Beach culture is part of the Australian experience, and Sydney is home to world-famous and beautiful beaches. But what if you didn’t grow up here or didn’t have the opportunity to learn how to navigate open water? How can you stay safe while enjoying everything Sydney Beaches has to offer?
If you're looking to feel more confident in the water, meet new people and learn more about the Australian water and beach culture then join us for this three-week program where you'll gain the skills you need to stay safe while enjoying Sydney's incredible beaches.
The program is brought to you by UNSW Health Promotion Unit in partnership with Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, Surf Life Saving NSW and Medibank.
What Will You Learn?
Over the three-week program, you will participate in both theory and practical sessions at Coogee beach with trained surf life savers. You will gain skills in:
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Reading Signs at the beach
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Floating in rips, waves, and tides
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Swimming in beach conditions
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Basic CPR and first aid
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What to do in an emergency
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Safe rock fishing
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Planning a safe trip to the beach
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Risks at the beach
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Beach Scenarios and what to do
When will the BOS Program run?
Typically, the BOS Program runs in both Term 1 and Term 3 each year. The program will be running in a different format in 2024 Term 3 and is unfortunately not open for general registration. We are hoping to run an additional beach program in late Term 3. Students who have registered their interest in the 2024 Term 3 BOS Program will receive information via email on further opportunities in this space. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still looking for answers? We've answered some of our most frequently asked questions below.
How does the BOS Program work?
The program runs over three weeks with three full-day sessions at Coogee Surf Life Saving club. There is also a mandatory proficiency session to assess your current knowledge.
The BOS program costs $50, which is subsidised by UNSW and Medibank. The ticket price includes:
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Community membership with Coogee SLSC
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3 BOS Program sessions with trained lifesavers
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Access to UNSW Fitness and Aquatic Centre Pool for 1 month
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Merchandise including towel, t-shirt, sunscreen, singlet and cap
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Free lunch for every BOS Program session
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Certificate of Attainment
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Graduation event and lunch
What does the proficiency swim involve?
The Beach Safety Program takes place on the beach and students will have to enter the water. As a result, the program requires students to have a basic level of water skills to enrol.
Students will have to demonstrate successful completion of the following skills at the proficiency session in the pool:
- Float for 2 minutes.
- Swim 100m swim in 4.00 minutes (any stroke).
- Treading water for 30 seconds.
- Retrieve objects from the bottom of pool.
- Hold breath for 10 secs under the water.
Note: We do not require students to be confident in beach conditions. If you have concerns about the proficiency, please send us an email at [email protected]!
Water Safety Hub
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Learn to Swim Program
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UNSW Swimming Safe Grant
Are you interested in becoming a swimming instructor, surf life saver or a water safety ambassador? The Swimming Safe Grant will help you achieve your goal with SIX months of FREE swimming lessons!