Champion Bay SLSC makes waves with inclusive program, SLSWA announces all-abilities expansion into regional WA

Surf Life Saving WA’s all-abilities Nippers program is expanding into regional WA, but Geraldton’s Champion Bay Surf Life Saving Club is already making waves with their inclusive Dolphins program. The Dolphins program is an inclusive initiative designed to encourage neurodivergent children to access the beach in a way tailored to the specific needs of the individual, while developing confidence, building water safety skills and having fun. The program, which started in 2022, runs from November to April, and averages about nine children, plus a dedicated team of volunteers and some parents who assist in the water. Champion Bay Surf Life Saving Club president Peter Nelson said the program was child-led, with the children able to work through activities at their own pace. “The kids are dead keen to get in the water, so that’s what takes up a majority of their time on a Sunday,” he said. “They’ve gained confidence for a start, so even if the kids came down to the beach and had a good time, then we figured that was worth the effort.” The sessions include many activities, including swimming around Town Beach, using various pieces of equipment like noodles and boards and jumping off the pontoon into the ocean — a crowd favourite. Program co-ordinator Geoff Mackin has been running the Dolphins program since its inception, and said the growth of each child has been amazing to see. “Some of the kids wouldn’t even get in the water, now we can’t get them out,” he said. “Their swimming abilities and their comfort in the water is what we aim at. It’s to make them feel comfortable in the water and now go out to the pontoon, no problem at all. “From a social point of view, it’s fantastic. They’re meeting up with other people.” Last week, Surf Life Saving WA announced its all-abilities Nippers program is expanding into regional WA, with Geraldton’s Champion Bay SLSC one of the clubs on the list. Children aged five and over are eligible for the program, and will partake similar activities to their peers, including beach safety education and swimming and board skills. Along with enjoyment of the beach, surf and water safety education and confidence in the water, it also aims to get WA nippers competition-ready in the Adaptive Aussies, a new category in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. However, Mackin said he was prioritising enjoyment and confidence over competition at the moment. “We may develop into competition later on, but at this stage, we’re not aiming there just yet,” he said. “But with our kids, all we really are aiming for is one, enjoyment, get them confident in the water, which is most important because then they’re not afraid to go down the beach other times outside the program.” Baxter, 13 is one child who has benefited from the Dolphins program, with his confidence building with each session. His mum Casey Brennan said the program had helped him overcome his fear of the ocean and some sensory aversion. “To begin with, he was only ever on the board. He wouldn’t even get in the water,” she said. “They used to drag him out there on these big surfboards and he would lay there and watch everybody. Then he progressed using the noodle and they left the boards behind. Now he just goes out happily with the noodle and the volunteers.” For Heather Prestage. another mother with a child in the Dolphins program, it’s helped her son Liam, 13 socially and with his swimming ability. “The social component was a big thing, because Liam always want to be on the go, always catching up with people and it was getting a bit hard for us, so this has been fantastic,” she said. “Just for his swimming as well, because I like to keep him active and he’s a sensory seeker, so it’s good and helps keep him happy. “His swimming has come along too. He’s swimming out to the pontoon and much further than he used to before.” Moving forward, Prestage, said she would like to see more children participating. “It would just be good to see more people joining because I know how much it benefits other kids around town,” she said. “The sport programs aren’t getting the number of participants that I know are in Geraldton. They’re just not coming and taking part, so it would be great to see more.”