Surf Life Saving in Australia* Saving Lives in the a Snapshot

SURF LIFE SAVING IN SAVINGAU LIVESSTRALIAIN THE WATER FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS A SERVICE PROFILE SAVING LIVES IN THE WATER FOR MORE THAN SURF LIFE SAVING IN AUSTRALIA A SNAPSHOT* THE LARGEST ORGANISATION OF ITS TYPE IN AUSTRALIA 47,806 junior members—‘nippers’ 100 Years 37,006 actively patrolling members “ Over the past 100 years, 129,870—total membership Surf Life Saving in Australia 55,026 female members has evolved into a unique 74,844 male members 305 surf life saving clubs organisation, combining the elements of community service, AS WELL AS BEING A MAJOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ORGANISATION sport, education, youth programs 22,280 Junior Activity awards achieved 7,149 Bronze Medallion (patrolling surf lifesaver award) achieved and community development, 74,239 awards achieved by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) members all with the sole purpose of providing a safe beach and HELPING MORE THAN 510,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR aquatic environment throughout 9,318 rescues performed by surf lifesavers Australia. Despite the efforts 2,218 rescues performed by Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) lifeguards 11,536—total rescues by SLSA members of our trained volunteer surf 30,063 first aid administered by surf lifesavers lifesavers, paid lifeguards and 11,147 first aid administered by ALS lifeguards 41,210—total first aid by SLSA members support operations, more than 203,337 preventative actions** undertaken by surf lifesavers 60 people drown around our 255,732 preventative actions undertaken by ALS lifeguards coastline each year, while many 459,069—total preventative actions by SLSA members more are seriously incapacitated. 210 defibrillators 740 IRBs (Inflatable Rescue Boats or ‘rubber duckies’) Our mission is simply to save 54 RWCs (Rescue Water Craft or ‘waverunners’) lives in the water.” 15 Jet Rescue/Offshore Rescue Boats 9 rescue helicopters and fixed wing aerial surveillance Brett Williamson OAM Chief Executive Officer Surf Life Saving Australia PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY 36,000km of Australian coastline 11,560 beaches around coastline 55 million—estimated number of beach visitations each year 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 WhO WE are Surf Life Saving is Australia’s major water safety and rescue authority, and is the largest organisation of its type in the country. Our core activities are: Demographic trends and climate change will only increase • Community safety—performing more than this. Despite major advancements in technology, techniques 11,000 rescues each year. and knowledge, people still drown on Australia’s beaches • Health and fitness— providing a range of surf and other parts of the coast in unacceptable numbers. sports opportunities, from local to international, Our strategic intent is to save lives in the water. for our members, as well as a range of community sporting events. HOW WE fulfil Our missiON • Education and training—providing leadership and We operate Australia’s most integrated, cost effective, personal development for our junior and youth members coastal rescue and surveillance network, made up of: as well as community education and training. • Trained volunteer surf lifesavers—of our 130,000 members, more than 37,000 actively patrol 400 of the country’s • Australian Coastsafe Services—providing risk beaches on weekends and public holidays during the management services to local government and other swimming season. organisations. • Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS)—through the ALS, an operational division of SLSA, we provide WhY WE EXist 700 lifeguards on 250 beaches and other aquatic Australia is a continent with a coastline of more than environments. 36,000 km and 11,560 beaches. Almost one in two • Support operations—we also provide 24/7 response Australians swim in the surf at least once during summer, capabilities in most parts of Australia using helicopter and one in ten do so at least once a week. and fixed wing rescue services, offshore boats and OurhistORY a fleet of RWCs (rescue water craft, or waverunners). Australia’s first volunteer surf life saving clubs appeared a welcome relief to the concerns of the local authorities on Sydney’s ocean beaches in 1907. By-laws which and nervous bathers alike. On 18 October 1907, a number HOW WE value Our services had banned bathing in daylight hours since the 1830s of these clubs, along with other interested parties, came The value of our services to the Australian community has were repealed between 1902 and 1905, in response to together to form the Surf Bathing