The largest and most innovative surf education program currently operating in Australia, Telstra Beach to Bush is a joint community initiative between Surf Life Saving and Telstra. It offers school age children in regional Australia surf safety lessons from lifesavers to increase their awareness of common risks associated with the surf and local waterways.
Trained surf lifesavers, armed with beach signs, safety flags and rescue boards deliver an interactive 45 to 60 minute lesson that features warning signs recognition, a demonstration of basic surf rescue equipment and concludes with an interactive video.
While the Telstra Beach to Bush program focuses primarily on beach safety, it also touches on general aquatic safety skills to ensure children are safe in their own backyards. This is a particularly important program, since beach goers who live more than 50kms away from the coast are statistically more likely to drown. For the first time ever, live video calling has been used to show the kids what a real beach looks like, rips and all.
Jonathon Welch
Jonathon is considered one of the finest tenors of his generation, integrating a busy 30-year professional performing career and ongoing commitments to youth and community music education.
