Centre of excellence

Rescue team members wearing helmets and safety gear gathered around a table outdoors, reviewing documents as part of a rescue operation.
Center of Excellence Flood and Swiftwater Rescue logo with blue text and a red circular emblem featuring a swimmer icon.

In times of emergency, Lifesavers are always ready to assist — supporting and working alongside other emergency services in rescue and recovery operations across Australia. 

In August 2023, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) announced the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for Flood and Swiftwater Rescue, based in Tasmania. This Centre was established to share knowledge, experience and strengthen flood rescue capabilities among surf lifesavers across the country. 

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Program Overview
Group of nine people in life jackets and helmets standing on a yellow inflatable boat by a river, surrounded by green trees and foliage.

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Floods are now among the most frequent and deadly natural disasters in Australia. In recent years, record-breaking rainfall and extreme weather have led to escalating demand on emergency services and tragic loss of life and property. 

In 2016, Tasmania experienced one of its most severe flood emergencies. SLST played a critical role in the response, adapting its coastal lifesaving expertise to inland and flood environments. That event became a turning point, highlighting the value of surf lifesaving capability in flood settings, and the need for dedicated training and coordination to meet growing risks. 

Since then, SLST has emerged as the lead Surf Life Saving agency nationally for flood and swiftwater rescue. Working with partners such as Surf Life Saving Great Britain and the Charlotte Fire Department (USA), SLST has developed nationally consistent training, equipment standards, and operational models. These now form the foundation for surf lifesaving’s expanded role in flood response across Australia. 

While coastal safety remains the core mission of Surf Life Saving, the ability of trained members to lead in other emergency service operations provides invaluable community benefit.

The purpose of the centre of excellence

The Centre of Excellence exists to: 

  • Develop, implement and share best practice standards, policies, and operational guidelines 

  • Deliver nationally and internationally benchmarked training programs 

  • Support and develop States/Territories training and assessment capacity for Flood Rescue 

  • Trial and recommend innovations in rescue equipment, methods, and Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing (PPE&C) 

  • Lead and support applied research that informs continuous improvement in flood response

Four rescue workers in helmets and uniforms standing outdoors, having a discussion with trees and a vehicle in the background.

The role of sLS in flood operations

Surf Life Saving’s core capabilities — including rescue boat operations, emergency care, communications, and community engagement — naturally extend to flood response with additional training and PPE. Lifesavers’ community-minded ethos and readiness to assist make them invaluable to respond and provide surge capacity during natural disasters. 

Volunteers across Australia are increasingly called upon to support large-scale flood emergencies. During the 2022 NSW and Queensland floods, hundreds of lifesavers were deployed to assist communities in need. These volunteers supported: 

  • Evacuations and rescues using Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) and rafts 

  • Welfare checks, food and supply drops to isolated communities 

  • Aerial surveillance, impact assessments and intelligence via drones and helicopter operations 

  • Integrated response efforts with other emergency service agencies

Group of rescue team members wearing helmets and rescue gear, standing outdoors in front of trees, engaged in a discussion.

Innovation and best practice in flood response

The Surf Life Saving’s involvement in flood operations has grown out of both experience and necessity. Large-scale extended flood events often overwhelm existing emergency services, and SLS’s unique combination of trained personnel, rescue equipment, and operational expertise makes it a natural partner in flood response. 

The centre of excellence plays a key role in: 

  • Advising on team structure and deployment models 

  • Testing and evaluating new PPE, rescue equipment and methods 

  • Collaborating with international partners to validate and moderate best practice 

  • Conducting reviews and learning from real-world deployments to drive improvement 

Past experiences — including the 2016 Tasmanian floods and recent national deployments — have directly informed upgrades to SLST’s training, equipment, and operational protocols.

Two surf rescue team members in yellow uniforms and red caps with 'Surf Rescue' branding, holding binoculars, one speaking into a radio, outside with trees in the background.

Looking ahead

The Centre of Excellence is a forward-looking initiative — responding to the growing threat of climate-driven flood disasters and the need for scalable, community-based emergency solutions. 

The Centre will continue to: 

  • Expand its training delivery across Australia and internationally 

  • Strengthen interagency coordination and shared flood response capacity 

  • Build research partnerships to shape evidence-based improvements 

  • Advocate for sustained investment in innovation, infrastructure, and volunteer capability.

Together, we are helping prepare for the floods of the future — supporting our communities with the people, skills, and equipment to respond.

A colorful helicopter flying in a blue sky with some clouds, with a smaller aircraft visible in the distance.