Surf Life Saving Australia’s overseas volunteering program has expanded greatly over the past few years, and further opportunities have opened with Surf Life Saving’s partnership with AusAID and the Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD), and Australia Volunteers for International Development (AVID) programs.

News on surf lifesavers out in the field can be read below, together with past volunteers and upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Out in the Field

Fiji Islands

As part of the Surf Life Saving Australia development aid program, SLS has partnered with the Fiji Surfing Association for an Assignment from the AusAID funded Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD).

In October, Ms Cassandra Thomas set off to Fiji to share her skills as a Surfing and Surf Life Saving Education Officer to establish systems, programs and resources to support the introduction of joint surfing and lifesaving clubs to Fiji.

Cassie, 23, has been involved with Sandringham Life Saving Club for 11 years, starting as a Nipper when she was in Grade 6.

Listen to an interview with Cassie prior to her departure.

Samoa - Emily Cox and Erin Doyle

Emily Cox (Point Leo SLSC, VIC and Ulverston SLSC, TAS) and Erin Doyle (Binningup SLSC, WA) have both been involved with Surf Life Saving since Nippers. In April 2012 the pair are to embark on what they have described as an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ as they will relocate for six months as Surf Life Saving Training Officers for the Samoan Tourism Authority (STA), with support from their Australian Partner Organisation, Surf Life Saving Tasmania.

Emily and Erin will be following in the footsteps of past AYADs Eldene O’Shea (Scamander SLSC, TAS) and Amelia Cole (Terrigal SLSC, NSW) in conducting training programs for Samoan tourism operators, their employees and communities in surf lifesaving skills.

Read more about their story here.

Returned Volunteers

Indonesia, Bali - Emma Larssen

Ms Emma Larssen was the first Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) for the Indonesian Surf Life Saving Association, commencing a 12 month placement in November 2010 as a Water Safety Education Officer. Miss Larssen returned to Australia last November after working directly with the Indonesian Surf Life Saving Association to establish sustainable and effective school and community water safety programs to support drowning prevention and reduction in Bali.

Read about Emma's experience in Bali here.

Indonesia, Bali - Kieran Pascoe

Kieran Pascoe, from Red Rock SLSC in northern NSW commenced the second AYAD placement in April 2011 for one year, further developing the valuable lifesaving initiative that Emma began.

Read an article about Kieran's work in Bali here.

Vietnam, Danang  – Katherine (Kat) Waterhouse

Kat Waterhouse from Broulee SLSC in southern NSW commenced the first assignment to Vietnam in April 2011, assisting with the introduction of surf lifesaving activities into central Vietnam.

Follow Kat's blog here.

Samoa - Eldene O’Shea and Amelia Coles

Eldene O’Shea from Scamander SLSC in Tasmania and Amelia Cole from Terrigal SLSC club on the NSW Central Coast travelled to Samoa in April 2011 to conduct training programs for tourism operators, their employees and communities in surf life saving skills.

Amelia returned to Australia in October 2011 after her six month assignment and a story on their time in Samoa can be viewed here:

Eldene O'Shea recently organised Samoa's first Champion Lifesaving Competition before he finished up his assignment in March 2012. Read about that experience here:

Opportunities

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for international drowning prevention and lifesaving development for suitably qualified SLS members will be advertised here.

Return to International Development home.