Wanda Red Fins

Inclusive and Accessible Nippers, Cadets and Seniors

The Red Fins program is an integral part of Wanda Nippers and Wanda’s One Club Culture – across Juniors, Seniors and Masters. Members wear the Wanda uniform and are a part of the Wanda family. Season start date is the 13th of October, and we will run into the new year to get in as many sessions as possible.

Wanda Red Fins Nippers is an Inclusive and Accessible Nipper and Surf Sports Program which runs alongside Mainstream Nippers on Sunday mornings and is for kids, young adults and their families that deal with challenges such as Autism, Physical/Intellectual Disabilities, Mobility/Access issues and Vision/Hearing impairments. It is focused on providing a more relaxed program with extra support for members and removing the barriers of getting to the beach and in the water.

Program Outline

• All Fun / No Pressure
• 10 Week Program – Runs until at least XMAS
• Modified activities tailored to the member’s ability, goals and sensory challenges
• Specialized equipment to enable anyone to participate (Surfboards, Sand-cruiser Beach Wheelchairs, Beach Matting)
• Small group with increased support across the beach – 1:1 Safety Ratio
• Clear and consistent routine with visual instructions and visual schedules
• Visual Support Guides for Home – “How to Nipper!”
• Regular breaks for members to unwind and release excess energy
• Flexibility for members to take breaks and return to activities as needed
• Parent or support carer participation required – Bronze Medallion training provided free of charge
• The option to compete in Inclusive events at Carnivals
• Pathways to becoming a Life Saver at Wanda with supported education programs and adaptive technology

Wanda subsidises the Red Fins Program and the registration fee is $70 per member or you can use NDIS funding. In addition, the Nipper parent general membership needs to be paid (fees are $50 per family). Registration includes Cap and Hi-Vis Rash Shirt.

Register your participant for the season via the registration page. In the Payment section of the Registration website enter “Red Fins & your Family name” in the “Payment Details” and the total in the Amount (e.g. $70 for one child, $140 for 2 children, $210 for 3 or more children) – refundable if the season is reduced/cancelled.

For more information or to discuss your participant’s needs, please contact the Red Fins Manager – Denny Rowlands – 0401 688 221 or [email protected].

Red Fins FAQ

Who can I contact regarding my or my participant’s varying needs, or if I need access to Beach Matting, Adaptive Technology, Parking, Beach Wheelchairs, etc.?

Please call or email Denny Rowlands – 0401 688 221 or [email protected].

Do I need to be there to support my child?

Yes – no one knows your child better than you. We require a parent or carer to be there to support the child during Nippers.

Do they wear the Wanda uniform so they feel part of the club?

• Wanda has a strong One Club culture across Juniors, Seniors and Masters. Participants wear a Wanda uniform and are part of the Wanda family.
• Registration includes Cap and Hi-Vis Rash Shirt – the same as other members. All age groups have different caps for identification and Red Fins have their own cap.
• We are not separate and the kids will have the opportunity to do the five Nipper events each week – Swim, Board, Wade, Sprint & Flags – and do the education session that every other Nipper does.
• There is lots of Wanda apparel for sale too – swimwear, towels, bags, etc.

What do I bring?

• Swimwear (wetsuit if needed, PFD if needed)
• Nipper Cap
• Towel
• Goggles
• Sunscreen (apply at home)
• Hydration
• Anything needed to deal with sensory needs, e.g. water bottle or wipes to remove sand, towel for laying on sand, ear muffs if sound is an issue, etc.

How do you encourage reluctant kids?

Our philosophy is about participating and having fun. We try to get participants to set their own limits and encourage them to break through them. It can be a slow start, but they all make progress across the season.

What should I do if there’s a meltdown, refusal, we’re having a bad day or running late?

We take our lead from the parent or carer on the beach. If at any time your child needs a break, that’s OK.

Some days just don’t work at all, so don’t feel pressured to be there (or even on time) if there’s a refusal or meltdown going on. There’s always next week, and sometimes just getting there is the “win”.

My children love the beach but we aren’t that used to waves.

