Nippers Volunteer Roles

Parent involvement is what makes Nippers happen and many hands really do make light work. With approximately 400 nippers and 500 volunteer opportunities, if each family volunteers once for a high involvement role, or twice (where possible) for a medium or low involvement role across the program, it will be easy!

When completing your registration form, there will be links for the Cleeland Bight and Smiths Beach Volunteer Signup sheets.  Please sign up for the roles and time slots that work best for you and your Nipper family. 

Here are the different ways you can contribute to a fabulous Nippers program.

Low involvement

Set up the beach  

  • The beach set-up role is ideal for those in the first session 

  • We require 10 people for Cleeland Bight and 4 people for Smiths Beach each morning to help set up each of the Nipper areas and their necessary equipment as directed by the Nippers Coordinator  

  • Admin, merch and first aid tents will also need to be set up  

  • Cleeland Bight - Meet at the carpark of Cleeland Bight Beach (end of Cottosloe Ave, Cape Woolamai) at 8:00 am on the morning you are rostered 

  • Smiths Beach – Meet at the beach at 8:00 am 

Pack up the beach  

  • The beach pack-up role is ideal for those in the second session 

  • We require 10 people for Cleeland Bight and 4 people for Smiths Beach each morning to help pack up each of the Nipper areas and their necessary equipment as directed by the Nippers Coordinator 

  • Admin, merch and first aid tent will also need to be packed up 

  • Meet at your child's group at the end of the session 

Water Safety Vest Washing 

  • The daily washing would ideally suit someone who lives close to the beach who can collect at the end of late session 

  • This is for one person each day of the nippers program 

  • Collect the tub of wet, bright orange, water safety rashies from the admin tent at the end of session 

  • Wash that day, line dry and return by 8:15 am the next morning for the start of the early session 

Final Day Washing  

  • We need 6 people from Smiths Beach and 10 people from Cleeland Bight 

  • Collect ALL Water Safety rashies, Age Manager tops, coloured caps from all age groups and other miscellaneous items that need washing 

  • Wash that day, line dry and return the following day to the club residence by TBC  
    (Corner The Cranny and Ritchie Ave, Cape Woolamai)  

Medium involvement 

Bump in  

  • 10 people are needed with trailers, station wagons or utes, etc 

  • This takes approx. 2–3 hours the day prior to the Nippers season starting  
    (3–5 pm, Saturday 27th December 2025) 

  • Transport all Nippers equipment from the shed at the club residence (Corner The Cranny and Ritchie Ave, Cape Woolamai) to Cottesloe Avenue toilet block / Smiths Beach storage 

  • Also to pick up any merchandise / equipment still at Clubhouse 

Bump Out 

  • 12 people are needed with trailers, station wagons or utes 

  • This takes approx. 4 hours the day after the Nippers season finishes  
    (11 am–3 pm, Sunday 4th January 2026) 

  • Transport all equipment from the Cottesloe Ave toilet block / Smiths Beach storage to the club residence (Corner The Cranny and Ritchie Ave, Cape Woolamai) 

  • Wash, pack away and complete an inventory of all equipment 

Merchandise (Cleeland Bight) 

  • Help set up the merchandise table each morning and conduct sales during Nippers  
    (8 am–10:15 am approx.) 

  • Conduct sales and pack up the table at the end of the day's Nippers sessions  
    (10:15 am–12:30 pm approx.) 

  • Pick and pack orders at the clubhouse to help fulfil merch sales orders made that day (12:30–1:30 pm approx.) 

BBQ Team (Cleeland Bight) 

  • We need approximately 6 people each session to cook and serve the BBQ 

  • Tasks include cooking the BBQ as well as serving the sausages in bread and drinks to the hungry Nippers and their families 

  • Meet in the carpark of Cleeland Bight Beach (end of Cottosloe Ave, Cape Woolamai) at 7:30 am if you are on the first shift 

  • Assist with packing up if you are in the later session 

Admin 

  •  We require 1 person at each beach to offer admin assistance during each session

  • This role supports the signing in of water safety, as well as answering questions from parents throughout the sessions

  • Early session admin to meet at the tents on the beach at 8 am, and Late session, 15 minutes prior to the start of the session. 

  • Your commitment to this role for the whole week would be appreciated.

First Aid Support 

  • We require 1 person to provide First Aid support during each session 

  • Support the First Aid and Water Safety teams at each session 

  • These volunteers need first aid / medical training 

  • **Appropriate documentation will need to be provided** 

High involvement 

Age Managers (AM) and Assistant Age Managers (AAM) 

  • The same 2-3 parents will be AM / AAM for each age group and be there for each session across the program 

  • This role is a lot of fun, and you really get to see what Nippers and the Woolamai SLSC are all about 

  • Age Managers and Assistant Age Managers are there to support the Junior Age Managers (JAMs) to run the Nippers sessions 

  • Each AM/AAM will need to complete the approx. 1.5 hrs of training ahead of the Nippers season starting (visit https://sls.com.au/role/age-manager/ for more information), as well as an information session run by the Nippers Coordinator the night before Nippers starts to make sure you are set up for success 

Just quietly, the favourite job of the lot from the Volunteer Coordinators!