Surf Life Saving Trainings for 2017 by STA begin

The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) has begun its training for Surf Life Saving (SLS), CPR and First Aid within the country both in Upolu and Savaii.

The aim of the training is to improve water safety response within the Accommodation providers and tourist sites.

Trainings are carried out by the STA Planning and Development team, with technical expertise from two Certified Australian Surf Life Saving Trainers through the Australian Youth Ambassador Programme.

STA is currently at its 5th year of implementing Surf Rescue Training Programme. The programme is designed to up skill industry members with Surf Life Saving Techniques which include Basic First Aid, CPR and Water Rescue training. Additionally, we will be offering a refresher course for staff that had completed SLS courses in the previous years.

This year’s trainings are carried out for five different groups at five different locations with each training duration of a week. The first training was carried out at Lalomanu in the beginning of this month for the eastern side of Upolu, where 18 candidates attended from the accommodation providers and tourist sites on that side of Upolu Island. Participants each received a certificate at the completion of the course with representatives from Vaitaia Beach Fales, Manusina Beach Fales, Sieni Ropeti Beach Fales, Taufua Beach Fales, Malo Beach Fales, Laloifi Oceanview Beach Fales, Anita’s Beach Bungalows, Sopoaga Waterfalls, Seabreeze Resort, and Saletoga Sands Resort.

Surf Life Saving in Samoa has been in the development stages since 2009. In response to the 2009 tsunami, in May 2010 the Government of Samoa and the Government of Australia commenced a program known as the Volunteer Emergency Response Team - Water Safety Programme (VERT-WSP).

The volunteers involved with VERT-WSP were trained in Bronze Medallion Courses and to strengthen this capacity, AusAID approved a three year program, where two Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYADs) would be mobilized each year from 2011 to 2013 and hosted by the Samoa Tourism Authority to deliver training programs to tourist resort staff and local residents.

To ensure the sustainability of the SLS Program in Samoa, STA committed in recruiting volunteers so that trainings can be continued for the future.

The next dates for trainings this year are listed below.

22nd-24th May | Siumu/Falealili - Surf Survival, First Aid & CPR

5th-6th June | Manase - Surf Survival, First Aid & CPR

7th-8th June | Asau - Surf Survival, First Aid & CPR

14th-16th June | Apia - Surf Survival, First Aid & CPR

22nd June | STA Refresher Course - Basic First Aid & CPR

26th June | NUS Tourism - Basic First Aid & CPR