Centre of Excellence leads the way in flood response

In times of emergency, Surf Life Saving is always on hand to help rescue and recovery operations alongside other emergency services.

To enhance this capability, in August 2023 Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) announced the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence in Tasmania to further advance the Flood and Swift Water Rescue capabilities of surf lifesavers from right across the country.

Background 

Following the Tasmanian floods of 2016, SLST reviewed its involvement and in the following years have made significant investment into international best practice training, resources, and research, leading to recognition by emergency services, governments and even internationally as an example of best practice.

The Centre of Excellence has since been established to draw on SLST’s expertise to educate and equip volunteers with the necessary skills to safely undertake flood and swift water rescues.

The ability to deliver courses related to flood and swift water rescue not only upskills our membership, it has a real-life impact when Surf Life Saving is called upon to assist with an emergency response.   While the core focus of Surf Life Saving remains delivering coastal safety services, the ability of our volunteers to be leaders in other emergency service operations is an invaluable asset to the community,

What does the training involve?

SLSA courses include

  • Flood Rescue Responder,
  • Flood Rescue Responder Plus, for inflatable rescue boat drivers.