Significant new research led by the UNSW (University of NSW) Beach Safety Research Group has revealed that volunteer surf lifesavers typically serve in a support role to professional lifeguards and are solely responsible for patrolling beaches in NSW just 14.4% of the time.
By contrast, the preliminary research shows that directly employed council lifeguards undertake more than half of all beach patrols (52.3% of the time) and that that the Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS), a commercial subsidiary of Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW), is responsible for almost a quarter (23.8%) of patrols on the state’s beaches.
The independent study, the first quantitative description of patrol hours provided by local government lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers, found that overall the supervision of swimmers and bathers at beaches in NSW were the sole responsibility of lifeguards employed or contracted by local government for 76.1% of the time, while volunteers typically serve in a support role to professional lifeguards.
The report goes on to show that the majority of beaches are patrolled between October and April with an even larger number of patrols during December and January.
Patrol hours by local government area
It also reveals that Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council provides the largest total patrolled hours (31,800 hours) followed by Wollongong (28,900 hours), Central Coast (25,000 hours) and Waverley (16,000 hours) and that most local government areas in heavily populated regions in Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Newcastle are patrolled by local government lifeguards (non-ALS) with support from volunteer surf lifesavers.
ALS lifeguards contracted by councils patrol some of the northern beaches of Sydney, but mostly patrol beaches in rural areas.
Volunteer surf lifesavers provide the most hours independently on the Central Coast (7,620 hours), Northern Beaches (4,507 hours) and Wollongong (4,143 hours) beaches. They are relied upon the most in the Royal National Park providing 47% of all patrol hours, Shoalhaven (43%), Mid Coast (42%) and Richmond Valley (41%).
Given SLSNSW receives significant levels of funding from government, as do all state surf lifesaving groups, the research may lead to questions being raised about the allocation of government funds for beach and ocean safety.
On Sunday, the NSW Government confirmed that during the four years from 2023/24 to 2026/27 it invested $71.2 million in Surf Life Saving NSW.
The preliminary report may also have caused the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group some embarrassment as it has been quietly released on its website.
The UNSW Beach Safety Research Group has previously been contracted to undertake research on behalf of surf lifesaving bodies.
The study, PRELIMINARY REPORT: Lifeguard and Lifesaver Patrol Hours on Beaches in New South Wales is the first independent study to provide a quantitative description of patrol hours provided by local government lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers on beaches in NSW.
The preliminary report provides some of the key findings in advance of a more detailed report that will be published later in 2024.
Main image: A professional lifeguard and a volunteer life saver in Wollongong. Credit: Wollongong City Council. Figure courtesy of the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group.
Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
Our team believes floors should be beautiful, comfortable, and engineered for safety, even when wet.
Life Floor tiles meet six unique performance based standards: slip-resistance, impact absorption,…
Email for trade enquiries: Enquiriesapac@myzone.org
Customer support desk - Click Myzone support or go to ‘help’ on myzone app to access live support.
Myzone® is the leading…
Pico Play is a global leader in the planning, design, development and construction of world-class themed attractions and entertainment that deliver extraordinary and memorable experiences to millions…
@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications.
We have…
Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976, and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is one of the world leaders in the design, production, and installation of…
SimplySwim is a school management solution that helps swimming school owners and managers optimize operations by automating functions such as managing class schedules, billing and…
BODY BIKE® International is a leading manufacturer of indoor bikes with a 20-year track record of creating the best indoor bikes.
Stay connected with Body Bike Australia…