Be A Mermate

⏰ Applications are closing soon!

There’s still time to join the Be a Mermate volunteer team at Leavers and Meelup BeachFest.

Spend a week in Dunsborough working with other volunteers and gaining hands-on experience in harm reduction, health promotion and water safety.

You’ll help run BeachFest activities, connect with Leavers and support young people to make safer choices around the water.

📅 21–27 November

Applications close 1 September. Get yours in through the link below or send this to a mate you’d volunteer with 👉 https://bit.ly/leavers_volunteers

Imagine going from reeling one in to being the one caught overboard 🌊🎣

If a wave knocks you into the ocean, don’t waste energy thrashing around. Keep your lifejacket on, signal for help and get into the Heat Escape Lessening Position, also known as H.E.L.P.

This helps slow heat loss while your mates turn the boat around and come back for you.

At night, hazards are harder to spot and someone overboard can disappear from view fast. Before you leave, make sure everyone has a lifejacket on and knows the plan if things go sideways.

Remember, getting home safe is the real catch of the night 🫡

Want to be part of the team behind BeachFest? 👀

We’re looking for volunteers to join Be a Mermate at this year’s Leavers and Meelup BeachFest!

Spend the week in Dunsborough from 21–27 November, meet other volunteers and gain hands-on experience in harm reduction, health promotion and water safety.

You’ll help run BeachFest activities, chat with Leavers throughout the week and support young people to make safer choices around the water.

Ready to get involved? Apply through the link in our bio or tag a mate you’d volunteer with 🤝
https://bit.ly/leavers_volunteers

When the plans finally make it out of the group chat 🏊

Winter swimmer or absolutely not? Here are a few reasons to give the indoor pool a go:

✅ A full-body workout without the wet weather
✅ Quieter lanes and more space
✅ Time to catch up with a mate
✅ No pressure to be fast or super fit

Swim a few laps, join a squad, work on your skills or just move at your own pace. It’s an easy option when outdoor workouts sound terrible and motivation is nowhere to be found!

Grab your goggles and give it a go 🥽

BeachFest on the agenda? Make sure you’ve got the right wristband 👀

A one-day wristband won’t get you through the gates. To join us at Meelup Beach you'll need a four-day Leavers WA wristband.

Sort yours early, send this to the group chat and make sure no one misses out!

Be sure to check out what's needed to collect yours:
https://www.leaverswa.com.au/leavers-event/wristband-sales/

Looking for something new to add to your event or expo?

Be a Mermate delivers interactive youth-focused water safety stalls designed for young people in WA. Our stalls go beyond the usual safety reminders, using real stories, scenarios and peer-focused conversations to help teens recognise risks, make smarter choices and look out for their mates around water.

If your school or organisation would like to host a Be a Mermate stall, contact us to book today!

👉 https://bit.ly/community_education

This year, our Be a Mermate team has reached more than 8500 people across WA through 31 events, helping young people make safer choices around the water!

We have loved seeing you get involved with our stall, spin the Mermate wheel and asking great questions.

Huge shout out to everyone who has welcomed us into their community, gave their time as a volunteer or stopped to have a chat! With more than 400 volunteer hours behind the season, it has been an enormous team effort 🙌

Did you spot Be a Mermate at an event this year? Tell us where you saw us in the comments 👉

Bring Be a Mermate to your next event in 2026/2027 and help start a lifesaving conversation: https://bit.ly/community_education

Just like learning your ABCs, DRSABCD is something worth knowing!

The DRSABCD Action Plan is an acronym you can use when someone is unresponsive, not breathing or drowning. It's the kind of thing you hope you never need, but will be glad you know.

Save this post and keep it in your back pocket. In an emergency, knowing where to start can make all the difference.

Want to feel more confident if something goes wrong? Enrol in a First Aid course and learn what to do when every second counts 👉 https://bit.ly/find_first_aid_courses

Don’t let a flooded road catch you out! 🌧️🚗

It might not look deep, but looks can be deceiving. Just 15cm of moving water can knock out your engine and around 30cm is enough to float a car 😳

If the road is flooded, don’t risk it. Turn around and find another way. It’s not worth your safety or your life!