Each and every year, thousands of Members across the State volunteer their time both on and off the beach, providing vital community service and saving thousands of lives in the process. The lifesaving family is built on more than 100 years of dedication and commitment of everyday Queenslanders.
Our volunteers are the backbone of our movement and are recognised throughout Australia and the world for their dedication and commitment to our vision of ‘Zero preventable deaths in Queensland waters.’
Within surf lifesaving there are dozens of roles and opportunities to suit all walks of life. From governance to jet skis through to mastering a barbecue, there is a place for everyone in our red and yellow community.
This booklet is here to inform you of the number of pathways available to you at Surf Life Saving Queensland. These pathways are to help guide you in your search for new skills and challenges. They will connect you with others on the same journey that just might lead to forming life-long friendships.
history
Our history is rich, dating back to 1908 when Sydney dentist Harold Bennett brought an old line and belt to Tweed Heads to form a lifesaving Club. The first qualified surf lifesavers practiced at Greenmount Beach, and on February 21, 1909, the first recorded rescue using a lifesaving reel was performed in the surf off Greenmount. Lifesavers rescued four young women and a young man caught in a rip, marking the beginning of a legacy of bravery and service.
Formally established in 1930, Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) is the governing body for surf lifesaving in Queensland. From these humble beginnings, we have achieved world recognition for the outstanding courage and service of our Members.
Today, SLSQ has grown into a groundbreaking and highly innovative organisation with 58 established Surf Life Saving Clubs patrolling 8,000 kilometres of Queensland coastline from Port Douglas to Rainbow Bay. Our Membership includes more than 36,000 volunteer surf lifesavers and over 462,000 Members of affiliated supporters Clubs.
Without the important contribution from our volunteers this would not have been possible.
WHAT IS A LIFESAVING PATHWAY?
By joining Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), you become part of an organisation steeped in history and tradition, yet committed to continuous innovation and progress. Your involvement helps us carry forward this proud legacy while embracing new ways to save lives and serve our communities.
You are part of a 36,000-strong family that continues to grow. Each Member brings unique skills and a passion that has made surf life saving the largest volunteer organisation in Australia. Your individual contribution adds to this vibrant and dynamic community.
We want your pathway in lifesaving to bring you continuous development, personal satisfaction and fun.
If you want more support and guidance, email membership@lifesaving.com.au or call (07) 3846 8000.
EXPAND YOUR ROLE ON PATROL
There are a number of courses that Members can undertake to enhance lifesaving skills on the beach, enabling them to progress their pathway to providing extended frontline services.
Once you have completed your Bronze Medallion, some of the roles you could expand and progress with advanced training include:
FIRST AID
The first aid course teaches both the theory and the practical application of first aid skills not only required during patrol but for general life skills and even in the workplace. You learn how to identify signs and symptoms and provide first aid assistance in line with nationally recognised standards.
ADVANCED RESUSCITATION TECHNIQUES (ART)
The aim of this course is to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and application of oxygen, airway management devices, and automated external defibrillators during resuscitation, and to administer oxygen to conscious and unconscious breathing causalities.
INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT (IRB) DRIVER OR CREW
The inflatable rescue boat (IRB) is a vital piece of surf lifesaving equipment, requiring two people to operate. As the driver you are responsible for safely and efficiently negotiating the surf while driving the IRB and communicating effectively with the crew Member to ensure the safe operation of the craft, the safety of your crew and patient/s.
As the IRB driver you may also be called upon to assist in conducting search and rescue operations and as such, liaising with other emergency response services as required.
SILVER MEDALLION PATROL CAPTAIN
The aim of this course is to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and experience required to manage a beach and a team in emergency and non-emergency situations. The course is aimed at people wishing to be Patrol Captains. This courses is only open to those who have completed two years of patrolling experience.
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
For those who want to take their lifesaving skills to the next level, there are a range of additional services across Queensland that support our volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards on the beach. Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Operations Support services are critical, undertaking patrols in dangerous and unpatrolled areas along the coast.
The service also provides coordination support for major incidents and after hours call out support for local police services.
Operations Support services include:
- Rescue Water Crafts (jetski/wave runner)
- State Operations Communications Centre (SOCC) Operators
- Duty Officers
- Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service
- Drones
These services are a crucial addition to surf rescue and provide our Members with further opportunities to develop a specialist skillset, offering yet another layer of support in keeping our beaches and public waters safe.
SURF SPORTS
Once you are involved in an entry level position in the organisation and have obtained relevant awards, there are many more opportunities for involvement. Among these is participation in surf sports, where training and competition are fundamental tools to improve the skills required to keep Queensland beaches safer.
Sport training and carnivals are a fun, active way to participate, showcasing our culture while transferring some of the core skills of surf lifesaving into the competitive arena.
Competition events include:
- Queensland Youth, Seniors and Masters Championships (beach and ocean events)
- Surf Rescue (simulated lifesaving rescue and first aid scenarios)
- Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) racing
- Pool Rescue Championships
All sport activities require a variety of personnel to operate effectively. Most are volunteer positions with some leading to paid careers or pathways to international competition.
