Coolum Surf Club

Name

Coolum Surf Club

Legal name

Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club

Website

https://www.coolumsurfclub.com.au/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Surf Lifesaving Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Volunteer beach patrols
• Surf lifesaving services
• Junior nipper program
• Surf sports competition
• Beach safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Coolum Beach

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees across multiple categories including Probationary New Membership ($150), Active Senior Renewal ($50), Active Cadet/Junior Renewal ($15), Award Renewal ($50), Reserve Active ($50), Long Service ($50), and Special Associate ($250). Nipper family group fees range from $250 (1 Nipper + 2 Parents/Guardians) to $530 (4 Nippers + 2 Parents/Guardians). Revenue supports patrol operations, training, equipment, and club facilities.
2. Donations: Direct donations from individuals and families to support beach safety and lifesaving equipment. The club runs an annual Red & Yellow Day Appeal (formerly SLS Queensland Lifesaving Appeal) and accepts general donations via the website. Setting up a single beach patrol can cost more than $80,000 worth of necessary life-saving equipment.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship revenue from local businesses across four tiers: Major/Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Sponsors include Bendigo Bank, Billabong Pool Services, BRD Group, Coolum Caprice Apartments, Ken Mills Toyota, XXXX, Signature Construction, Ozski Resort (Gold); Mitre 10 Coolum, Dalton Financial, MGI Accountants + Auditors, Vissla Surf (Silver); Baldwin Aquatic, LiveLife Pharmacy (Bronze). All sponsorship funds go back into gear and equipment.
4. Merchandise Sales: Club merchandise including patrol uniforms, sports items, novelty items, and nipper-specific gear (pink rash shirts, nipper caps) sold through the club's Shopify storefront and administration office.
5. Supporters Club Hospitality Revenue: The Supporters Club (ancillary body) operates the club restaurant, bar, and functions, generating revenue that largely underwrites the club's operating costs and patrol funding. Active members receive complimentary reciprocal Supporters Club membership with a 25% restaurant discount and bar beverage discounts.
6. Future Fund Donations and Bequests: The Future Fund is a separate legal trust accepting bequests and donations from community-minded individuals and businesses to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the club. Funds are professionally managed under an investment strategy modeled on Australia's Sovereign Future Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club operates a volunteer-delivered beach safety service on Coolum Beach, running rostered patrols each weekend and public holiday from September through May. Its portfolio includes the Nippers junior program for children ages 5-13, SLSA-recognised training and award courses (Bronze Medallion, SRC, IRB), competitive surf sports teams, an Accessible Beaches Program providing beach matting and a WaterWheels Beach Wheelchair, and a merchandise store. The club is a registered nonprofit affiliated with Surf Life Saving Queensland and Surf Life Saving Australia, funded through membership fees, corporate sponsorship, donations, and Supporters Club hospitality revenue.

Product overview

Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club operates as a community volunteer organization offering a portfolio of interconnected lifesaving services and programs. The core offering consists of volunteer beach patrol services staffed by qualified lifesavers conducting rescues and safety monitoring. Supporting this are the Nippers Program for children's surf education (ages 5-13), comprehensive Training & Award Courses producing qualified lifesavers, and Surf Sports Competition teams. Additional services include an Accessible Beaches Program with specialized beach wheelchairs and a Club Merchandise Store for uniforms and apparel. The organization is affiliated with Surf Life Saving Queensland and Surf Life Saving Australia, utilizing internal systems like Surfguard for member management and Stack Team App for communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beach Patrol Services Volunteer surf lifesaving patrols conducted on weekends and public holidays from September to Labour Day Weekend in May. Patrols include water rescue, first aid, radio operations, and beach safety monitoring between red and yellow flags. Service is delivered free to the public by 250+ active members.
• Nippers Program Children's surf lifesaving education program for ages 5-13, running September to March. Includes beach safety skills, surf awareness, competitive events, and a pathway to cadet lifesaving. Family-group fees range from $250 to $530 per season, inclusive of rash shirt, nipper cap, training, and carnival nominations.
• Training & Award Courses Volunteer-delivered training program covering Bronze Medallion, Surf Rescue Certificate, IRB Driver/Crewperson, First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation Techniques, Radio Operations, and Silver Medallion Beach Management courses. Includes the U14 SRC Course ($110-$130 per participant) and award upgrade fees ($75).
• Surf Sports Competition Competitive surf sports program including IRB racing, board riding, surf boats, beach events, and patrol competitions. Club participates in Ocean Roar IRB Series, QLD State Titles, and National Championships.
• Accessible Beaches Program Beach accessibility initiative providing WaterWheels Beach Wheelchair (maximum user weight 136kg) and beach matting for visitors with mobility needs, operated during patrol season in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council. Free of charge.
• Club Merchandise Store Online merchandise shop selling patrol uniforms, nipper uniforms, club apparel, and novelty items through the club's Shopify platform. Purchases can also be arranged through the administration office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero lives lost between the flags at Coolum Beach during patrolling season (carried on legacy from post-WWII period under Keith Peterie and Ron Want)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, gold sponsorship, silver sponsorship, bronze sponsorship, event sponsor, program partner and facility partner.