Association of NSW been independently estimated at more than $1.4 billion the increasing popularity of surf bathing, and a growing (SBANSW), the organisation now known as Surf Life per year*. This figure has been derived by calculating conviction that bathing in appropriate clothing was not Saving Australia (SLSA). The purpose of the SBANSW was the economic value of the 485 lives lost and 313 people an immoral act. The impact these changes had on local “to regulate and promote matters relative to surf bathing.” permanently incapacitated, had surf lifesaving services not beach culture was swift: beachgoers entered the surf in One hundred years later, SLSA has grown to become been available. We also contribute to ‘social capital’ through rapidly escalating numbers. The surf was new to most surf a diverse organisation and Australia’s largest water safety the improved personal health, social participation, education, bathers, and many could not swim, so with its increasing and rescue authority. In recognition of one hundred years and personal satisfaction of our members, as well as to the popularity, came more drowning and consequent attempts of service, the Australian Government declared 2007 to community more generally, through decreased crime, a safer at rescue. natural environment and increased tourism. be the Year of the Surf Lifesaver, celebrating the more than By the summer of 1906–07, Sydney was obsessed with the 530,000 people who have been rescued, and the countless * ‘Valuing an Australian icon: The economic and social impact of surf lifesaving question of the safety of the surf. It was in this environment thousands more lives improved in so many different ways in Australia’,The Allen Consulting Group, April 2005. that surf life saving clubs first emerged, their regular patrols through active involvement in the surf lifesaving movement. Saving lives and fixed wing rescue services, In May 2006, the Australian Saving lives IN offshore boats and a fleet of RWCs Government provided funding for the THE WATER FOR MORE (rescue water craft, or waverunners). establishment of Australian Lifesaving An independent economic study has Academy, which will lead to safer THAN 100 YEARS found if not for the presence of this beaches through the provision of Over the past 100 years we have lifesaving network, almost 500 people high quality training around Australia. developed Australia’s most integrated, would drown each year. This best- Fully accredited training programs cost effective, coastal rescue and practice lifesaving model is used as are provided for SLSA’s volunteer surveillance network. 37,000 trained a template, particularly in developing members, paid lifeguards and the surf lifesavers patrol 400 of the countries in the Asia–Pacific. SLSA public through the Academy using country’s beaches on weekends and is active in improving water safety SLSA’s existing national club, branch public holidays during the swimming outcomes through its leadership and state infrastructure. In addition season. The Australian Lifeguard role in the International Lifesaving to core SLSA awards, the Academy Service (ALS)—an operational Federation (ILS). has invested in Registered Training division of Surf Life Saving, provides Organisations (RTO) across the country. contracted lifeguards to local Saving lives thrOugh government and other land managers Surf Life Saving also provides at peak periods not otherwise covered EDUCATION & TRAINING school-based training through various by volunteer patrols. Surf lifesavers Surf Life Saving has a proud tradition programs such as Beach to Bush, our and lifeguards are assisted by our as a training and education provider ‘Surf’s Up’ curriculum-based resource support operations, our motorised with its structured internal education for primary schools, and a range of rescue assets including helicopter curriculum and award systems. other activities. 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, our members all have the opportunity to participate in local, regional, state, national and international surf sports competitions, in order to improve lifesaving skills and thereby keep our beaches safe. “ WITHOUT QUESTION—SURF LIFE SAVING Since 1915, the peak surf sports event for the movement IS AN OUTSTANDING SYMBOL OF THE has been the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, BEST FEATURES OF AUSTRALIAN LIFE.” which sees around 7,000 surf lifesavers compete over the His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC course of six days. In terms of competitor numbers, this Governor-General Of The Commonwealth Of Australia event is bigger than the Commonwealth Games and the economic benefit of hosting the Championships

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