What Is Starfish Nippers?

Starfish Nippers is a modified and tailored nipper program designed for young people aged 6+ who have special needs. The program aligns with the Club’s Summer Holiday Age Group Nipper Program emphasising beach and water safety awareness while promoting inclusion and diversity. The program features modified Nipper beach and water activities such as games, running, beach flags, wading, swimming and board-related activities as well as integrating with selected activities from the Club’s Age Group Nipper Program. Notably, this entire program is managed by dedicated volunteers who make it all possible. 

“We believe every young person deserves to have access to the SLSA Nipper program. The Starfish program allows all young people to be part of a nipper program where they can learn critical beach skills while having fun and learning important life skills such as teamwork."

Started in 2011 by volunteers at the Anglesea SLSC, the Starfish Nippers program successfully operates alongside our Club’s popular summer holiday Nippers Program. This innovative and important program has now been taken up by around 20 clubs across Australia.

Parents and children must become members of the Jan Juc SLSC. The Starfish Nipper Program is free for club members.

The location may be subject to change depending on beach conditions.

HOW TO JOIN

The program is capped at 10 participants. Direct enquiries to the Starfish Nipper Coordinator. 

To join the Club (or renew your membership) and submit your Starfish Nipper Registration, head to our Join Us webpage.

What Are The Benefits?

Starfish Nippers love being involved and included in the Club and the overall Nippers program. They feel a real sense of belonging and wear their Nippers gear with great pride. In many cases, Starfish have been spectators up until now, watching their siblings participate in the Age Group Nippers Program. They are learning life skills from excellent role models (their trainers/mentors), increasing their beach and water safety knowledge and improving their swimming and board skills, while developing their fitness and improving their coordination. Their confidence and skills in the water will improve with every session. They love the social side of the program too and develop confidence socially – they love encouraging each other and having fun together, interacting with their peers and Age Group Nippers and participating actively in the community.

Parents value highly that all children in the family can participate in the Club’s Nippers Program. Networking with other families who are raising a child living with a disability is invaluable and provides great support to each other with the challenges they face.

Our trainers/mentors find the experience valuable and rewarding. Not only do the youth in our Club develop more understanding and skills in working with people with special needs, they also develop leadership skills and a feeling of a great sense of making a worthwhile contribution.

Nippers who participate in the Summer Nippers Program will learn the importance of inclusion and how to connect with people living with a disability. They become role models and learn skills in leadership. It is a valuable and rewarding experience for all involved.

Our Club hopes to be able to continue to keep junior members engaged, and also to benefit from increased support from the wider community in the form of financial donations to help run the program.