MEMBER
SERVICES
This year, we are proud to say we have continued the strong
development of the Bondi Member Services team. This team
ensures that the mental health and well-being of our Members is
an utmost priority for the Club.
Earlier in the season, the Member Wellbeing team, consisting
of Catherine Wilson, Gareth ‘Chop’ Robinson, Melody Woolford
and Denise Meuldijk, led by Felicity MacArthur set out to
achieve specific objectives to enhance the mental resilience of
the membership and ensure that our Members have the tools
necessary to care for one another both on and off patrol.
One of the team’s key initiatives was the implementation of
a Member Wellbeing Champion on each Patrol Group. This
‘Champion’ was provided with some activities and prompts
that could be used at the pre-patrol briefings and teachings
for on-patrol mental health workshops focused on addressing
mental health as a part of our everyday lives. This supported
our goals of building awareness and capability in all of our
patrolling Members, to be better Lifesavers and members of the
community both on and off the beach.
The Inaugural Mental Health Patrol was held on 4 November
2023, in which Gareth ‘Chop’ Robinson, led the charge in
organising a specific patrol that was focussed on supporting
mental health and well-being.
During this, we were fortunate enough to experience a yoga
class and breath workshops hosted by our own Melody Woolford
and featured an ice bath for patrollers, which are known to have
been utilised to stimulate positive mental reactions and enhance
the mental state of users. The morning saw Members of all ages
and backgrounds coming together in their commitment to
supporting and increasing awareness of the mental health and
wellbeing of all.
Along with enacting our Member Wellbeing strategy, this season
the Member Services Team took steps towards the inception of
a long-term Member retention strategy. In future, surveys will be
sent to all patrolling Members and will help identify challenges
and opportunities and provide feedback about the things our
Members love about patrols and what they may wish to change.
This season also saw the appointment of two Child Safety
Officers, Narelle Moore and Eve Wheeler to not only comply
with SLSNSW and SLSA policies but to also ensure the safety of
Members of all ages.
Along with those previously mentioned, I would like to thank
everyone who has embraced this movement, who lends an
ear to their fellow Clubbies and who shows their commitment
to supporting the positive mental health, wellbeing, safety and
inclusivity of their fellow Members. Together we can make our
Club an even better place to be for many years to come.
Felicity MacArthur
Lead for Member Services
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BONDI SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB