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Downs Little Lifeguards is a fun and educational drowning prevention program for children aged 8-17 years and their parents/guardians. Our main focus is to educate children and their guardians about potential dangers and survival strategies to combat these dangers, encourage confidence through hands-on experience and provide knowledge so everyone can help to save a life. The program is run by Royal Lifesaving volunteers and Toowoomba Region Aquatic and Fitness staff.
The program runs during school terms 1 and 4 and offers school-based sessions, community days, and day trips for children and families to the beach and river.
Upcoming programs can be found below under the heading 'Upcoming programs'.
Children and families will have the option to participate in ocean, river and pool awareness activities and practice skills to potentially save a life. This is not a learn to swim program.
The program is based around:
Students will:
Water Warriors Weekend - date to be announced 2021
Come join the Downs Little Lifeguard Warriors and:
Cost $20 per child
This 2 day program is a fun and educational weekend aimed at decreasing the drownings we have in our region. The program has been running since 2014 by volunteers and we have had the best time teaching over 400 children survival skills in rivers, dams, creeks and pool environments. Take a look at our past programs below in the blue slider.
Locations of program:
To join the Downs Little Lifeguards program fill in the online form: Pools - Downs Little Lifeguards application form (online).
In February 2020 the Weekend Warriors program was born and children and parents set off for a whole weekend of fun and education water safety experiences. We headed off to Miami beach and Tallebudgerra Creek. This was the first year we ran the program over two consecutive days and it was a huge success! Children and parents felt the force of dumping waves and strong tidal changes. Whatever the conditions the beach threw at the participants they fought through and swam, rode boards and completed rescues aided and unaided.
The Creek conditions were a little kinder to us as we experienced calm water, swam with the current wearing PFD's, learnt to paddle and board, made rescues using ropes and rescue tubes.
In March 2019 children and parents gathered at Miami Beach for a fun filled day of beach and ocean activities. We learnt vital skills to enjoy the waves such as duck diving, body surfing and how to identify, avoid and escape rip currents. We also had the privilege of using the nipper boards to experience paddling, riding the waves and practice rescues. This was a highlight for many of the participants.
In February 2019 children plus parents experienced a fabulous day at Leslie Dam. Throughout the day we practiced survival and safety skills for enjoying the water. One of the key skills learnt on the day was how to complete rescues to help someone else and keep yourself safe at the same time. This was done through scenario based activities.
In March 2018 the Dam Busters day was held at Leslie Dam YMCA camp. Families experienced fun and safe recreational play using water trampolines and kayaking. Children were required to work as a team to assist peers climb onto the trampolines and kayaks in deep water, then practice rescue techniques using contact and non-contact tows, unconscious rescues (role played) and CPR on the dam bank.
In February 2018 families joined us at Miami Beach Surf Life Saving Club and enjoyed a hot day at the beach. The morning involved children battling it out in beach sprints, learning to body board, ride in waves and climb to the lookout to identify rips and current changes.
The afternoon saw children and adults join teams and participate in relays using boogie boards and fighting the currents. A brilliant day was had by all!
In February 2017 families travelled to Leslie Dam YMCA Outdoor Education Centre and engaged in a full day dam experience. Children and adults learned CPR and the dangers in and around dams, weirs and water channels in theory sessions.
Participants practised rescues and survival methods using everyday items commonly used at dams during recreation such as esky’s, paddle boards, kayaks, inflatable tubes, ropes and personal flotation devices.
In October/November 2015 children and adults participated in a 2 day pool course and a day trip to Neptune Royal Surf Life Saving Club where the focus was on tidal change, currents, rips and river swimming.
In February/March 2014 children and adults were involved in a 4 session program where 3 sessions were held in the pool learning rescues, tows, treading water, swimming with clothes and survival techniques.
A day trip was held at Neptune Royal Surf Life Saving Club where children practised what was learned in the pool while incorporating the natural elements of the tides, rips, and currents.
