Surfing (body, board and ski)

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

When more than 1 school is involved, each school must approve their own students' participation.

Activity scope

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in body surfing or surfing with body boards, surfboards or surf skis as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

Principals make final decisions in approving student activities, ensuring they are justified by the expected educational outcomes, given the level of residual risk.

Activities that pose an unacceptable risk to students are not recommended as part of a surfing education program. These activities include, but are not limited to, unstructured free-swim and surf activities.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline (e.g. marine organism activities and surfing) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Risk level

High risk
Surfing activities involving wave riding with or without boards and/or surf skis.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Departmental workers are required to report all allegations of harm or risk of harm, including reportable conduct committed against a child or student by a worker of the department. Departmental employees can search for the Reportable Conduct Scheme on OnePortal.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise is required with local authority (e.g. Surf Life Saving Queensland, Surfing Queensland, marine park managers) for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements must take precedence.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Note: Supervision responsibility cannot be delegated to others (e.g. external providers).

These recommendations are intended to guide schools in planning arrangements. Schools should adapt them to their specific context and circumstances while prioritising student safety and wellbeing.

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). At no time should students be relied upon to recover a person in difficulty. The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Prepare a supervision plan to prevent drowning that considers the advice provided in this CARA guideline. Consider Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA) beachsafe for support when supervision planning.

Where a lifeguard service is available, schools are to collaborate with the lifeguard on the contents of the CARA record prior to the activity for advice and to address any queries they may have. Note: The presence of a lifeguard service does not absolve the school of any supervision requirements unless secured for the sole purpose of the activity.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the local lifeguard service, facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Responsibilities of adult supervisors

Before the activity:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans
complete the required induction
must be familiar with the department's reporting requirements in accordance with the allegations against workers in the area of child and student protection procedure.

During the activity:

adult supervisors (workers) are required to act in a way that is consistent with relevant legislation, including the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld)
must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time
must continually monitor emerging surfing conditions (e.g. rips, sweeps, currents, undertows).

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. hazardous surf or water conditions, thunderstorms, lifeguard warning).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider SLSA's Beachsafe, the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

To support decisions about the number of qualified adults required for the activity, confirmation of student water safety and swimming ability is required prior to participation.

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

The process is determined by the school and must consider the specific aquatic environments in which the activity will take place. Consult the sequence of competency water safety and swimming education program for support in determining age-appropriate suitability and consider student self-rescue skills in the specific aquatic environment.

Beginner surfers require a ratio of 1 accredited coach to 6 participants.
For activities with a class group of students in years 7–12 who are considered to be water-safe in the activity location (e.g. SLSQ Surf Rescue certificate), 1 registered teacher may be sufficient to fulfil recovery, emergency and supervision roles for activities. In this situation, students must be inducted to respond correctly in an emergency by clearing the water, assembling in a safe area and providing assistance (e.g. seeking adult help, summoning an ambulance and/or acting in a support role in resuscitation).

Supervisor qualifications

These recommendations are intended to guide schools in planning arrangements. Schools should adapt them to their specific context and circumstances while prioritising student safety and wellbeing.

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children (blue card) procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

Adults, including registered teachers, engaged for recovery/emergency are to have current knowledge, judgement, technique and physical ability to carry out safe water rescues and enact an emergency procedure in an open water environment.

Recovery/emergency ability includes a current qualification or skillset (e.g. Inland Open Water Lifeguard, Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation) with the following units of competency or similar.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is required. Consult concussion in sport resources.

Surfing education lessons—surfing coach qualification

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

a registered teacher with foundation surfing coach accreditation from Surfing Queensland or Surf Life Saving Queensland
an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with progression surfing coach accreditation from Surfing Queensland or Surf Life Saving Queensland.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

These recommendations are intended to guide schools in planning arrangements. Schools should adapt them to their specific context and circumstances while prioritising student safety and wellbeing.

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

A working emergency signal (e.g. whistle, air horn) must be available.

A process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity must be established and employed.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, bowel motions)	Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.4MB) for first aid and hygienic practices
Dangerous marine life (e.g. crocodiles, sharks, stonefish, marine stingers, sea snakes, blue-ringed octopus, cone shells, cyanobacteria, coral—scrapes)	Check with the local authority (e.g. local government) for the presence of known water contaminants (e.g. blue-green algae) or other marine hazards (e.g. stonefish) at the location. Look for and obey warnings and/or safety signs. Follow Queensland Government dangerous marine life and Surf Life Saving Queensland marine stinger safety advice. Marine organisms are not to be handled and contact is to be avoided. Continually assess threat of dangerous marine life. Immediately move the participants to a safe location if dangerous marine life is detected or suspected
Debris	Assess the location for floating debris before each session
Environmental conditions Weather, sun, cold	Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers. Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate swimwear (e.g. swim shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions
Water temperature	Manage cooler water temperatures with additional control measures (e.g. shorter in-water time, wetsuits, etc.). Note: Sudden temperature changes may trigger seizures
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Activity location	Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability. Assess suitability of surrounds and reach of water when selecting a location. Consider local water conditions and foreseeable hazards such as: tidal flow, currents and turbulence use by other watercraft and traffic patterns water temperature, depth and visibility underwater hazards (e.g. rocks and rapids, turbulence from a waterfall). Continuously monitor conditions for emerging rips, strong currents, turbulence and under tows. Cease activities when environmental warnings have been issued (e.g. local government or lifeguard warning). A clearly defined surfing area of an appropriate depth considering student age and ability. Consult the water safety education program for guidance at each year/band level
Damaged or faulty equipment	Check equipment (e.g. boards, leg ropes) for damage and correct fit before and during the activity. Provide initial instruction in calm water
Entry/exit points	Use the designated board riding areas when conducting the activity on patrolled beaches. Establish appropriate entry and exit points at the water's edge
Falling equipment	Tie down and store boards correctly to prevent injury (e.g. when loading/unloading)
Manual handling Lifting and carrying equipment	Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying (e.g. when loading/unloading boards)
Vehicles	Watch for vehicles when loading boards
Student considerations	Control measures
Injury	Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment
Physical contact	Use soft boards and leg ropes for beginners and use nose-cones on boards. Match equipment to the size, ability and strength of students (e.g. consider use of short and long boards appropriate to experience of surfer and the location)
Physical exertion Exhaustion and fatigue	Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities. Continually monitor students for fatigue and exhaustion. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly
Student issues Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group	Implement procedures (e.g. surfer's out/in logbook) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity. Limit the number of students in the water when close supervision is required and/or when the water is tending to become overcrowded. Keep non-participants away from the water and do not cause a distraction. Each student must provide their own towel
Swimming attire Visibility, fabrics	All supervisors are to be readily identifiable and be appropriately dressed to perform an immediate rescue at all times. Students wear fit-for-purpose surfing attire that is highly visible in water and does not cause a hazard (i.e. not too loose or heavy). Each student must provide their own towel. Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating
Visibility	Have students wear easily identifiable clothing (e.g. high visibility rash vest). Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs (in and out of the water) and are familiar with their needs

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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Last updated 01 July 2026