Ocean Safety Awareness Award(OSAA)

Introduction

The Ocean Safety Awareness Award(OSAA) was developed in consultation with the School Surfing Association to provide upper primary school students with theoretical and practical ocean safety awareness competencies.

OSAA Requirements

• 10 years or older and able to swim 50m in a pool in less than 2 minutes
• Successful completion of the APOLA OSAA program that includes theoretical and practical demonstration of knowledge, skills and understandings for beach activity within inshore coastal beach environments relating to supervised swimming at beaches, surfing, fishing, hazard identification, basic aquatic rescue, basic first aid, basic resuscitation and care and respect for the beach environment and other beach users.

OSAA Programs

• OSAA programs are designed for delivery by teachers who have a current School Surfing Supervisor Award (SSSA) or APOLA approved personnel with higher qualifications such as accredited Surf Coaches holding the Ocean Safety Surf Coach Award (OSSCA), Ocean Lifeguards holding the Professional Ocean Lifeguard Award (POL) and a Certificate IV in Assessor & Workplace Training
• Practical skills include introduction to surf assessment, surf entry, diving under waves, catching waves, marine hazards identification, simulated self-rescue, assessment and response to an aquatic emergency.

OSSA Content

Practical

• Swim 50m in a time less than 2 minutes in pool not less than 25m
• Demonstrate surf assessment including recognition of different waves, rips, rock formations, and evident/potential marine hazards
• Demonstrate surf entry, diving under waves, catching waves, and basic self-rescue
• Demonstrate response to a simulated aquatic emergency (DRSABCD) including calling for assistance.

Theory

• Participate in group discussions, view audio-visual presentations, and complete written tasks using worksheets that relate to the coastal environment,  swimming, surfing, and other beach activity – topics include wave and rip formations, weather, beach topography such as rock platforms, hazard identification, types of surfing, rules for swimming and surfing, basic rescue, basic first aid, basic resuscitation, care and respect for the natural inshore coastal environment and other ocean users.

Resources and References

APOLA OSSA Teacher resource DVD, APOLA Inc., Revised Ed 2011
APOLA OSSA Teacher resource kit, APOLA Inc., Revised Ed 2014
Guidelines for specific sports and physical activities –Surfboard, bodyboard, wave ski riding and stand-up paddling
Rip Survival Surf educators International Inc., 2010 (Brochure)
Safe Surf by Chris Bishop APOLA Inc., 2002 (DVD)
The Surfer’s Code – a beginners guide to staying safe in the surf, NSW Dpt Sport & Recreation, 2006 (Brochure)
Dr. Rip’s Essential Beach Book – everything you need to know about surf, sand, and rips, UNSW Press, 2010.

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