Our Work

Surf lifesavers setting up the patrol flags on the sand

Our Work

As Western Australia’s peak coastal safety and rescue organisation,
our mission is to save lives and build great communities
to preserve Western Australia’s coastal lifestyle.

Split-level view of a surf lifesaver swimming out with a rescue tube

What Drives Us

our mission & Goals

Saving lives and building great communities to preserve the Western Australian coastal lifestyle.

ZERO PREVENTABLE DROWNING DEATHS ON THE WA COAST

As WA’s peak coastal safety body and the authority on aquatic safety standards, qualifications, systems, and management, we will deliver and support initiatives that make WA beaches safer.

AN INCLUSIVE & VIBRANT SURF LIFE SAVING COMMUNITY

We will take a multifaceted approach to removing the barriers and increasing the opportunities for balanced participation in each of our membership pillars at club, state, and national levels to create an inclusive and vibrant surf life saving community.

View our Strategic Plan

our work

Lifesaving services

Services provided by our trained & committed volunteer lifesavers and professional lifeguards are critically important as we strive to deliver on our mission of saving lives and building great West Australian communities. In the 2025/26 season, across more than 50 locations, our lifesavers and lifeguards performed the following action across West Australian beaches:

Learn more about our Lifesaving Services

Rescues

Every rescue performed by our services represents a near miss and a potential life saved!

Patrol Hours

The number of hours spent on patrol by volunteer lifesavers at our 31 WA clubs and our professional lifeguard services, watching over West Australian beachgoers during the season.

preventative actions

The number of times our lifesavers and lifeguards took a direct action to reduce or eliminate the probability of a rescue, first aid or incident from happening in the future.

Our People

5,882 trained volunteer surf lifesavers and 115 professional lifeguards spent time patrolling West Australian beaches, watching over beachgoers.

A surf lifesaver running along the shoreline with a rescue tube

our work

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service

Proudly supported by the Government of Western Australia and partnered by Westpac, our Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter (WLRH) Service continues to deliver critical safety outcomes for West Australian's recreating our our coast. In the 2025/26 season, our services performed:

Learn more about our WLRH Service

Shark Sightings

209 Metro

502 South West

The number of sharks sighted by our highly trained crews while on patrol.

Patrol Hours

510 Metro 

485 South West

The number of hours our helicopter spent in the air patrolling West Australian beaches this season.

Number of Patrols

438 Metro 

269 South West

The number of patrols performed by our helicopters this season.

preventions

3,558 Metro

2,036 South West

This is the number of people cleared from the water as a result of our helicopter crews sounding a direct warning.

Media Release

May 07

2020 SunSmart WA Surf Rescue Championships

Explore all news

Youth Pathways courses introduced me to all of the opportunities within surf life saving. I haven't looked back! As a Youth Trainer, I've assisted my peers and members of the community learn life saving skills.

Brady Fulcher 2026 Youth Club Achiever & YRP Gold Level Recipient

Youth Pathways has shown me that there’s a place for everyone to get involved. Every course has opened a new opportunity and helped me discover new ways to contribute.

Indiah Reidy 2026 Youth Official of the Year

Youth Pathways has shown me that there’s a place for everyone to get involved. Every course has opened a new opportunity and helped me discover new ways to contribute

Lando Norris Founder at Acme Inc.

2026/27 SLSWA Planning Calendar

pdf 443.6 KB

our mission & Goals

Latest news

Acts of bravery recognised at award ceremony

An exceptional year celebrated at Surf Life Saving WA's annual awards

2020 Awards of Excellence Finalists

2020 SunSmart WA Surf Rescue Championships

Acts of bravery recognised at award ceremony

An exceptional year celebrated at Surf Life Saving WA's annual awards

2020 Awards of Excellence Finalists

2020 SunSmart WA Surf Rescue Championships

Donate now to help us keeping saving lives.

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Donate now to help us keeping saving lives.