Who we are

Surf Life Saving in Western Australia is a volunteer based not-for-profit community service association and is the key agency for beach safety in WA.

Surf Life Saving WA provides an essential educational and emergency rescue service to all users of West Australian beaches and plays a fundamental role in building healthy communities.

Our movement is a part of the history, fabric and future of this country. It represents the lifestyle, values and beliefs of the Australian culture. It protects life, it saves life, it promotes life.

We create a safe environment in and around our beaches, through patrols on, in and above the shore and through education and training programs.

Surf Life Saving is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia. We are a not-for-profit movement that exists only through community donations, fundraising and corporate sponsorship.

Our activities address many community and Government policies such as safer communities, obesity, physical activity, youth development, training and education, and family.

Surf Life Saving Western Australia comprises a State centre, 29 Surf Life Saving clubs located around the coastline and over 18,500 members who are all committed to saving lives and positively impacting on their local communities.

SLSWA History

The Surf Life Saving movement in Western Australia was founded at Cottesloe beach in 1909 (after originating at Bondi Beach in 1907) in response to a number of drowning incidents on the beach. Over the next 20 years a number of additional clubs commenced operations around the metropolitan and regional coast.

In 1926 the clubs met to determine a peak body to support and advocate on their behalf, hence Surf Life Saving Western Australia was born. Since that time it has been SLSWA’s charter has been to assist in the ongoing development and growth of our club structure and to identify and meet the needs of our stakeholders, those principally being the general public, our members, tourists and local government authorities.

Since 1909, 29 Surf Life Saving clubs have been established around our coastline and over 18,500 volunteer members make a significant contribution to their communities.