Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) is proud to announce its ‘Fastest on Sand’ initiative has been awarded Highly Commended in the Community category at the 2026 Queensland Reconciliation Awards.

The award, announced this week during National Reconciliation Week, acknowledges the initiative’s outstanding contribution to advancing reconciliation through sport, culture, connection and community engagement across Queensland.

Since launching in 2024, Fastest on Sand has engaged 360 participants across North Queensland, North Barrier and Wide Bay Capricorn regions, with almost half (48.6 per cent) identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander participants.

Designed through consultation with First Nations-led organisations and community partners, the initiative combines surf lifesaving sport with cultural celebration, creating welcoming and culturally safe environments where community members can connect, compete and build lasting relationships.

The program has been delivered across Queensland’s coastline, held on Yirrganydji Saltwater Djabugay Country in North Queensland, Darumbal Country in Yeppoon, Wulgurukaba and Bindal Aboriginal Country in Townsville and on Yuwibara Country in Mackay, bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, surf lifesaving clubs, families and local communities through beach sprints, flags, relays and community activities.

SLSQ Chief Operating Officer Greg Cahill said the recognition reflected the power of sport to bring people together and create meaningful pathways for participation.

“Fastest on Sand is much more than a sporting event. It is a celebration of culture, community and connection that demonstrates how surf life saving can create genuine pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to engage with our surf life saving community,” Cahill said.

“Receiving this recognition during National Reconciliation Week is particularly significant as we reflect on the role we all play in building respectful relationships and creating a more inclusive future.

“We are incredibly proud of the partnerships we’ve built with First Nations communities, Traditional Owners, organisations and families who have helped shape Fastest on Sand into what it is today. We also congratulate the other nominees and award winners doing incredible work in this space.”

The initiative was established to address participation barriers and create an accessible entry point into surf lifesaving for communities traditionally underrepresented within the life saving environment.

Through partnerships with organisations including Clontarf Foundation,  Harbrow Mentoring and a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led community groups, Fastest on Sand has successfully connected participants to ongoing involvement opportunities within surf lifesaving clubs and programs.

The Queensland Reconciliation Awards recognise organisations and individuals making significant contributions towards reconciliation and strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Queenslanders.

SLSQ’s Fastest on Sand initiative was recognised for its commitment to fostering cultural understanding, strengthening community relationships and embedding reconciliation into sporting environments through authentic collaboration and co-design.

The initiative aligns with Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Reconciliation Action Plan and continues to grow as a model for inclusive sport and community connection across the state.

Photo Credit, State of Queensland.