• Sunshine Coast CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoolum Beach SLSC operates in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council on the Accessible Beaches Program, which provides beach matting and a WaterWheels Beach Wheelchair for people with disabilities. The Council co-funds and supports this initiative, making Coolum Beach accessible to all. The club is also subject to various council regulations and permits for its beach operations.
• Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLSQ is the Queensland state body for surf lifesaving, representing 59 clubs across the state. Coolum Beach SLSC is affiliated with SLSQ and the Sunshine Coast Branch. SLSQ provides standardised training frameworks, insurance for volunteer lifesavers (via WorkCover), patrol operations manuals, the Surfguard member database system, competition calendars, youth development programs, and governance policies that the club adopts.
• Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLSA is the national governing body for surf lifesaving in Australia, a foundation member of the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS). SLSA sets national standards for awards, training, competition, and governance. All club awards (Bronze Medallion, SRC, ART, IRB, etc.) are SLSA-recognised credentials. The club operates under SLSA's Constitution, By-Laws, and policies.
• Sunshine Coast Branch (SLSQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoolum Beach SLSC is one of 15 clubs affiliated with the Sunshine Coast Branch of SLSQ. The Branch coordinates inter-club carnivals, training events, youth activities, and branch-level competitions. The club participates in branch championships and submits reports to branch management.
• Coolum Beach Surf Lifesaving Supporters Club Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Supporters Club is an ancillary body of the lifesaving club, run by a General Manager and Supporters Committee (President Lee Francey, Deputy Mark Dearing, Secretary Richard Barrie, Treasurer Garry Green). It operates the club restaurant, bar, and functions, and its significant funding largely underwrites the operating costs of the lifesaving club, helping keep patrols on the beach. It is a separate incorporated entity.
• Bendigo Bank (Marcoola Branch)gold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor of Coolum Beach SLSC. As a community bank, Bendigo Bank's sponsorship directly supports the funding of lifesaving patrol equipment and club operations. Their community-focused banking model aligns with the club's volunteer ethos.
• Billabong Pool Servicesgold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor. Billabong Pool Services provides financial sponsorship to support the club's patrol and lifesaving operations.
• BRD Groupgold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor of the club.
• Coolum Caprice Apartmentsgold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor of the club. Local accommodation business supporting the community club.
• Ken Mills Toyotagold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor. As a local automotive dealership, Ken Mills Toyota's sponsorship may include support for vehicle-related needs of the patrol and transport operations.
• XXXX (Gold Sponsor)gold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor of the club (XXXX is an Australian beer brand).
• Signature Constructiongold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor. Local construction company supporting the surf lifesaving club.
• Ozski Resortgold sponsorshipOthersGold-level corporate sponsor and training partner of the club.
• Mitre 10 Coolumsilver sponsorshipOthersSilver-level corporate sponsor of the club. Local hardware retailer providing community support.
• Dalton Financialsilver sponsorshipOthersSilver-level corporate sponsor of the club. Local accounting/financial services firm.
• MGI Accountants + Auditorssilver sponsorshipOthersSilver-level corporate sponsor of the club. MGI is a network of accounting and auditing firms.
• Vissla Surfsilver sponsorshipOthersSilver-level corporate sponsor of the club. Vissla is a surf and lifestyle brand that aligns with the club's surf sports activities.
• Baldwin Aquaticbronze sponsorshipOthersBronze-level corporate sponsor. Local aquatic/pool business.
• LiveLife Pharmacybronze sponsorshipOthersBronze-level corporate sponsor. Local pharmacy supporting community health and the surf lifesaving club.
• Sharkskinevent sponsorOthersSharkskin is a sponsor of the club's IRB Red Ducks team and the naming sponsor of the 2024 Sharkskin QLD IRB State Championships and the Ocean Roar IRB Series. Their sponsorship enables the club's IRB racing program.
• Signature Roofingevent sponsorOthersEvent sponsor of the club's IRB State Championships team, supporting travel and competition costs.
• Play On Sports (Queensland Government)program partnerOthersCoolum Nippers is a registered provider for the Queensland Government's Play On Sports Voucher Program. Eligible families can use vouchers toward Nipper fees, improving accessibility to the program. Vouchers must be claimed through the club admin after upfront payment.
• Coolum Peregian Aquatic Centrefacility partnerOthersThe club's pool proficiency sessions for Nippers are conducted at the Coolum Peregian Aquatic Centre. The club also provides swimming squad training subsidies at this centre and St Andrew's Aquatic Centre for surf sports competitors.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club: Fellow Sunshine Coast Branch SLSC offering the same patrol, Nippers, training and IRB competition model to a neighbouring beach community. Closest geographic and structural comparable to Coolum.
• Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club: Adjacent Sunshine Coast SLSC delivering volunteer patrols, junior Nippers, training courses and surf sports — directly comparable operating model on the same branch.
• Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club: Sunshine Coast SLSC running the same SLSA-aligned patrol, Nippers and competition framework; comparable size and structure to Coolum.
• Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club: Sunshine Coast SLSC with overlapping patrol, junior and surf sports programs; very similar member-base and revenue mix to Coolum.

Regional players

• Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club: Large Gold Coast SLSC running the same SLSA patrol, Nippers and IRB competition model; comparable scale and corporate sponsorship depth, but in a different region.
• Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club: Prominent Gold Coast SLSC known for elite surf sports performance and large membership; useful benchmark for surf sports scale and sponsorship profile.
• Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club: Iconic Sydney SLSC and one of the founding clubs of surf lifesaving in Australia; comparable membership-based patrol and Nippers model, though operating at a much larger scale in a metropolitan market.
• Bronte Surf Life Saving Club: Sydney-based SLSC running volunteer patrols, Nippers and surf sports under the SLSA framework; similar community-club operating model to Coolum.

Broad incumbents

• Surf Life Saving Queensland: State peak body representing 59 Queensland SLSCs including Coolum; sets training, insurance and competition frameworks that Coolum operates under.
• Surf Life Saving Australia: National governing body for 305 SLSCs and 150,000+ members; provides the awards, insurance and policy framework on which Coolum's entire operating model depends.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CBSLSC
• Xx.com/coolumsurfclub

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coolum Surf Club