Chief Training Officers and Club Captains from all 58 Surf Life Saving Clubs in Queensland met on the Gold Coast over the last three days, taking part in a workshops and training of the 2023/24 patrol season.

Amongst a series of expert talks and seminars, realistic scenario training took place in the air and on the water, utilising nearly every arm of Surf Life Saving.

SLSQ General Manager Lifesaving & Education Peta Lawlor said the Workshop provided a unique opportunity to bring experts together from around the state to take part in productive onboarding of knowledge, testing capabilities and using advanced systems and technologies.

“Every year Surf Life Saving looks to make more and more progress on our ultimate goal of zero preventable deaths in Queensland public waters, and it’s important we get the best minds together from across the state to take new learnings back to their clubs,” said Lawlor.

“It’s been a long time – certainly pre-COVID – that we’ve been able to get at least one representative from every single club along the coast in the same place at the same time, thinking outside the box for their own development and that of their fellow surf lifesavers.”

Fridays sessions involved guest presentations from inspirational former Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock representing mental health foundation Gotcha4Life, and Life Saving Victoria’s Kane Treloar.

A nighttime operations scenario on Friday night was followed by more training on Saturday in the form of shallow water rescues and aquatic trauma extractions.

Sunday’s sessions were individualised for the Chief Training Officers and Club Captains, with each group benefitting from skills masterclasses, certification and systems training.

“Everyone who attended over the weekend will return to their club with more skills, more knowledge and a greater network of experience to call upon,” said Lawlor. “It’s certainly not easy being able to get so many people to give up their time in their busy schedules to come together on the same weekend, but in doing so they will ensure the Queensland coastline is even safer this summer.”