SAILING THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS
This weekend’s Breaka Youth Excellence Program aims to further fuel the passion of teenagers for saving lives in the surf DOZENS of young aspiring Gold Coast surf lifesavers are learning skills they will be able to use for the rest of their lives.
Twenty-one teens are heading to Lake Moogerah this
weekend for the Breaka Youth Excellence Program (YEP).
It is a three-day leadership and teamwork skills workshop for those aged 15 to 17.
The aim is that over the weekend they will have learned skills that will further their passion for saving lives and boost their confidence.
The youth will be learning a range of skills by partaking in role plays in mock scenarios and team-building challenges.
There will even be a helicopter demonstration to try and mirror a real-life water rescue.
Surf Life Saving Queensland membership development manager Jamie Findlay said the program provided youths with a fantastic opportunity to become inspiring leaders.
“The (selected) lifesavers have been identified by their club for their passion and commitment,” he said.
“Over the weekend, our aim is to further ignite that passion, and develop a range of skills that participants can apply to all aspects of their lives.
“Attendees will be required to complete problem-solving tasks and undertake a series of team-building activities through both mentally and physically challenging exercises.”
They were specially chosen as they are already role models to young Nippers and had shown leadership skills at their clubs.
Typically when teens get older, they find it hard to stick with surf lifesaving due to being in their last years of school and starting part-time work, Mr Findlay said.
The Break Youth Excellence Program encourages teens to stay within surf lifesaving and map a path for the future.
“Traditionally the 15-to-17 years age group is generally where we begin to see a decline in membership as other commitments tend to compete,” Mr Findlay said.
“This program has been designed to introduce selected young lifesavers to the more formal and responsible roles such as a patrol captain, as well as explore future pathways to help aid member retention.
“Our participants represent the future of Surf Life Saving Queensland and this program provides participants with an integral opportunity to harness their passion so they will hopefully remain involved in the movement.”
The 21 Gold Coast participants were among 80 Queensland aspiring surf lifesavers selected from clubs.
All of the youths taking part in the camp are likely to be protecting swimmers on our beaches in the near future.
“It’s wonderful to see so many young lifesavers from the Gold Coast pursuing leadership pathways within lifesaving,” state membership services officer Robert Campbell said.
“It goes to show the future of our surf lifesaving clubs is in good hands.”
The Gold Coast clubs taking part in the Breaka Youth Excellence program:
● Southport SLSC – 1
● Northcliffe SLSC – 1
● Broadbeach SLSC – 2
● Kurrawa SLSC – 3
● Mermaid Beach AEME SLSC – 1
● North Burleigh SLSC – 1
● Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park SLSC – 1
Pacific SLSC – 1
Palm Beach SLSC – 3 Kirra SLSC – 2 Coolangatta SLSC – 1 Rainbow Bay SLSC – 2 Miami Beach – 2