SSAA St Marys - Junior Development Program

Junior shooters, 12-17 years old, can join our Junior Development Program held every Saturday morning from 10am-12pm.
Newcomers to the Program attend an Introductory Session on Firearms Safety before they join the program. These sessions are held on the first Saturday of each month.
Juniors may then shoot if they have either a ‘Minor’s Permit’ or an Approved ‘Temporary Membership Exemption’ from the requirement to have a Minor’s Permit. The Permit must be presented on request at the range, so please put it in a protective cover and bring it with you.
All juniors start the program as ‘Novices’ and are given individual coaching on the safe and effective use of firearms. When the Coach/Range Officers are satisfied with their progress and they have attended at least 3 previous sessions, then Novices can choose to attempt a simple Proficiency Test to progress to the ‘Advanced’ Juniors.
During school term, ‘Advanced’ Juniors follow a calendar of Graded competitions. On school holidays, coaching sessions are held to encourage young shooters to improve their shooting technique and knowledge.

To participate, you will need:

• To be at the St Mary’s range at 10am Saturday morning.

• For the Introduction & Safety Awareness talk, there are no particular requirements. It is free and you are welcome to attend as many times as you wish.

• To shoot with the Junior Development Program you will need:

  1. Either a Minor’s Permit or notification from the range that your ‘Temporary Membership’ Exemption has been approved by the NSW Firearms Registry.

  2. If you are a SSAA member, $10 to cover the cost of the Range hire, club rifle, ammunition & targets (only $6.60 if a licensed parent or guardian brings a rifle & ammunition). If you are not a SSAA member the charge is $15.

  3. Hearing protection, either earmuffs or earplugs. Disposable earplugs can be purchased for $1 a set.

  4. Appropriate clothing for the outside temperature. The firing range is NOT Air Conditioned but outside air is blown down the Range to clear any smoke or dust particles from the air.

  5. Sensible clothing, including a top with sleeves and pants. Loose fitting clothing can be a safety hazard. Shooting Jackets are NOT required as the firearms used have minimal recoil.

  6. Sensible shoes with fully closed in uppers. Bare feet, thongs, sandals etc are not allowed on the firing line.

  7. If the Junior has difficulty closing the eye that’s not used for aiming, we recommend that you bring an eye patch or glasses with an opaque lens to cover that eye.

What to do:

• If you are only attending the Introduction & Safety Awareness talk and not shooting, you don’t have to pay anything.  But you must go to the Junior Range Officers at the kitchenette bench outside Range “C”, tell them that you are only attending the ‘Talk’ and then ‘Sign In’.

• If you are shooting;

  1. Go to the Range Officers at the front counter outside Range “B”. Be prepared to show your Minor’s Permit if you have one. If you are shooting under a ‘Temporary Exemption’, the Range Officer will check their records to confirm you have an Approved, and non-expired, ‘Temporary Exemption’.

  2. Assuming all is in order, you will then pay an entry fee of either $10 or $6.60 depending upon whether you will be using a club rifle & ammunition or not. Make sure to get your receipt.

  3. Now go to the Junior Range Officers at the kitchenette bench outside Range “C” and show them your receipt from the front counter.

  4. You will be required to sign in on an attendance sheet sitting on the kitchenette counter.

  5. If you have attended previously, your name should be on the list. Make sure we have recorded your name correctly and put your signature next to your name.

  6. If this is your 1st visit, you will have to show either your ‘Minor’s Permit’ or notification from the range that your ‘Temporary Exemption’ has been approved. You will have to print your name clearly in the first available space and your signature next to it.

  7. The boring bit is now over.  Keep your ears open and obey every instruction from the Range Officers.They are there to make sure everyone enjoys the event and to prevent accidents.

  8. Misbehaviour will not be tolerated and you will be ejected from the Range immediately, with no refund.