Woodside Petroleum sponsorship to protect surf lifesavers against the sun

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum is backing the distribution of patrol hats, sunscreen and sun safety posters to all 307 surf life saving clubs around Australia in preparation for summer.

As the official sun protection partner of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Woodside are focused on ensuring that volunteer surf lifesavers are protected from the harsh Australian sun when on patrol at the beach.

This initiative is part of a multi-year partnership between Woodside and SLSA that will eventually see every patrolling surf lifesaver in Australia provided with a wide-brimmed hat. Woodside and SLSA are also encouraging all volunteer surf lifesavers to follow the basic sun safety steps of slip, slop, slap, seek shade, slide on sunglasses and to get regular skin checkups.

SLSA Chief Executive Brett Williamson OAM, praised Woodside's commitment to sun protection and emphasised the importance of sun safety on the beach this summer, commenting "Surf Life Saving is delighted to partner with Woodside to ensure that our volunteer surf lifesavers are protected from the sun. Our volunteers spend a lot of time in the sun protecting our beaches, so it's essential they protect themselves properly.

"With over 43,000 patrolling surf lifesavers throughout Australia, Woodsideâs commitment is extremely generous and we look forward to seeing all our patrolling surf lifesavers on the beach this summer keeping sun safe."

Surf Life Saving has over 153,000 members with more than 43,000 members actively patrolling our beaches. Each year surf lifesavers and lifeguards perform more than 12,000 rescues while patrolling over 400 beaches nationwide.