Backing a new wave of life saving good sports
Published: 18 March 2026A new Life Saving Victoria initiative is creating more opportunities to take part in life saving sport across Gippsland and the Bass Coast.
Transcript
Life Saving Victoria- Gippsland Sports Hub Video Transcript
[Opening with footage of the Lakes Entrance beach with nippers running along the beach in a program.
[Footage continues of nippers undertaking a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events.]
[Music – upbeat]
[Title Caption –Gippsland Sporting Hub]
[Logo –Life Saving Victoria]
Voice over - Lloyd Knight- Project Manager, Sports Strategy, Life Saving Victoria
The Gippsland Sporting Hub is a new Life Saving Victoria (LSV) initiative supported by the Victorian Government, through Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Strengthening Regional Community Sport Grant.
This project is all about providing place-based support to grow participation, develop volunteers, and create inclusive and sustainable lifesaving sport pathways across Gippsland and the Bass Coast.
Jessica Jackson- Regional Development Officer, Life Saving Victoria
[Footage of Jessica talking to camera in front of a Life Saving Club board storage area]
By upskilling our volunteers, coaches and clubs, our goal is to create long-term capacity so sport can continue to grow and thrive in our region.
Neil Lazzaro- Coach/ Parent
[Footage of Neil talking to camera on a balcony with a bush setting in the background]
The important thing about the Gippsland region is that we’re quite isolated. As an eight-year-old kid coming up through the sport, it can be very daunting, especially along the Ninety Mile Beach.
Lloyd Knight- Project Manager, Sports Strategy, Life Saving Victoria
[Footage continues of nippers undertaking a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events.]
So here this weekend we’re in Lakes Entrance, where we’re engaging young nippers in a development session with experienced coaches.
[Footage of Lloyd talking to camera on a balcony with a bridge over a river outlet in the background]
The aim is to develop their confidence so they can step into carnivals and continue to develop their skills along that pathway.
Neil Lazzaro- Coach/ Parent
[Footage of Jessica and Neil training young nippers on an estuary beach]
Jess and I were approached to run some regional coaching courses. I love coaching, particularly the young kids. You see so much progression.
[Footage of Neil talking to camera on a balcony with a bush setting in the background]
Their skill development is unbelievable and it’s amazing how quickly they improve in the ocean.
Courtney Mraz- Volunteer/Parent
[Footage of Mraz talking to camera on a balcony with a foreshore and beach setting in the background]
We have an opportunity to grow those kids from that age and hopefully see them progress through the pathway, completing their SRC, then their Bronze Medallion, and eventually getting them patrolling.
Neil Lazzaro- Coach/ Parent
[Footage of Neil on a balcony talking to camera with a bush setting in the background]
We want to create really capable water people, not only on the sporting side, but strong water athletes who can help protect our beaches.
[Footage continues of Neil and Jessica training nippers in a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events]
Jessica Jackson- Regional Development Officer, Life Saving Victoria
[Footage of junior life savers of all ages from different clubs preparing for a carnival on the beach]
This carnival is a great opportunity for all of our East Gippsland clubs to come together, have a go at the sport and have fun.
[Footage of Jessica talking to camera in front of a Life Saving Club board storage area]
The events include the swim, the board, the iron nipper, the flags and the sprint.
Brydie Hurrell- Volunteer/ official
[Footage of kids competing in a carnival on the beach in a range of events from sprint to board paddling]
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your background is, or your swimming level. This is the final carnival of a three-event series. We hold one at Woodside, Seaspray and Lakes Entrance. It’s designed for local nippers and it’s all about participation.
[Footage of Brydie talking to camera in front of a Life Saving Club House]
There’s no focus on winning as such. It’s about getting the kids out there, getting them involved, and feeling safe to compete and have a go. Whether they finish first or last, we celebrate that they’ve had a go at a carnival.
We’re not creating future competitors, we’re creating future lifesavers.
