Water safety for bush kids

VOLUNTEER surf lifesavers will travel thousands of kilometres to visit schools across Queensland to teach bush kids water safety.

Their message will reach more than 8000 students across the state, including in Normanton, Julia Creek, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Biloela and Chinchilla.

SLSQ community awareness manager Helen Hallett said the program educated students who were unfamiliar with surf hazards or the dangers of inland waterways.

“Our program is essential for children in regional areas who typically haven’t had a great deal of exposure to the beach,” she said.

“We aim to ensure that when they do visit our coastline, they are equipped with the basic skills and knowledge to have fun and stay safe.

Ms Hallett said the longevity of the Beach to Bush program was due to its ability to reach those considered “high risk”, given their lack of surf and water safety knowledge. The training program teaches children to identify safe places to swim at the beach.