From Monday 22 to Saturday 27 September, Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) delivered a week of water safety programs on King Island, engaging school students, teachers and the wider community in a shared effort to build water confidence, lifesaving skills and coastal awareness.

Community Programs Coordinator at SLST, Nadia Roulias, said programs like this are invaluable for regional communities.

“Programs like this are so important for remote communities like King Island. They bring people together, offer experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be available and help strengthen community connections,” Roulias said.

SLST Community Education Team Members Phillipa Lohrey and Geri Doherty travelled to the island and worked closely with King Island District High School to deliver three key initiatives aimed at improving water safety awareness and skills across the island.

The first initiative focused on the students at King Island District School. They took part in SLST's popular Ready Set Rescue program, a fun, interactive introduction to basic water safety and rescue techniques. The session included beach games, rescue simulations using equipment like rescue tubes and boards and valuable lessons on how to help others in the water safely without putting themselves at risk.

The program aimed to build confidence around water, especially for children living in regional and remote coastal areas like King Island, where surf lifesaving patrols and formal training is limited.

The second initiative involved a Community Surf Rescue course and CPR refresher delivered to staff at King Island District School. This training ensured that local educators are equipped with up-to-date emergency response skills, enhancing the island's overall safety preparedness.

The week concluded with King Island's first ever Community Water Safety Beach Day. Local families gathered for a day of games, surf education activities and practical water safety demonstrations led by SLST. From identifying rips and understanding beach signage to learning simple rescue techniques and beach fun, the event had something for all ages and abilities.

"It was fantastic to see so many families getting involved and learning together,” said Phillipa Lohrey. "For children growing up surrounded by water, having the knowledge and confidence to stay safe is essential and having access to this kind of education is really important.”

The program was funded by a Remote Sporting Schools grant, an Australian Government initiative.