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award-winningMulticultural Surf and Beach Safety program.

Originallystarted by Elliot in 2014, the Multicultural Surf and Beach Safety teachesyoung and newly immigrated children important surf safety lessons at the beach.

Developed to help familiarise immigrantswith the beach, the dangers to look out for and who they can ask for help, the programinvolves an in-school presentation followed by a beach session at FremantleSurf Life Saving Club and is provided free of charge to local schools.

“It’s just amazing to watch these youngkids who start out being too timid to put a toe in the water, to then standingin ankle deep water, to standing in knee deep water and then all of a suddenMatt’s got them on rescue boards and they’re catching waves back in and thesmiles are a foot wide,” Shaw said.

FremantleSLSC have been running the program for 8 years now, assisting with the safetyof newly arrived immigrants in the area while at the beach.

“To see these kids go in the water forthe first time is amazing, it’s the biggest smile I’ve ever seen,” said Elliot.

“The hardest thing is having to blow thewhistle and say, ‘that’s it guys, you’ve got to get to of the water’ and theyjust don’t want to get out.”

The Multicultural Surf and Beach Safety Program is considered aninvestment in the student’s future and is an effective approach to teaching thefundamentals of beach safety, with the keyobjective to prevent a rescue, rather than having to perform it.

“It’s a very simple, easy program thatbenefits not just these kids but the surf lifesavers as well.”

Shaw and Elliot both believe the programhas scope to expand all around Australia to schools with newly arrivedimmigrant children learning the English language.

Theprogram was recently awarded 2020 Community Program of the Year in SLS WA’sAwards of Excellence in July.

Tofind out more about Trevor and TJ incredible Aussies win and more about theirrelationship make sure to tune into episode ten of Surf Studio on the SLSA website and SLSA Facebook page.

Surf Studio is regular online showwith each episode featuring stories from around Australia and covering arange of topics such as sport, lifesaving, leadership, education etc andSurf Life Saving Australia encourages everyone to be involved. If you, or anyone you know has a story that you wouldlike to share via Surf Studio please email surfstudio@slsa.asn.au