SURF LIFE SAVING IN

AUSTRALIA SAVING LIVESIN THE WATER FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

A SERVICE Profile WATER FOR MORE THAN SURF LIFE SAVING IN * SAVING LIVES IN THE A SNAPSHOT

THE LARGEST ORGANISATION OF ITS TYPE IN AUSTRALIA 47,806 junior members—‘nippers’ 37,006 actively patrolling members 129,870—total membership

55,026 female members ears 74,844 male members 100 y surf life saving clubs “ Over the past 100 years, 305 Surf Life Saving in Australia has evolved into a unique AS WELL AS BEING A MAJOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ORGANISATION 22,280 Junior Activity awards achieved organisation, combining the 7,149 Bronze Medallion (patrolling surf lifesaver award) achieved elements of community service, 74,239 awards achieved by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) members sport, education, youth programs

and community development, HELPING MORE THAN 510,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR 9,318 rescues performed by surf lifesavers all with the sole purpose of 2,218 rescues performed by Australian Service (ALS) 11,536—total rescues by SLSA members providing a safe and administered by surf lifesavers aquatic environment throughout 30,063 11,147 first aid administered by ALS lifeguards Australia. Despite the efforts 41,210—total first aid by SLSA members of our trained volunteer surf 203,337 preventative actions** undertaken by surf lifesavers 255,732 preventative actions undertaken by ALS lifeguards lifesavers, paid lifeguards and 459,069—total preventative actions by SLSA members support operations, more than 210 defibrillators 60 people drown around our 740 IRBs (Inflatable Rescue Boats or ‘rubber duckies’) 54 RWCs (Rescue Water Craft or ‘waverunners’) coastline each year, while many 15 Jet Rescue/Offshore Rescue Boats more are seriously incapacitated. 9 rescue helicopters and fixed wing aerial surveillance Our mission is simply to save

lives in the water.” PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY 36,000km of Australian coastline Brett Williamson OAM 11,560 around coastline Chief Executive Officer 55 million—estimated number of beach visitations each year Surf Life Saving Australia 76% of Australians who consider themselves ‘regular beachgoers’

* Figures based on 2006–07 season. **  A preventative action involves a surf lifesaver or lifeguard providing advice or assistance before a swimmer gets into trouble e are Who w Surf Life Saving is Australia’s major water safety and rescue authority, and is the largest organisation of its Demographic trends and climate change will only increase type in the country. Our core activities are: this. Despite major advancements in technology, techniques —performing more than • Community safety and knowledge, people still drown on Australia’s beaches 11,000 rescues each year. and other parts of the coast in unacceptable numbers.

— providing a range of surf Our strategic intent is to save lives in the water. • Health and fitness sports opportunities, from local to international, our mission for our members, as well as a range of community How we fulfil sporting events. We operate Australia’s most integrated, cost effective, —providing leadership and • Education and training coastal rescue and surveillance network, made up of: personal development for our junior and youth members • Trained volunteer surf lifesavers—of our 130,000 members, as well as community education and training. more than 37,000 actively patrol 400 of the country’s —providing risk beaches on weekends and public holidays during the • Australian Coastsafe Services swimming season. management services to local government and other organisations. • Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS)—through the ALS, an operational division of SLSA, we provide e exist 700 lifeguards on 250 beaches and other aquatic Why w environments. Australia is a continent with a coastline of more than • Support operations—we also provide 24/7 response ory 36,000 km and 11,560 beaches. Almost one in two capabilities in most parts of Australia using helicopter Ourhist a welcome relief to the concerns of the local authorities Australians swim in the surf at least once during summer, and fixed wing rescue services, offshore boats and Australia’s first volunteer surf life saving clubs appeared and nervous bathers alike. On 18 October 1907, a number and one in ten do so at least once a week. a fleet of RWCs (rescue water craft, or waverunners). on ’s ocean beaches in 1907. By-laws which of these clubs, along with other interested parties, came ur services had banned bathing in daylight hours since the 1830s together to form the Surf Bathing Association of NSW How we value o were repealed between 1902 and 1905, in response to (SBANSW), the organisation now known as Surf Life the increasing popularity of surf bathing, and a growing Saving Australia (SLSA). The purpose of the SBANSW was The value of our services to the Australian community has conviction that bathing in appropriate clothing was not “to regulate and promote matters relative to surf bathing.” been independently estimated at more than $1.4 billion an immoral act. The impact these changes had on local per year*. This figure has been derived by calculating One hundred years later, SLSA has grown to become beach culture was swift: beachgoers entered the surf in the economic value of the 485 lives lost and 313 people a diverse organisation and Australia’s largest water safety rapidly escalating numbers. The surf was new to most surf permanently incapacitated, had surf services not and rescue authority. In recognition of one hundred years bathers, and many could not swim, so with its increasing been available. We also contribute to ‘social capital’ through of service, the Australian Government declared 2007 to popularity, came more and consequent attempts the improved personal health, social participation, education, be the Year of the Surf Lifesaver, celebrating the more than at rescue. and personal satisfaction of our members, as well as to the 530,000 people who have been rescued, and the countless community more generally, through decreased crime, a safer By the summer of 1906–07, Sydney was obsessed with the thousands more lives improved in so many different ways natural environment and increased tourism. question of the safety of the surf. It was in this environment through active involvement in the surf lifesaving movement.

