Become a Volunteer Lifesaver

What are the benefits of being a member of SLSA?
Surf lifesaving is about satisfaction. Having fun, being physically fit, learning teamwork and aquatic safety skills, competing in surf sports, and helping make surfing a safer pastime. SLSA can offer a range of opportunities which will promote:
• A healthy lifestyle
• A sense of pride
• A sense of responsibility and purpose
• Positive social relationships

There is a place for everyone in surf lifesaving. If you are unable to perform the duties of an active surf lifesaver, then perhaps assistance in the administration, communications or fundraising areas is for you.

Who can join SLSA?
Membership of SLSA is open to anybody, regardless of age, race, religion or sex.

What do I have to do to be a surf lifesaver?
The Bronze Medallion is the minimum requirement for an active surf lifesaver. To obtain this award you must be over the age of 15 and demonstrate proficiency in surf awareness, survival, patrol and rescue procedures, emergency care plus anatomy and physiology.

Before commencing training for the Bronze Medallion you will be required to complete a 400-metre swim in nine minutes or less, in a swimming pool of no less than 25m, or over a measured open water course. Once this has been completed, all clubs provide qualified instructors who will train you to the level of a proficient surf lifesaver.

At the completion of your training, which will take a couple of months, your physical fitness will be tested by a run-swim-run (a 200m run followed by a 200m swim and then another 200m run) which has to be completed in under eight minutes. You will also be examined on theory, basic resuscitation and first aid and participate in a simulated rescue situation using a rescue board and tube.

All these skills combine to train you to be an effective member of a patrol team.

Are there any other ways I can join SLSA without doing a Bronze Medallion?
Yes. SLSA offers a wide range of awards to its members and the community.

For example, by gaining basic awards in radio operations, you can assist with patrol observation and communication duties without having to perform water-based rescues.

If you are less than 15 years of age you can obtain a Surf Rescue Certificate. Probationary surf lifesavers can achieve this award from the age of 13. The award trains candidates in rescue skills, first aid and patient management, resuscitation, plus a theoretical component exploring safety knowledge and surf awareness.

If you are looking for a way to entertain your children during the summer season then why don't you join them up in our Nippers program. The Manly Junior Life Saving Club Activities Program is for children aged between 5 and 14 years and provides basic surf skills.

So how do I join?
Go to our courses page for information on when the next training starts.

WHAT ARE OUR VOLUNTEER LIFE SAVERS REALLY WORTH?
 

Officially Manly Life Saving Club members have saved an average of over 200 lives here at Manly every year in the last 25 years. The real number would be several times that, because many young surf life savers don’t bother filling in rescue statistics, they just keep doing the job.

Our volunteer life savers have also performed around 10,000 preventions each year - where dangerous surf conditions have arisen and swimmers have been prevented from getting into danger in the surf.

Government statistics value each life saved at over $900,000. So lives saved by Manly Life Savers each year are worth approximately $180 million. (We think those lives priceless). Now we don’t care about race, religion, colour or creed when we save a life. We just save them.

And that doesn’t count the huge community benefits of our youth education and training programs and our support of training of school kids in basic surf safety when they visit our club. That’s worth millions of dollars a year as well.

 So Manly Life Saving Club’s contribution to our society is worth well over $180 million each and every year. Yet our members have to pay fees to keep the Club going, and spend valuable time raising funds to save the lives of strangers. In some cases our members put their own lives at risk to save someone else.

 You can help by making a donation to Manly Life Saving Club, asking your company to support us, or by sponsoring life saving gear, services or training at the Club. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Thank you for your support and please remember to swim between the flags.