Water STAARS Program
[Support to Access Aquatic Recreational Spaces]
Ipswich City Council in conjunction with Royal Life Saving Queensland’s Water STAARS [Support to Access Aquatic Recreational Spaces] Program offer Ipswich residents with a disability, the opportunity to participate in a four week program enabling individuals to access water aquatic spaces in a safe, supportive and educational manner.
The Water STAARS Program is designed to support people aged 6 years and older with a disability to access and recreate safely in and around various water bodies.
The next Water STAARS Program will be held in November 2025 at Orion Lagoon, 155 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central. Be the first to hear when bookings open by joining out mailing list.
This program is a one off introductory program primarily for Ipswich residents. Priority is given to those who have not yet participated in this program.
If you have already participated in a Water STAARS Program at any time in the past, if there are no available session times suitable, or if you reside outside of the Ipswich Local Government Area, you are welcome to join the program waitlist and we will contact you if a space becomes available.
- This program is offered under Ipswich City Council’s SEAL Pool Safety Program
- Lessons are conducted by qualified royal Life Saving Queensland’s Disability Instructors in a safe and supportive environment
- Bookings are essential as numbers are capped per session
- The program consists of four x 1 hour lessons, and attendance is at the same time and day for four consecutive weeks, level breakdown below:
- Children (6–12 years)
- Youth (13–17 years)
- Adults (18+ years)
Program Agenda
Week 1:
- Signage/hazards and dangers
- Entries and exits
- Sun safety
- Signal game
- Floating
- Depth experiment.
Week 2:
- Environments
- Rainstorm game
- Parachute game
- Personal water safety techniques
- Walking/jogging through water.
Week 3:
- Simplified rescues
- Keep watch
- Dry rescue practice
- Rescue tube relay
- Simplified rescues
- Life jacket relay.
Week 4:
- Review of signage/dangers/getting assistance in emergencies
- Tug of war
- Obstacle course
- Search and rescue
- Duck push race.
We encourage you to contact us directly if there is anything you would like to discuss, or if you have any questions or requests regarding our Water STAARS Program. Our friendly team is here to assist and ensure that your experience with us is tailored to suit your needs. You can contact our Pool Safety team by phone (07) 3810 6120 or email poolsprogram@ipswich.qld.gov.au
What previous participants have said about the Water STAARS Program |
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"Loved the friendly instructors and how they made it fun. It was a wonderful program." Jodie |
"i enjoyed throwing the hoops the most" Zeinab |
"The atmosphere and the non judgmental teaching practices took our son’s ability level and just went with it and taught in a way he just got it." Claire |