains a priority during cooler months, to help prepare for a school camp or for swimming lessons.

Who delivers the programs?

The LSV staff that deliver Lifesaving Education Programs for schools are appropriately qualified for all different types of open waterways, and many are active patrolling members of a Life Saving Club, bringing a wealth of knowledge to their local beach.

We have also been expanding our program delivery through partnerships. To date, LSV has trained and qualified staff at nine aquatic and community organisations enabling them to deliver Lifesaving Education Programs to schools and the community.

Do you service regional Victoria?

Yes we do! Contact our team for more details on our offerings.