Key ways for you to get involved include:
- Competitors
- Officials
- Coaching
- Team Managers
- Age Managers
- Water safety
- Chaperoning
- Carnival administration and management
- Gear and Equipment Workforce
Our surf sport volunteers come from various backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience. We have seasoned athletes who have taken up coaching, parents with minimal experience stepping in as judges, and seniors trying their hand at being athletes.
junior activities
A popular starting point for many people in surf lifesaving is our junior program, commonly known as “Nippers” and referred to nationally as Junior Activities. As children progress through the relevant age group awards and increase in skill and lifesaving knowledge, we call them “Junior Lifesavers” (11-13 years). Every Club in Queensland offers a Junior Activities program.
Junior programs focus on participation, lifesaving skills, family, friends and fun! Our goal is to ensure children enjoy their time at the beach, build confidence in the water, stay healthy and develop into knowledgeable future lifesavers. As they progress through the various age groups, Nippers will undergo lessons in wading, running, swimming, board paddling and lifesaving skills including working towards resuscitation and first aid.
Practising these skills allows children to compete in Club, Branch, State, and Australian surf lifesaving carnivals representing their Clubs. A major benefit of the Junior Activities program for new Members is that it’s something the whole family can get involved in!
Some of the many supporting roles that you, as a family member of a child involved in Junior Activities, can play include:
- Coach
- Official
- Chaperone
- Age manager
- Gear steward
- Team manager
- Water safety officer
- Fundraising coordinator
- Canteen and barbecue coordinator
These services are a crucial addition to surf rescue and provide our Members with further opportunities to develop a specialist skillset, offering yet another layer of support in keeping our beaches and public waters safe.
COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Every surf Club and regional Branch in Queensland needs a vast range of volunteers to help manage, coordinate, and run their respective organisations. A broad variety of volunteer positions exist at the Club, regional (Branch), State and National level for volunteers who have the skills, passion and/or interest in tackling these rewarding roles.
Some roles require a special skillset, which are often transferrable from a Member’s professional career. These roles are vital to the management and sustainability of our organisation, including:
- President
- Deputy President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Director of Surf Sports
- Administrator
- Club Captain and Junior Club Captain
- Youth and Membership Development Officer
- And many more...
To support Members into these roles, Surf Life Saving Queensland provides leadership and personal development opportunities through programs such as the Youth Excellence Program and the State Leadership Excellence Program.
These programs are designed to develop Members’ skills and inspire them to take on additional roles within the organisation, beyond patrolling the beach.
Further opportunities are also available to ensure that development program attendees can give back by becoming leaders, mentors, or coordinators, further developing their skills and experience by conducting programs and learning through doing. Pathways are also available to national level programs.
BECOME AN EDUCATOR/ FACILITATOR
The education of our Members is vital to ensure our frontline leads the way in aquatic safety. We provide a pathway for Members who have experience in a particular area and are interested to share their knowledge and passion for the organisation by training new Members.
If you have a passion for training others, there are a number of roles you can pursue including:
- Trainer
- Assessor
- Chief Training Officer
All of these roles are essential to the professional development and training of our Members, which presents a great stepping stone into future careers in professional training or an opportunity to bring your external skillset to the organisation.
COMMUNITY AWARENESS PRESENTER
Away from the beach, Surf Life Saving Queensland continues to work hard in the community to promote surf safety education and awareness as a crucial part of breaking the drowning cycle.
All of our community awareness presenters are also volunteer surf lifesavers, which means our Members have the chance to take the skills they have learnt at their Club and educate their local community.
With opportunities from casual employment right through to full time employment within the Community Awareness team, there are a number of opportunities and programs conducted annually in schools and communities, including our Beach to Bush and Little Lifesavers programs.
This frontline approach to safety allows the public to make informed, and potentially life saving, decisions before even stepping onto a beach.
LIFEGUARD
For those who would like to convert their lifesaving skills into a professional job, lifeguarding is a logical career pathway. It is a great way for our volunteers who may be studying to supplement their income or those who wish to become career lifeguards.
The Australian Lifeguard Service Queensland (ASLQ) is the professional lifesaving arm of Surf Life Saving Queensland, providing integral support to local governments, land managers and private resorts.
The largest provider of professional lifeguards in the state, ALSQ operates at more than 70 locations with many of these sites patrolled seven days a week, 365 days a year. At its peak during the season, this service can employ over 400 lifeguards.
To find out more visit - www.lifeguards.com.au/qld/
WESTPAC LIFESAVER RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE CREW
The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS) is our eye in the sky, patrolling across South East Queensland every weekend and during peak periods, including school holidays. The two helicopters are also available to be tasked by emergency service organisations seven days a week. Westpac has supported the WLRHS since its inception in Queensland in 1976.
Our two bases in Queensland are staffed by dedicated pilots, aircrew, rescue crew, lifeguards, and volunteer air and rescue crew. This specialised career path is highly aspirational for many surf lifesavers who dream of taking to the skies.
Opportunities to join the crew will be advertised on the website and Member Mail.
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
At Surf Life Saving Queensland there are a number of professional (paid) opportunities that can help drive our community forward.
We value everyone’s unique skills and experience and encourage you to keep an eye on our website and Member communications to stay on top of the latest opportunities.