Red Fins is an inclusive, relaxed program. We work with you and the child on their goals. We are about having fun, participating and making friends, not trying to become the next NutriGrain Ironman or Ironwoman.

Can I transition my child into the mainstream Nipper / Surf Sports program?

Yes. Red Fins is a side-by-side program that runs at the same time as mainstream Nippers. We operate as an age group and do all the same activities other age groups do. Kids can move between mainstream and Red Fins (this needs to be organised and tracked for safety purposes) and we can provide support for transitioning to mainstream full time – normally in the new year.

Can my child join in with their age group with support?

Red Fins is a side-by-side program that runs at the same time as mainstream Nippers. We are not segregated, and operate as an age group and do all the same activities other age groups do – there is plenty of socialisation.

This also means siblings can join the mainstream Wanda Nippers program at the same time.

My child is a competent swimmer. Can they do Swim and Board activities?

Yes – they will be able to do the Swim and Board event with other kids in the Red Fins group. We have other kids that are capable in the water, and we can discuss swimming proficiencies.

Can they participate in beach and water training outside of Nippers?

Yes. The participant will have to be proficient to go in the water and be OK with operating with a reduced level of supervision during training sessions. However, we don’t send them out into the sand hills alone.

Helping Out

• Like most sports, Nippers runs on volunteers and the more help we have, the smoother things run and the more fun the kids will have each week.
• At a minimum, please be prepared to get a little wet helping out at the water’s edge.
• Put your hand up to become an Assistant Age Manager for the group – additional volunteers are welcome.
• If you have a carer or therapist that you work with, they are welcome to help out too.

Becoming Water Safety for the Red Fins

It would be great to have additional dedicated water safety on our team. We encourage you to consider completing the Bronze Medallion award and becoming a qualified Surf Life Saver. The course is free and you’ll learn CPR, First Aid and Surf Awareness as well as Surf Rescue techniques.

You do not need to be an athlete to complete the Bronze Medallion. Many people in the club have completed the requirements and you will gain a base level of fitness during the course.

Do we compete?

• Once a year we join the other Inclusive Nipper groups in our local area and run a Funday Carnival. This gives the kids a chance to experience a carnival that supports their needs, followed by a sausage sizzle, with every child receiving a medal.
• On the same day as the Funday Carnival, the local 4-Way Carnival takes place, with inclusive events for those who want to compete at a higher level.
• The Wanda One Club Carnival runs each year and includes inclusive events.
• Other carnivals across the season include inclusive events, including Branch, State and Aussies.

What is a Proficiency?

SLSA Australia has strict Water Safety Ratios for children at Nippers:

• Water Safety is provided by a Bronze Medallion holder – this is why we encourage parents to get their Bronze.
• Children are placed into two categories – Proficient and Non-Proficient.
• Children who are not Proficient have a 1:1 Water Safety ratio requirement when in the water.
• Children who are Proficient have a 5:1 (or better) Water Safety ratio requirement when in the water.
• Children ages 8 and under do not go into water deeper than waist depth.
• Nobody goes into the water when the beach is closed by Council Lifeguards or the Active Patrol at Wanda.

Does my child need to be Proficient?

There is no pressure for our kids to become “proficient”. Kids who are not proficient will continue to receive 1:1 Water Safety from a qualified Lifesaver when in the water.

There is no pressure for any child in the Red Fins program to become proficient unless they want to give it a go. We will offer guidance, support and encouragement for any child who wants to attempt their proficiency.

If not Proficient, then what?

We assess each child’s capabilities in the water and are guided by the parent’s knowledge. Please consider where your child is on the following list of capabilities:

• From a standing position in waist-deep water, perform a front glide, kick for 3m and recover to a secure position.
• Perform a back or front float for a few seconds and recover to a secure position.
• Float for 1 minute – unaided.
• Swim 25m – any stroke, no time limit.
• Float for 2 minutes – unaided.
• Swim 50m – any stroke, no time limit.
• Float for 3 minutes – unaided.
• Swim 100m – any stroke, no time limit.

Some kids will be capable of becoming “Competition Proficient” by participating in an untimed 200m Open Water Swim. This can be discussed individually as the season progresses.

Proficiency Requirements