Camp Success
The initial success of the camp was a result of utilising highly skilled and experienced lifesavers with combined lifesaving experience of over 150 years. The lifesavers were current and past District and Regional Officers, State Development Officers, Club Captains and Chief Instructors. A number of these lifesavers also had expertise in the fields of Health and Education, which was a great benefit to the development of the Camp.
The original intention of the Camp was to increase the number of award holders within the district via an Experience Based Learning environment. The side effects of the Camp included an increase in: leadership abilities in emergency situations, an uptake of leadership positions in clubs (patrol and club captains, first aid officers, etc), and an uptake of State officer roles from Regional Officers, to patrol efficiency competition assessors.
The Camp received a grant from Emergency Management Australia in 2008 to develop the program and purchase equipment for district use as well as for training activities held within the district throughout the year.
As the Camp began to develop a reputation for outstanding training and development of members within the district, it began to offer positions to candidates from selected clubs outside the District and the eventually from outside the State. Mentors from interstate were also recruited to provide guidance and feedback to the Management Team during each Camp, and to assist in enhancing the Camp for the following year.
In 2009, the Camp was nominated for and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at Life Saving Victoria’s Awards of Excellence.
The Camp continues to grow and develop each year, with a new group of lifesavers joining the Management Team, the original group of passionate lifesavers stepping back and taking on consultation roles, but the original intention and success of the Camp remain constant, and continuing to be what will always be the forefront of training for lifesavers.
The original intention of the Camp was to increase the number of award holders within the district via an Experience Based Learning environment. The side effects of the Camp included an increase in: leadership abilities in emergency situations, an uptake of leadership positions in clubs (patrol and club captains, first aid officers, etc), and an uptake of State officer roles from Regional Officers, to patrol efficiency competition assessors.
The Camp received a grant from Emergency Management Australia in 2008 to develop the program and purchase equipment for district use as well as for training activities held within the district throughout the year.
As the Camp began to develop a reputation for outstanding training and development of members within the district, it began to offer positions to candidates from selected clubs outside the District and the eventually from outside the State. Mentors from interstate were also recruited to provide guidance and feedback to the Management Team during each Camp, and to assist in enhancing the Camp for the following year.
In 2009, the Camp was nominated for and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at Life Saving Victoria’s Awards of Excellence.
The Camp continues to grow and develop each year, with a new group of lifesavers joining the Management Team, the original group of passionate lifesavers stepping back and taking on consultation roles, but the original intention and success of the Camp remain constant, and continuing to be what will always be the forefront of training for lifesavers.