Neil Lazzaro- Coach/ Parent
[Footage of Neil training nippers in a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events]
It’s really important that we have these development programs.
[Footage of Neil talking to camera on a balcony with a bush setting in the background]
When you have a strong sporting club, your patrolling and lifesaving capability is also very strong, because you have good numbers coming through.
Brydie Hurrell- Volunteer/ official
[Footage of senior life saving volunteers helping with training, and directing kids as they participate in a range of training and competition activities on the beach].
Without volunteers, nothing happens. We all learn from each other. We ask questions, help each other with training, and work together.
[Footage of Brydie talking to camera in front of a Life Saving Club House]
That’s what supports our kids and strengthens us as a district.
Lauren Barlow- Nipper Age Manager
[Footage of Lauren providing advise to young nippers on the beach]
Most of the water safety personnel out there today are parents or age managers who volunteer their time.
I completed the Age Manager course and would highly recommend it.
[Footage of Lauren talking to camera on a balcony with a river and beach backdrop]
It gave me extra confidence and guidance about how to get the kids involved and how to motivate them.
From there, you can continue building your skills. I’ve actually just started doing the Officials course as well, which gives me even more ways to be involved in surf life saving.
Courtney Mraz- Volunteer/Parent
[Footage continues of nippers undertaking a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events.]
It’s about fostering a really positive culture, bringing everyone into the club, and making sure everybody has a safe place.
Lloyd Knight- Project Manager, Sports Strategy, Life Saving Victoria
[Footage continues of nippers undertaking a range of life saving sports skills-based training, from using a paddle board to racing events.]
The vision for the Life Saving Victoria sport strategy is to see every club activated with sport.
My advice would be to just get involved and give it a go. Build a group of people who share a passion and interest.
If we can get more people helping to keep our beaches safe, protect local communities, and inspire others to get involved in lifesaving and lifesaving sport, then that’s a job well done.
[Logos – Life Saving Victoria, Victorian Government]
The new Gippsland Sporting Hub offers a range of pathways for life savers of all ages, providing online and person-to-person training sessions on participating, volunteering, coaching and more.
The hub provides resources for life saving clubs looking to upskill volunteers, coaches and administrators. It also provides guidance and advice on gaining support for extra training, and staging events and local programs such as local nipper development sessions.
So far, the hub has helped train more than 24 volunteers at local clubs across East Gippsland and Ninety Mile Beach including Lakes Entrance, Seaspray and Woodside Beach.
Lloyd Knight, Life Saving Victoria Sport Strategy Project Manager explains, ‘Recently in Lakes Entrance, we were engaging young nippers in a development session with experienced coaches to help develop that sense of confidence for them to step into carnivals to develop their skills along that pathway.’
Lauren Barlow, Nipper Age Manager at Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club said, ‘The hub’s Age Manager Course gave me the extra confidence and also guidance as to how I can get the kids involved, how I can motivate them, and from there you can build on to other things.’
Brydie Hurrell, Volunteer Junior Coordinator and Official at Woodside Beach Surf Life Saving Club said, ‘If you don’t have volunteers, nothing happens. We all learn from each other, we ask each other questions, we help each other with our training.’
‘So we work together, and that’s what gets our kids through. That’s what supports us as a district and why we are where we are today.’
Life Saving Victoria is one of 7 organisations backed by our Strengthening Regional Community Sport 2024-2027 program.
It’s designed to help bring organisations, clubs, leagues and associations in regional Victoria together to work on tailored, localised projects that remove barriers, create opportunities, support volunteers and increase participation.
The program is part of the Regional Community Sport Development Fund that is delivering infrastructure and programs to support more regional Victorian families and children to get involved in sport.
Increasing sector capability and supporting the development of a highly skilled sport and active recreation workforce that in turn leads to a strong, sustainable industry is a key objective of Active Victoria 2022-2026 – A strategic framework for sport and active recreation in Victoria.