Morgan Evans from Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club is one of four lifesavers from across the country that has been selected for the 2025 Australia-Japan Lifesaver Exchange Program. 

From 19 July to 12 August, Evans will attend the Iwai Seaside Camps to educate junior Japanese high school students on the basic skills for water safety and survival. They will also have the opportunity to take part in surf patrol activities at local Surf Life Saving Clubs in Japan.

Ahead of his month-long trip to Japan, we caught up with Morgan about the upcoming adventure:

What made you apply for the Australia-Japan Lifesaver Exchange Program?

“I applied because I’ve always been interested in how lifesaving works in different countries, and the opportunity to represent Surf Life Saving while learning from Japanese lifesavers seemed like a unique and valuable experience.”

For those who may not know much about this Exchange Program, what are the tasks you’ll be doing while in Japan?

“The program involves working closely with local lifesavers in Japan, helping with training, sharing techniques, and participating in community engagement. We’ll also be involved in cultural exchange, learning more about how lifesaving is structured over there and the role it plays in their coastal communities.”

Is this your first time going to Japan?

“This will actually be my second time visiting Japan. I went earlier this year in February for a snowboarding trip. This time will be a totally different experience, with it being summer over there. Instead of snow and mountains, we’ll be on the coast with temperatures around 30 degrees.”

What are you most looking forward to about the program?

“I’m really looking forward to working alongside Japanese lifesavers and seeing how they approach rescues and training. I'm also really keen to get involved in the community and learn from their way of doing things, both on and off the beach.”

What are you hoping to get out of this program that you could bring back to SLST?

“I’m hoping to come back with a greater understanding of how lifesaving operates in Japan, especially given the unique challenges they face as a tsunami-prone region. It’ll be interesting to see how their training and preparedness reflect those risks, and how their communities are involved in coastal safety. 

I think there’s a lot we can learn from their approach to disaster readiness and how they adapt lifesaving to suit their local environment.”

We wish Morgan all the best with his upcoming trip representing both Tasmania and Australia for Surf Life Saving! We look forward to catching up with Morgan when he returns.