What will my child learn in each age group?

Question

Accepted Answer

Surf Life Saving Australia summarises the learning for each age group on its Nippers page:

Under 6: getting around the club and beach, basic water safety (signalling for help, staying with the group, adult supervision), recognising lifesavers and safe swimming areas, sun safety.
Under 7: identifying beach hazards, recognising when they are in trouble, using the "assistance required" signal.
Under 8: sun-smart practices, beach ecosystems, emergencies and calling 000, red and yellow flags, basic body-board skills.
Under 9: beach litter, hydration and fitness, wave types and tide dangers, beach signs, nipper board basics, sand running and flag diving.
Under 10: how rips form and how to escape them, basic resuscitation, rescue and direction signals, nipper board wave skills, assisting a distressed swimmer with a body board.
Under 11: coping with fear or bullying and seeking help, first aid (including DRSABCD and CPR), nipper board dismounts and relays, swimming through and parallel to surf.
Under 12: the four rip current types and using them in rescues, body systems and first aid, rolling under waves on a board, using a board to support a conscious patient.
Under 13: infection control in first aid and resuscitation, surf swimming with a rescue tube and tube rescues, beach running, surf swimming and board skills in an Ironman/Ironwoman event and a Cameron Relay.

Completing the age-group milestones leads towards the Surf Rescue Certificate, the first step to becoming a volunteer surf lifesaver.