Sunday, March 26 was the final session of the Southern Region Starfish Nippers program which ran across summer at Kingston Beach, Clifton and Carlton Park.
Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) partnered with Variety Tasmania to provide Tasmanian kids living the disability the opportunity to take part in swimming, catching waves, beach runs and exercises just like other surf lifesavers do.
Starfish Nippers is a modified Nippers program suitable for children and their siblings (from five years old), who find themselves capable but challenged by the requirements of mainstream junior Surf Life Saving programs.
This is the second year this program has been run.
Over 40 volunteers attended the day, with 15 of them being from Kingston Beach Surf Live Saving Club (KBSLSC).
All volunteer lifesavers were buddied up with a child living with a disability.
“It is a great demonstration of what could be achieved when likeminded organisations join forces to provide children with all abilities the chance to participate in activities and experiences,” said CEO of Variety Tasmania Mohammad Aldergham.
Co-coordinator of the Southern Region Starfish Nippers program Bridget Fasnacht said “Starfish Nippers is all about encouraging children to feel safe in the water in a supported environment”.
“The beach is not a scary place, it is there to be enjoyed and we are there to support these children on their journey,” Bridget said.
“I am delighted to see that we have record numbers participating in the program this year and I am looking forward to seeing the program being run at several Surf Life Saving clubs around the state this summer.”
