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. 

Background

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

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 

Progam Overview 

For further information, please download the Centre of Excellence Overview.