Surf Life Saving Australia launches new volunteer recruitment campaign

Surf Life Saving Australia acknowledges that Surf Life Saving Clubs are at the heart of many local communities across the country and as such have launched a new national recruitment campaign – ‘Our club, is your club’ - looking to welcome a new generation of surf lifesavers.

The campaign is designed to remind Australians of the benefits of volunteering and the benefits that their local Surf Life Saving Clubs offers to them. In a recent report on ‘The Social and Economic Value of Surf Life Saving Australia’ carried out by Deloitte Access Economics, 90% of Surf Life Saving Club members said that being a part of their club assists them to positively contribute to their community.

With over 300 million beach goers visiting the Australian coastline every year, surf lifesavers are vital, performing on average over 1.4 million volunteer hours each year, 10,000 rescues and over 1.5 million preventative actions.

SLSA President Graham Ford advises “as surf clubs reopen around the country for the warmer months after what has been a very challenging year, we’re encouraging new and old members to join ‘our clubs’.

“There is a place for everyone at the surf club and everyone is welcome. There are a variety of roles both on and away from the beach for those who wish to volunteer, or our clubs are simply a place to gather and join with others, at the heart of local communities.

“Our surf clubs are more than just a building or a service, they’re a home, a family and we are asking all Australians to join us and make it ‘your club’ too.

Ford added “COVID-19 has certainly impacted us as an organisation and we have worked hard to develop ways in which we can keep all people safe in this regard and we need to make sure that we can maintain our capacity and presence on the beach over the busy summer months.”

Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs are hubs for the community and deliver more than just an on-beach safety service but offer training, education, recreation, a place to socialise and give people a sense of purpose and belonging.

The recruitment campaign is launched nationwide with Surf Life Saving Australia and all states and territories collaborating to achieve one common goal – to bring members new and old back home.

For more information on how to join your local Surf Life Saving Club click here