Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has today launched a new national safety campaign designed to reach men and give more Aussies the tools to keep themselves safe when visiting the beach.

Starring Australian-born actor and filmmaker Angus Sampson, the new water safety campaign ‘Stop. Look. Stay Alive’ is aimed at getting people to make safety a priority when visiting the coastline this summer.

Tragically last year alone, 150 people drowned along Australia’s coastline, all occurring outside of the patrolled areas. Once again, men were over represented, accounting for 86% of all drownings.

Sampson will front a new television, online and outdoor advertising campaign, appealing to more Aussies, in particular men who continue to swim at unpatrolled locations and take unnecessary risks.

Surf Life Saving Australia President John Baker AM ESM said: “One life lost on our beaches is one life too many, and it is our aim with this campaign to keep water safety top of mind for all beachgoers.

“Unfortunately year in and year out men are overrepresented in our drowning statistics, prone to taking risks and not adhering to the safety advice.

“We are pleased to have actor Angus Sampson partner with us to help get our vital safety message to masses, in particular, to men.

“A former nipper and surf lifesaver at Freshwater SLSC on Sydney Northern Beaches, Sampson personally knows how important it is for people to have the basic understanding of surf safety and the inherent dangers of our beaches.

“It is forecast to be another hot summer, and Australians and visitors will be flocking to our coastline to enjoy the best our beaches have to offer. But the message is simple: Stop. Look. Stay Alive.” he said.

As part of the campaign, SLSA has also teamed up with Qantas to unveil a new virtual training platform for the community called ‘Beach Passport.’

Beach Passport is a mobile or online course that will provide the public with basic water safety knowledge. It will be free and available to every Australian citizen and visitor and is available at  beachpassport.org.au.

Beach Passport comes as SLSA announces a four-year partnership with Qantas, bringing together two likeminded brands with intrinsic links to Aussie culture and a shared commitment to the wellbeing of Australians and visitors, backed by over a century of joint credibility in safety, both in the air and on the ground.

To encourage people to use Beach Passport, Qantas is also providing 150 Qantas Points to everyone who completes the course before 30 April 2025, along with the opportunity to go into the draw to win 1 million Qantas points.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Stop. Look. Stay Alive. Campaign launches nationally today, and is set to be rolled out nationally across TV, print/online and outdoor advertising.