Surf Life Saving in Tasmania is a volunteer based not-for-profit community service association and is the leading agency for water safety in Tasmania. We empower every Tasmanian to help keep our beaches and waterways safe.

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 essential services such as volunteer patrols and rescues, lifeguard services and community education address our communities’ goals and Government policies around themes of physical activity, youth development, families, obesity, training and education, and safer communities.

Surf Life Saving in Tasmania (SLST) has, since the time of its inception in 1921, forged a very important place in the history of Tasmania. The extensive history of Surf Life Saving in Tasmania has grown and developed for over 100 years, and our skilled and passionate staff and volunteers are proud to offer our essential lifesaving services to the Tasmanian community.

SLST exists to develop and support our diverse community of water-users, by focusing on education, prevention and rescue to meet a target of zero preventable drowning and to set the benchmark for aquatic rescue in Tasmania. Through a new exciting merger, SLST also supports the Tasmanian Police with inland, inshore and offshore search and rescue services state wide.

Today, Surf Life Saving Tasmania comprises a State Office, 14 Surf Life Saving Clubs, 7 Marine Rescue Units and 3 Support Services located around the coastline, and over 2300 members who are all committed to saving   lives and positively impacting on their local communities.

SLST's Vision

Zero preventable deaths in Tasmanian waters.

SLST's Mission

Save lives, create great Australians and build stronger communities.

SLST's Purpose

To enable all Tasmanians and visitors to enjoy our aquatic environments safely.

SLST's Core Values

  1. Safety
  2. Diversity
  3. Inclusiveness
  4. Teamwork
  5. Respectfulness

Strategic Pillars

  • Save Lives
  • Develop and support our people
  • Grow and sustain our movement
  • Engage the community

Our Mission

 To save lives, create great Australians and build healthy and safe communities.

Tasmania is an island with an extensive, accessible coastline. There are

1.269 accessible mainland beaches and 348 on the 5 main islands off the Tasmanian coastline. SLST exists to develop practices in education, prevention and rescue, to meet a target of zero preventable drowning and to set the benchmark for aquatic rescue in Tasmania.

How do we fulfill our mission? The majority of our services are provided by trained volunteers, who are members of our surf life saving clubs and marine rescue units. Our volunteers help provide safer aquatic environments for the community to enjoy in a variety of ways:

  • Volunteer patrols and callouts;
  • Lifeguard services for councils, schools and community events;
  • Community education, water safety awareness and participation events;
  • Community events such as the Falls Festival, Dark MOFO Winter Solstice Swim and