What uniform must Nippers and the water safety team wear?
Rule- Australia
- Surf Life Saving Australia
- Nippers
- Under 6-Under 13
- 2026/27
- Age managers
- Volunteers
SLSA's Water Safety Procedure (reviewed May 2026) sets this personal protective equipment:
- Nipper participants: a high visibility vest as the outermost layer and a coloured cap secured under the chin.
- Water safety personnel: a long-sleeve high-visibility (fluorescent) orange rash shirt branded "WATER SAFETY" on the front and back, or the full surf rescue uniform with cap. A high-visibility orange cap secured under the chin or a peaked cap is optional. Shorts are optional when wearing the Water Safety rash shirt.
- Water safety supervisor: the table lists an identifiable orange vest or shirt as optional for this role.
- Nipper Safety Assistants: a long-sleeve high-visibility green rash shirt branded "NIPPER SAFETY ASSISTANT" on the front and back. A green cap is optional, and shorts are optional with the NSA rash shirt.
The Water Safety Supervisor must make sure water safety personnel are qualified, proficient and wearing the appropriate uniform.
Source: https://sls.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/09/Policy-1.01A-Water-Safety-Procedure.pdf
Updated 24 Oct 2026