Wooli Nipper News – October 2025

Cleeland Bight Beach – Nippers 2023/24, Photo Credit: Athol Hill

Welcome to Nippers Season 2025/26

Welcome to Wooli Nippers, Season 2025/26 and the first instalment of the Wooli Nipper News, the newsletter of the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) Nippers Program. Registrations will be opening soon, so read on for all the important pre-registration and program information.

In this edition:

  • The 2025/26 Nippers Program

  • Program Registration

  • Before You Register

  • Volunteers

  • Calling all JAMS and Water Safety Team Members

  • Age Managers and Assistant Age Managers Needed

  • Communications Update

  • Further Information

The 2025/26 Nippers Program

The 2025/26 program will run from Sunday 28 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026 inclusive, with a rest day on New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January 2025).

The 2025/26 program fee is $150 per child. This covers participation in the program and a junior club membership. In addition to the program fee, each family must pay $30 for a Woolamai Beach Surf Lifesaving Club social membership. Social membership is not required if one or more parents or guardians are Patrolling Members of the Club.

Further information on Season 2025/26, including age groups, session times and session locations can be found on the Nippers Season 2025/26 page. In addition, general information about Wooli Nippers can be found on the Wooli Nippers Program page.

Program Registration

Registration is completed online and the link to the registration form can be found on the Nippers Registration page. The link will become live when registration opens.

  • Thursday 16 October 2025 at 7:00 pm – Returning Families, including first-time siblings

  • Monday 20 October 2025 at 7:00 pm – New Families

Nippers’ places fill quickly, so put these dates in your calendar to avoid disappointment!

Before You Register

The Nippers registration page has important information on the registration process, including the steps you need to complete before registering.

  • Ensure that you have a valid Victorian Working With Children Check (WWCC)

  • Create or update your member profile via the Surf Life Saving (SLS) Victoria website

Volunteers

The Wooloomai SLSC is run by volunteers, and our Nipper program relies on parents taking on roles to make the program happen. A requirement of participation is that at least one parent/guardian from each family contributes through a volunteer role.

When completing your enrolment form there will be separate links for Cleeland Bight and Smiths Beach that take you to VolunteerSignup sheets. Fill in allocated roles and time slots that suit you and your Nipper family.

Further information on volunteering and volunteer roles can be found on the Nippers Volunteer Information Page

Our experience is that the more you get involved, the more your child will enjoy Nippers – and the more fun you will have. Information on the volunteer roles can be found here.

Calling all JAMS and Water Safety Team Members

The Wooli Nippers Junior Age Managers (JAMS) are part of what makes the Wooli Nippers Program special. As former Nippers, JAMS bring enthusiasm, experience and excitement to the Nippers session. Similarly, the program would not happen without the dedicated individuals who are part of the Nippers Water Safety (WS) team.

To former and budding JAMS and WS team members, look out for announcements on the Club and Nippers’ Facebook pages on how to volunteer for the 2025/26 Nippers Program.

Age Managers and Assistant Age Managers Need

JAMS are supported by an Age Manager (AM) and an Assistant Age Manager (AAM). AMs and AAMs are adult volunteer parents and Club Members who have undergone training provided by the Club and assist with coordination and supervision. Interested in being an AM or AAM, stay tuned to the Nippers’ Facebook and Website for updates and further information on volunteering for these roles.

Communications Update

The Wooli Nippers Website is where you find all of the key information like program dates, participation requirements, age group session times and locations, and registration details. We have been working to update the information on the Wooli Nippers Website and will continue to do so in the lead-up to the 2025/26 Program.

The Wooli Nippers Facebook Group is a private group for those participating in the Nippers Program. The Group is the primary way we will update you throughout the Program and across the year. It is also the place where we will post happy snaps of Nippers in action and raffle draw results, so be sure to join us at www.facebook.com/woolamaibeachslsc to stay up to date. Remember to answer the questions to be approved!

Delivered straight to your inbox, the Wooli Nipper News features information about the Nippers Program and the Woolami Beach SLSC. The Wooli Nipper News provides you with a summary of key Nipper updates and links to Program information. Make sure you don’t miss any important information by signing up to the Wooli Nippers Mailing List..

Further Information

If you have any questions about Nippers or the Wooli Nippers Program, please check the Wooli Nippers website. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing the Nippers Committee at nippers@woolamaibeach.asn.au.

See you down the beach!

The 2025/26 Nippers Comittee

Matthew Hardy