What do Under 8 to Under 14 competitors need before they can race?

Under 8 to Under 14 competitors must be registered, current financial members of an SLSA-affiliated club, and must complete their age requirements within the required time frames:

• the Junior Preliminary Skills Evaluation
• the Junior Competition Evaluation (the open water swim evaluation), which must be done before competing at interclub carnivals
• the Junior Education Award for their age (for 13-year-old Under 14 members this is the Surf Rescue Certificate)

The age award and Junior Competition Evaluation must be complete by the normal closing date of entries for a championship.

Under 8s may only compete in the Wade Relay among water events, because the open water swim evaluation is not part of the Under 8 preliminary skills assessment.

Under 13 and Under 14s stay in their own age category for individual events. Under 13s can contest Under 13 and Under 14 team events, and Under 14s can contest Under 14 and Under 15 team events. Junior Activities members holding the Surf Rescue Certificate do not have to perform patrol or service hours to compete in Under 13 and Under 14 individual events, or Under 15 team events, at the SLSA Youth and Pool Championships.

An Under 12 competitor cannot enter the Australian Youth Championships (2026 entry circular).