After the devastating effects of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, Surf Life Saving (SLS) was invited to form part of the Australian Government’s taskforce, Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS), as part of an increased national effort to monitor, plan and warn of tsunami.

The Australian Government, through the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, and the Attorney-General's Department, has been working with State and Territory governments and other relevant agencies (including Surf Life Saving Australia) to develop various protocols and procedures that incorporates all emergency services agencies and state authorities in the event of a tsunami.

As an initiative of the ATWS project, the Australian Government in consultation with SLS has developed a tsunami educational and awareness resource for SLS members and the general public.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Director of Lifesaving, Peter George AM said that with the support of the ATWS all surf life saving clubs are now equipped with an educational tool to better prepare our frontline volunteers in the event of a tsunami.

“This vital resource has been distributed to all state centres and 306 surf life saving clubs in Australia in a bid to provide an overview of tsunami and response to tsunami for lifeguards, surf lifesavers and other beach management personnel,” he said.

“This is just one of the initiatives of the Australian Government which Surf Life Saving is pleased to be a part of to ensure members and the public are more aware of the correct actions to take if the threat of a tsunami arises.

“The resource has been available to our clubs for more than twelve months and last weekend we saw our emergency response plans swing into action and our clubs and state centres worked hand in hand with emergency services personnel to manage the threat and keep the beach-going public safe,” said George.

The resource is also available online at Surf Life Saving’s beach education website www.beachsafe.org.au – which can be accessed by all surf lifesavers as well as the general public.

On Sunday 28 February, the ATWS was activated, after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Southern Chile. Surf Life Saving Services and local Government authorities around Australia followed procedure and closed beaches which could have potentially been affected by the tsunami along the east coast of Australia. 

Surf Life Saving is proud to be a part of the Australian Tsunami Working Group and its continued partnership with the Australian Government.