When the SLSQ Youth Collective packed up and headed north in March, the mission was simple: bring leadership, resilience and a whole lot of energy directly to the young lifesavers who don’t always get the chance to access state-level development opportunities.
The destination? North Queensland. The result? A weekend that left 27 young members from all five NQ clubs feeling more confident, more connected, and genuinely fired up about their future in lifesaving.
A Weekend That Had a Bit of Everything
Things kicked off on Friday evening with a networking night at Cairns SLSC. With 32 people in the room — youth, parents, a club president, and three branch board members — it was the kind of evening where conversations flowed easily, new connections were made, and the energy for the weekend ahead started to build.
Saturday was where the magic happened. The Level Up Lab workshop brought participants together at the North Queensland Branch Office for three hours of hands-on development — no death-by-PowerPoint, no sitting still for too long. The sessions covered personal development and the transferable skills young lifesavers are already building (whether they realise it or not), resilience and mental wellbeing, and a collaborative action planning session where each club mapped out what they want to change and how they’re going to do it.
And yes, the day wrapped up with a water gun fight on the branch office lawn. Because sometimes the best team building doesn’t need a facilitator.
The Sessions That Hit Home
The personal development session helped young members connect the dots between what they do in lifesaving and what that actually means for their confidence, their communication skills, and their future — whether that’s in a job interview, a uni application, or just showing up differently in their day-to-day lives.
The resilience module opened up real conversations about pressure, setbacks, and the stuff that doesn’t always get talked about openly. Participants said it was reassuring to hear that others face similar challenges — and powerful to walk away with practical strategies rather than just being told to “toughen up.”
The action planning session gave every club a chance to put pen to paper on what matters most to their youth members. The goal wasn’t a glossy strategy document — it was a simple, honest plan that clubs could actually take home and act on.
Every single participant rated the workshop as excellent and highly engaging. The resilience and action planning sessions were the clear standouts.
“This Is What Youth Development Looks Like”
Zoe McLeish, who led the delivery of the program, said the weekend confirmed what the Youth Collective has always believed — that when you meet young people where they are and give them the space to be heard, great things happen.
“The energy in the room was incredible,” Zoe said. “These young members didn’t just turn up — they leaned in. They shared, they challenged each other, they laughed, and they left feeling like they genuinely matter to their clubs and to lifesaving. That’s exactly what Level Up Lab is designed to do.”
She added that the pilot has set the stage for what comes next.
“Level Up Lab was built to travel. North Queensland was the perfect place to start, and now we want to bring it to more clubs and branches across Queensland. If your club is interested in hosting one, we’d absolutely love to make it happen.”
Want Level Up Lab at Your Club?
The NQ pilot proved the model works — and the Youth Collective is ready to take it further. If your club or branch wants to strengthen youth engagement, build connection, and give young members a real voice, Level Up Lab is a practical, energising way to make that happen.
Get in touch with the SLSQ Youth Collective to find out more.