MISSION DEVELOPMENT

PRAY- Spend some time in prayer to gain some clarity on if there is a genuine need for a Christian Surfers Mission in your area and what this might look like?

PURPOSE- This sounds basic, but you really do need to know the reason for all the activities your group engages in. Spend some more time in prayer and write down the purpose for your group on paper. Consider the group demographics, such as the age, families or current surfing level of the potential members. What cross-section of the surfing community is God calling you to reach?

POLICIES- All leaders must agree to the CS Statement of Faith and have read and are familiar with all CSA policies.

Each mission must complete the Mission Affiliation Form in order to operate. All leaders must have completed the Leadership Form and paid the leadership fee. They must all have current Working With Children Checks and have completed the CSA Leaders Training and the Safety Management Online child safety training every two years.

PARTNERSHIP- The mission leaders must be committed to a faith community or church that has accountability, teaching, worship, service and fellowship.

PLACE- It is a good idea to have a regular meeting place, a beach, church hall or house.

PROGRAM- Meet with the Mission Coordinator and other leaders to plan the term and other main events for the year. Create a program with activities for the upcoming term or season with titles, dates, times, and meeting places clearly specified. Communicate this with your participants. Be aware of other activities that will involve you or others that could get in the way of the group. Such things as board rider club contests or youth group meetings and plan around these.

PARTICIPATION- When the time comes to carry out the activities, ensure all participants (or parents if under 18) complete the mission ‘Sign Up’ form for each mission on the CSA website. Ensure the Mission Coordinator completes Risk Assessments for each mission activity.

Mission Operation

Please contact your area Regional Coordinator should you be interested in starting a new Mission. All local Missions must have the following in place to operate.

• Leader Ratio: 2- 3 Leaders to operate.

• Mission Affiliation: Complete the Mission Affiliation Form before 30th Jan annually. This form is completed by your Mission Coordinator and can be downloaded from the ‘Leaders Info’ password protected section of our website. Please contact your Regional Coordinator to access these forms. When we have received this form in the National Office we will send you an invoice which is $650 for existing missions and $250 for a new mission to help cover the costs of insurance. Please note this is an annual fee that is due at the start of every year. Each mission will need to raise this money, there are a number of ways you can do this, eg. BBQ at their church, start a crowdfunding page etc.

• WWCC/Blue Card: All Leaders have a current WWCC/Blue Card and have completed their Leadership Form prior to the 30th Jan annually.

• CSA LEADERS TRAINING AND POLICIES: Please allow time to read and complete our CSA Leadership Training including the CSA Policies and answer the related questions. This takes approximately 1 hour and needs to be completed every 2 years.

• Safety Management Online (SMO) Child Safety Training: All Leaders have completed their training (every 2 years). This is to be completed prior to the 30th Jan annually and/or prior to volunteering with any CSA event/program. To be completed as follows -

• SP3 or M4.1 Keeping children and young people safe. (All Leaders, Mission Coordinators & Regional Coordinators)

• L1 The ChildSafe SP3 Leader (All Mission Coordinators & Regional Coordinators)

• L2 Safety Management and Permission to Proceed. (All Mission Coordinators & Regional Coordinators)

• Church: You have a supportive church/faith community.

• First Aid Training: 1-2 Leaders have Provide First Aid Training. If no one in your core group has their Senior First Aid/Provide Advanced First Aid. We recommend you book in with your State Surf Lifesaving. They run a number of First Aid courses throughout the year – Find your Surf Lifesaving State – click here Please note, First Aid is current for 3 years while CPR is only current for 1 year.

• Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Training: 1-2 Leaders have Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Training. Surf Rescue courses are available for free in some states through Surfing Australia. For more information on these courses click on your state. NSW - VIC - WA

• Beach Safe: Beach Safe is a useful resource for missions which includes information about location, facilities, weather conditions and lifesaving services for all Australian beaches – Click Here

• First Aid Kit: Each mission must have a fully stocked First Aid Kit at all events and meetings. We recommend the R2 Sports Action First Aid Kit from Surf Lifesaving – Buy Here We also highly recommend purchasing a First Aid Tourniquet to add to your first aid kit.

• Mission Sign Up Form: Ensure all participants and leaders attending your mission complete the ‘Mission Sign Up Form’ each year. You do this by getting participants or their parents (if under the age of 18) to locate your mission under the ‘Connect’ section of the CSA website. When you have located your mission you select the QR code for that mission and you will be directed to the Mission ‘Sign Up Form’. This needs to be completed once annually for any participants of your mission. It ensures we have important information and a completed indemnity form.