How to become a lifesaver
Becoming a lifesaver is a rewarding journey! Here’s how to get started:
Find Your Club
Choose a surf life saving club that suits you. This could depend on how close it is to your home, the size of the Club, or if you have friends and family associated with a Club. You can contact the Club to chat to go over any questions and to make sure they suit your needs, however the general process to sign up is below!
Sign Up with Surf Life Saving Australia
Once you’ve picked your Club, you will need to register through Surf Life Saving Australia. You'll select your Club, fill in your details, and pay the registration fee (which varies by club). After signing up, you’ll receive a unique login to access your account and education portal.
Begin Your Training
After registration, it’s time to start your training. The first step is to apply for a Blue Card (required for all lifesavers) and complete online and skills training. experience and wellbeing.
- Child Safety Training (CYRMS/CSA) - Online Training:
A requirement of all lifesavers over the age of 18 years is to complete an online Child Safety course. This helps protect our youth both on and off the beach.
- Water-Based Lifesaving (Bronze Medallion Course) – In person training:
To become a patrolling lifesaver on Queensland beaches, you’ll need to complete the Bronze Medallion Course. This course can be done over a few weekends or as an intensive one-week program. It includes physical tests like swimming 400m in under 9 minutes and a run-swim-run challenge (200m run, 200m swim, 200m run in under 8 minutes) in pool. You’ll also learn essential rescue skills, beach safety, communication, first aid, CPR, and how to maintain patrol logs. Once you pass, you’ll be ready to patrol in the iconic red and yellow uniform!
- Land-Based Lifesaving – In person and online training:
If water isn’t your thing, you can take on land-based roles. These require no physical testing, but you'll be trained in skills like risk observation, radio operations, first aid, and CPR. Once your training is complete, you’ll also join the patrol team in red and yellow.
Join the Roster
After your training, your Club will schedule you for patrol shifts during the volunteer lifesaving season. The minimum requirement is 25 hours per season. Each patrol will have a variety of people, a great way to meet new people and have support on hand.
Keep Your Skills Up to Date
Each year, you'll need to complete a "skills maintenance" to stay up to date with any changes and ensure the safety of everyone on the beach. Think of this as a refresher to what you’ve learnt previously.
