Surf Life Saving provides a wide range of support and expertise to lifesaving organisations and governments throughout the world. The type of support that Surf Life Saving offers is dependent on the areas’ needs and is tailored to the individual program or region.

Surf Life Saving’s current international work includes:

Disaster Risk Reduction

Surf Life Saving works with governments who are susceptible to natural disasters such as tsunami’s or flooding to educate and train the local community in water safety, familiarity, rescue techniques, emergency response, and first aid.

Organisational Development

Surf Life Saving provides expertise in governance, standards and the establishment of lifesaving services.

Training

Surf Life Saving provides Australian accredited courses in aquatic safety, skills and first aid. These training programs including lifesaving skills, first aid, water safety, lifeguard accreditation, Surf Rescue Certificate, Bronze Medallion, and gear and & equipment training can be adapted to the particular needs of a community or country.

Education

Community and youth education is a critical factor in preventing coastal drowning deaths and incidents. Surf Life Saving has developed programs for various ages and abilities in aquatic safety and survival. 

Coastal Risk Assessment

Surf Life Saving conducts assessments of coastal areas to measure risks and the community’s requirements to advise the most beneficial plan of action to ensure the area supports minimal risk and safe aquatic management.

Surf Sports

Australia is the most successful international team competing in surf sports. From a young age members are encouraged to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, offered the opportunity to compete in national competition and if successful could be invited into the High Performance program to refine their skills and develop as an athlete. The High Performance program is a national elite athlete ‘feeder’ program supported by Australian Sports Commission. Surf Life Saving shares knowledge and expertise in surf sports programming and coaching with other international surf lifesaving entities.

Lifeguard Exchange Program (hyperlink to http://www.lifeguards.com.au/)

Surf Life Saving offers the opportunity to other lifeguard organisations across the world to visit Australia’s programs to share knowledge of systems, standards and skills. Surf lifesavers and lifeguards also take the opportunity to work as lifeguards in countries across the world.

Staff and Voluntary Exchange Program

Surf Life Saving invests in its personnel and organisational development and is committed to sharing knowledge and experiences to ensure best practice within Australia and internationally. Surf Life Saving staff and volunteers regularly travel abroad to allied organisations and many international personnel visit Australia for short visits or long term placements.

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