Australia's beautiful beaches are becoming a deadly trap, and a critical oversight is putting lives at risk! This past summer has been a heartbreaking period for coastal Australia, with a staggering 47 lives tragically lost to drowning, according to Surf Life Saving Australia. This number, while stark, barely scratches the surface of the profound emotional, societal, and economic devastation that accompanies each of these preventable tragedies.
It's deeply concerning that the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 Midpoint Update revealed a significant increase in beach drowning rates over the last five years. Beaches have been identified as a critical area needing immediate safety enhancements, including extending lifeguard patrol times and expanding their presence. But are we truly doing enough to tackle this escalating crisis? I'd argue, not nearly enough.
In recent times, we've seen a surge in beachgoers flocking to our shores, often seeking out less crowded, more remote beaches. The catch? These often lie beyond the watchful eyes of lifeguards. Many also venture into the water outside of patrolled hours, especially during those sweltering summer evenings when the flags have already been lowered. It's no surprise, then, that every single beach drowning fatality in NSW this summer, and indeed in most previous summers, has occurred in areas without lifesaving services or outside of patrol times.
So, why don't we simply match the rise in beach visitors with more lifeguards and lifesavers? The answer, unfortunately, boils down to logistics and funding.
I recently witnessed a harrowing incident near Wollongong – a non-fatal drowning on a beach that was, in fact, patrolled. The flags were near the Surf Life Saving club at the northern end, but a significant number of people were swimming at the unpatrolled southern end. This area, with its convenient parking, easy access, and unfortunately, several dangerous rip currents, was a magnet for swimmers. A teenage boy was being treated by a council lifeguard and paramedics after being caught in a rip and thankfully rescued by surfers. He was okay, but it was a terrifyingly close call. Afterwards, the lifeguard shared that the council wanted to station an additional lifeguard at that specific section of beach but simply couldn't afford it. This financial strain is a pervasive issue along much of the NSW coast, with many local councils lacking the necessary funds to extend their paid lifeguard services to areas and times where they are desperately needed.
And this is the part most people miss... Despite their constant presence on our beaches and their popular portrayal in shows like 'Bondi Rescue' for 18 seasons, a significant portion of the public still struggles to differentiate between lifeguards and surf lifesavers. Lifeguards are paid professionals, often employed by councils to patrol popular beaches seven days a week, sometimes year-round. Surf lifesavers, on the other hand, are dedicated volunteers who typically patrol on weekends and public holidays from September to April.
A recent study by the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group highlighted that paid lifeguards are solely responsible for patrolling NSW beaches for approximately 77% of the time in a typical year. Volunteer surf lifesavers cover about 14%, with both groups working together for the remainder. In some urban areas, like parts of Sydney and Newcastle, volunteer lifesavers never patrol without the presence of paid lifeguards. This strongly suggests that paid lifeguards form the crucial backbone of beach safety in NSW.
Both paid and volunteer services are absolutely vital for keeping our beaches safe. As a former patrol captain and life member of my own Surf Life Saving club, I've personally witnessed the incredible value of the volunteer surf lifesaving movement. However, it's neither realistic nor fair to place the burden of increased patrol hours and expanded locations solely on volunteers, especially when some clubs already struggle to recruit enough active patrolling members.
Here's where the funding gap becomes glaringly obvious: While Surf Life Saving NSW consistently receives substantial government funding, including a recent record $72 million investment over four years, there is no dedicated external funding provided to councils to help them bolster their paid lifeguard services. Councils are left to juggle their budgets, often having to reallocate funds from other essential services to extend lifeguard patrols or hire additional staff for both popular and less-patrolled beaches.
Let's continue to champion our incredible volunteers, but if we are truly serious about stemming the tide of beach drownings, the NSW government must step up and provide direct funding to councils to expand their paid lifeguard services. More lifeguards, on more beaches, for more hours – it's a simple equation that can only lead to safer shores for everyone.
But is this solely a funding issue, or are there other factors at play? What are your thoughts on the balance between paid lifeguards and volunteers? Do you believe councils should be solely responsible for beach safety funding, or should state governments play a more direct role? Share your opinions in the comments below!
Rob Brander is a professor at the University of NSW School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and a researcher at UNSW Beach Safety Research Group.
