If you’re keen to see Surf Life Saving innovate and continue to save lives on and off the coastline long into the future, you can donate to one of the iconic movement’s current projects.
Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund
Supporting the Innovation Fund
The Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund empowers our community to innovate and address real challenges in achieving zero preventable deaths in Australian waters. By leveraging 115 years of expertise, the dedication of 190,000 volunteers, and partnerships with industry leaders, we’re enhancing lifesaving services and technologies to save lives now and for future generations.
The three current Innovation Fund projects
Diversity & Inclusion Project
Strengthening lifesaving capabilities through inclusive volunteer practices, ensuring our teams reflect the diverse communities they protect.
Volunteer Training Project
Enhancing training outcomes to better prepare volunteers for emergency responses, equipping them with advanced skills and knowledge.
Scope 2 Energy Project
Reducing our environmental footprint through energy measurement, carbon literacy education, and certified offset programs.
Giving Tuesday: Innovate for a safer future
This Giving Tuesday, join us in raising $100,000 to expand the vital projects of the Innovation Fund, helping ensure that our lifesavers are equipped to protect Australian communities.
The story of volunteer surf lifesaver Brad Marsden from Coolangatta SLSC is a powerful reminder of the difference your support makes. While driving with his daughter, Brad witnessed a car crash into Boyds Bay. Without hesitation, he sprang into action, diving into the water to rescue a family trapped in the sinking car.
As the vehicle submerged rapidly, Brad worked tirelessly with other rescuers, managing to free a child trapped by her seatbelt despite the overwhelming urgency and danger. Each breath underwater was a race against time, and without Brad’s swift, lifesaving decisions, the family would have faced an unimaginable tragedy.
Brad credits his lifesaving training, supported by donors like you, for enabling him to stay calm and act swiftly in such critical moments. His story is just one example of how your generosity directly impacts the safety and well-being of Australians.
Together, we can create a safer, more sustainable future. Make your impact today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does my money go? Can even a small donation help? Your questions answered.
When we raise money for the Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund, this allows us to explore new initiatives, test new programs, and learn what works to accelerate lifesaving practices. Donors who give to our Fund understand that true innovation takes time and resources, that networks and connections are key levers for change, and that dollars invested in strengthening the sector and building capacity among all stakeholders will pay dividends down the road in the form of more effective lifesaving practices, more efficient funding streams, and amplified social impact.
The Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund enables you to target your donations to directly fund a specific project. The SLSF will provide progress updates to show how your donations are making a real difference to Innovation Fund projects.
The Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund is designed to invite members of the surf lifesaving community to contribute to the movement via innovative ideas to solve real problems associated with keeping the Australian coastline safe and achieving Surf Life Saving’s overarching vision of “zero preventable deaths.”
With their collective 115 years of water and surf safety experience, no one knows and understands the needs and challenges of saving lives on the Australian coastline better than Surf Life Saving’s volunteers. The power of the Innovation Fund will be engaging and harnessing the knowledge of almost 190,000 surf lifesaving volunteers across Surf Life Saving Australia and forming a connection with generous supporters.
Surf Life Saving supporters and donors will have the opportunity to learn about challenges that Surf Life Saving is posing to its volunteer surf lifesavers. It will then be up to supporters to decide which Surf Life Saving project resonates for their charitable donations.
Through providing this connection, Surf Life Saving is aiming to attract new donors and corporate community partnerships to help sustain our vital community-funded Surf Life Saving services well into the future.
Could you give regularly?
As well as training new volunteer surf lifesaver, your monthly donation helps repair and replace the equipment that constant exposure to the sun and sea can damage. As a Guardian of the Surf your monthly donation ensures that we are rescue-ready at a moment’s notice. You would be the silent hero behind every life saved.