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Surf lifesavers setting up the patrol flags on the sand
Corporate Our Work

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 (opens in a new tab)
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Rescues
Every rescue performed by our services represents a near miss and a potential life saved!
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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.
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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.
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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 Australians recreating on our coast. In the 2025/26 season, our services performed:
Learn more about our WLRH Service (opens in a new tab)
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Shark Sightings
209 Metro
502 South West
The number of sharks sighted by our highly trained crews while on patrol.
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Patrol Hours
510 Metro

485 South West
The number of hours our helicopter spent in the air patrolling West Australian beaches this season.
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Number of Patrols
438 Metro

269 South West
The number of patrols performed by our helicopters this season.
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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.

Latest news

Stay up to date with our latest news & media releases.

Media Release

Boost to shark hazard mitigation welcomed

Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) has welcomed this morning’s announcement by the Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC, Minister for Fisheries, of an additional $3.7 million in funding as part of the government’s Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy.

Media Release

Extension of lifesaving services in response to tragedy at Sorrento Beach

In the wake of last Friday's tragedy at Sorrento Beach, first and foremost, SLSWA extends its sympathies to the family, friends, and loved ones of Greg O'Neill. As Western Australia's peak coastal safety authority, SLSWA works closely with major stakeholders to help develop and deliver the WA Government's Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy, focusing on lifesaving and surveillance services.
Media Release

Helicopter patrols return ahead of summer

Surf Life Saving WA’s (SLSWA) Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service has returned to the West Australian coastline, watching over beachgoers until April 2027.
Media Release

Surf Life Saving WA recognises lifesavers ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day

Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, SLSWA is paying tribute to the lifesavers behind the nearly 1,000 rescues performed on WA beaches each year.
Media Release

Boost to shark hazard mitigation welcomed

Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) has welcomed this morning’s announcement by the Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC, Minister for Fisheries, of an additional $3.7 million in funding as part of the government’s Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy.

Media Release

Extension of lifesaving services in response to tragedy at Sorrento Beach

In the wake of last Friday's tragedy at Sorrento Beach, first and foremost, SLSWA extends its sympathies to the family, friends, and loved ones of Greg O'Neill. As Western Australia's peak coastal safety authority, SLSWA works closely with major stakeholders to help develop and deliver the WA Government's Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy, focusing on lifesaving and surveillance services.
Media Release

Helicopter patrols return ahead of summer

Surf Life Saving WA’s (SLSWA) Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service has returned to the West Australian coastline, watching over beachgoers until April 2027.
Media Release

Surf Life Saving WA recognises lifesavers ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day

Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, SLSWA is paying tribute to the lifesavers behind the nearly 1,000 rescues performed on WA beaches each year.
Explore all news
A red and yellow surf life saving patrol flag

Donate now to help us
keep saving lives.

Surf Life Saving is a community-funded movement that relies on the donations of people like you to ensure our volunteer surf lifesavers have the training and equipment needed to keep our beaches safe.

Learn how you can support our work