* ‘Valuing an Australian icon: The economic and social impact of surf lifesaving that surf life saving clubs first emerged, their regular patrols in Australia’,The Allen Consulting Group, April 2005. Saving lives

In May 2006, the Australian and fixed wing rescue services, Government provided funding for the Saving lives IN offshore boats and a fleet of RWCs establishment of Australian Lifesaving WATER FOR MORE (rescue water craft, or waverunners). Academy, which will lead to safer THE An independent economic study has beaches through the provision of THAN 100 YEARS found if not for the presence of this high quality training around Australia. lifesaving network, almost 500 people Over the past 100 years we have Fully accredited training programs would drown each year. This best- are provided for SLSA’s volunteer developed Australia’s most integrated, practice lifesaving model is used as cost effective, coastal rescue and members, paid lifeguards and the a template, particularly in developing public through the Academy using surveillance network. 37,000 trained countries in the Asia–Pacific. SLSA surf lifesavers patrol 400 of the SLSA’s existing national club, branch is active in improving water safety and state infrastructure. In addition country’s beaches on weekends and outcomes through its leadership public holidays during the swimming to core SLSA awards, the Academy role in the International Lifesaving has invested in Registered Training season. The Australian Lifeguard Federation (ILS). Service (ALS)—an operational Organisations (RTO) across the country. division of Surf Life Saving, provides lives through contracted lifeguards to local Saving Surf Life Saving also provides government and other land managers EDUCATION & TRAINING school-based training through various programs such as Beach to Bush, our at peak periods not otherwise covered Surf Life Saving has a proud tradition by volunteer patrols. Surf lifesavers ‘Surf’s Up’ curriculum-based resource as a training and education provider for primary schools, and a range of and lifeguards are assisted by our with its structured internal education other activities. support operations, our motorised curriculum and award systems. rescue assets including helicopter SAVING LIVES IN THE WATER THROUGH SPORTING EXCELLENCE Surf Life Saving in Australia is a unique sporting organisation. From ‘nipper’ to elite Ironman and Ironwoman, through to our masters competitors, ON—SURF LIFE SAVING our members all have the opportunity to participate in WITHOUT QUESTI “ YMBOL OF THE local, regional, state, national and international surf IS ANO UTSTANDING S sports competitions, in order to improve lifesaving OF AUSTRALIAN LIFE.” skills and thereby keep our beaches safe. BEST FEATURES His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC Since 1915, the peak surf sports event for the movement Governor-General Of The Commonwealth Of Australia has been the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, which sees around 7,000 surf lifesavers compete over the course of six days. In terms of competitor numbers, this event is bigger than the Commonwealth Games and the economic benefit of hosting the Championships has been recognised by state and local governments across Australia. With the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission, Surf Life Saving Australia also operates a High Performance program with the objective of ensuring we retain our position as the top-ranked lifesaving sports nation in the world. Since 1907, hundreds of surf lifesavers have also represented Australia in the Olympics and various World Championships. Surf Life Saving ommunity through: serving the Australian c EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMUNITY SAFETY • Australian Lifesaving Academy—providing member • Surf lifesavers—37,000 trained volunteers and community specialist education ranging from providing more than 1.4 million hours of basic to advanced surf rescue to workplace training beach patrols each season. and assessment, coaching and officiating and

leadership development. • Australian Lifeguard Services—the world’s largest provider of lifeguard services—delivering • Nippers—50,000 future surf lifesavers learning safer beaches for local government and other surf safety and other skills. land managers. • School programs—teaching surf survival skills • Support operations—24/7 rapid response including to children in coastal and regional communities. helicopters, jet rescue boats and wave-runners. AUSTRALIAN COASTSAFE SERVICES • The Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines —the most comprehensive coastal safety document ever produced, providing best practice guidelines for coastal land managers. • Australian Beach Safety and Management Program (ABSAMP)—the only comprehensive database of every beach in Australia.

• Coastal safety and risk management services —using the above proprietary tools to provide a core service to governments, land managers and other organisations.

HEALTH AND FITNESS • The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships —the largest event of its type in the world.

• Other surf sports events—ranging from ocean swims, club carnivals, state and regional championships, the classic Coolangatta Gold and elite Ironman and Ironwoman races. • Coaching and officiating—a comprehensive accreditation system including an annual conference. How can youh elp SurfL ife Saving inAu stralia? How can you help keep our beaches safe? There are three main ways: • Donate—SLSA is a charity and needs community and corporate assistance to improve our services. • Join a club—why not become a surf lifesaver? To find out more, visit your local surf life saving club. If you can’t help in either of those ways, the most important when thingyou visit you acan beach. do is to always swim between the red and yellow Remember, if we can’t see you we can’t save you!

For further information: www.slsa.com.au 02 9300 4000 Surf Life Saving Australia www.surflifesaving.com.au 02 9984 7188 Surf Life Saving NSW www.lifesavingnt.com.au 08 8985 6588 Surf Life Saving NT www.lifesaving.com.au 07 3846 8000 Surf Life Saving QLD .com.au 08 8354 6900 www.surfrescue.com.au Surf Life Saving SA 03 6223 5555 www.slst.asn.au Surf Life Saving TAS 03 9676 6900 www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au Life Saving Victoria couchcreative 08 9243 9444 www.mybeach.com.au Surf Life Saving WA 5580