Students hit the beach to get smart

Thursday 24 February 2005

International and rural Australian students at the University of Newcastle will attend a special surf awareness program before hitting Newcastle's beaches this year.

The University of Newcastle's Beachsmart Surf Awareness Program run through the Hunter Surf Life Saving Education Unit will target students who may not have beach and surf awareness.

Helen Parker, Student Support and Accommodation Services Director, says over 120 students from over 20 countries, mainly North East Asia, will attend a lecture and practical session to learn about the beach.

The Beachsmart lecture, presented by Hunter Surf Life Saving Education, will involve topics including beach knowledge and how to read the surf, understanding beach signage, beach hazards, sun protection and first aid, and community surf life saving courses available through Hunter Surf Life Saving.

"Students will then follow up with a trip to Nobby's Beach the following Friday for a practical session of visually identifying rips, other hazards, beach types and how to identify professional help such as council lifeguards. That way they will be more confident when they next go to beach," says Helen.

"Even rural Australian students may lack confidence in the surf. There is a need to ensure that students from regional areas are also educated about the dangers. We should not assume that all Australians can handle themselves at the beach."

The Beachsmart program is run in honour of postgraduate student Dr Hoang Anh Vu who drowned at Newcastle Beach last year.

"The University community was greatly shocked and affected by his death and decided that we would do all we could to minimise the possibility of such a tragedy happening again," says Helen.

For interviews: Helen Parker, Student Support and Accommodation Services Director, on (02) 4921 5587.