Age Managers

The Age Managers Accreditation is compulsory for all club members delivering junior lifesaving programs in 2009 - 2010.  The Age Managers Course ensures that age managers are aware of their obligations towards junior lifesavers and also provides age managers with the skills to assist our nippers in their growth towards being future lifesavers.  Life Saving Victoria recommend that clubs encourage all new parents and volunteers involved with junior activity to complete the course.  Remember its easy, you can do it ONLINE! SEE ONLINE COURSES FOR MORE DETAILS. 

*Please note: it is manditory that all members who are 18 years and over have a Working with Children Check WWCC.

The Role of the Age Manager

The age manager has one of the most important roles in surf life saving. They are responsible for caring for and nurturingthe future Australian surf lifesavers. Their role is to both help develop our young people into the lifesavers of the future and to provide that supportive environment in which they can learn and develop.

Role Description

An age manager is responsible for the care, safety, well being and development of the junior surf lifesaver.  An age manager is responsible for facilitating the development of surf lifesaving skills (movement skills, surf awareness, etc.) and personal skills (e.g. confidence, teamwork, leadership, etc).

Age managers play a fundamental role in the delivery of a learning program that encourages and develops young surf lifesavers.  Whilst age managers may not have all the skills and understandings in all areas of program delivery, their role will be to seek out and utilise expertise from within their club.

Requirements of the Age Manager

The age manager needs to demonstrate:

• A willingness to take the responsibility for the learning of a group
• An ability to provide a positive role model
• An ability to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the group
• A willingness to develop their own knowledge of surf lifesaving
• An undertaking to work as part of a team
• A willingness to take time to plan and prepare to ensure success
• An ability to instil enjoyment and fun in what they do

Responsibilities

An age manager has a number of responsibilities to provide participants with the utmost care - they owe them a 'duty of care' in regard to the following:

• Provide a safe environment - facilities, equipment, weather, sea conditions
• Activities must be adequately planned - failing to plan is planning to fail
• Children must be evaluated for injury and incapacity
• Children should not be mismatched - match not only according to age, but also to height, weight, maturity, skill level and experience
• Safe and proper equipment should be provided
• Children and parents must be warned of the inherent risks of the activity
• Activities must be closely supervised
• Age managers should know first aid - or have first aiders in attendance
• Develop clear written rules for practice and general conduct
• Ensure accurate records are kept - general and medical information and progress reports - and are on hand.

Resources

Age Manager - Hints and Tips Guide:  Age Managers Hints & Tips (371KB) 

Age Manager - SLSA Guide:   Age Managers Guide_v2.pdf

For more information on Age Managers Courses please contact: Kate Firth, Manager -Y&LD on 9676 6945 or Bernadene Hansen, Support Officer - Club Development on 9676 6948.