Surf Life Saving Queensland

Name

Surf Life Saving Queensland

Legal name

Surf Life Saving Queensland

Website

https://lifesaving.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lifesaving and Aquatic Safety Services

akta.pro primary industry

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training (EDAOAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

Keywords

• Beach safety services
• Aquatic rescue operations
• First aid training
• Water safety education
• Coastal surveillance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

South Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SLSQ relies heavily on government funding from federal, state, and local government partners to continue lifesaving operations and safety programs
2. Commercial First Aid Training: Registered Training Organisation (RTO #2804) delivering nationally recognized first aid, CPR, and TAE courses to businesses, schools, and the community
3. Donations and Community Support: Relies on community donations and support to continue vital work both on and off Queensland's beaches
4. Merchandise Sales: SLSQ merchandise shop selling official lifesaving merchandise, with profits supporting lifesaving initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Surf Life Saving Queensland provides volunteer-based beach patrols, emergency rescue services, and aerial helicopter rescue across 8,000 kilometres of Queensland coastline through 58 surf lifesaving clubs. It also delivers nationally accredited commercial training courses (first aid, CPR, advanced resuscitation, TAE qualifications) as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO #2804), operates a wholly-owned drone licensing academy (Uncrewed Aviation Australia), and runs community water-safety education programs including the SharkSmart shark surveillance initiative.

Product overview

Surf Life Saving Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation operating as a platform of integrated lifesaving services, education programs, and technology solutions across Queensland's coastline. The portfolio comprises three primary pillars: (1) Core lifesaving services including 58 volunteer surf lifesaving clubs patrolling 8,000 kilometres of coastline, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service, and the State Operations and Communications Centre (SOCC); (2) Commercial training through Surf Life Saving Queensland Education (RTO Provider 2804) offering nationally accredited first aid, CPR, and TAE qualification courses; and (3) Uncrewed Aviation Australia providing drone licensing and the SharkSmart shark surveillance program. Supporting offerings include youth development programs (Youth Excellence Program, Lifesaving Development Program), community safety education, surf sports championships at state and national levels, Smart Coastal Safety Poles and Emergency Response Beacons for the Coastal Safety Network, and Shoreline Magazine. The organisation serves both public beach safety and commercial training markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beachsafe: Beach safety app and website platform used by SLSQ to help beachgoers find patrolled beaches and safety information.
• Youth Collective
• Youth Excellence Program (YEP)
• Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Queensland
• Uncrewed Aviation Australia
• Fastest on Sand
• Coastal Safety Network
• SharkSmart

Products and services

• Surf Life Saving Queensland Education (RTO Provider 2804)

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Townsville City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Partnership for installation of smart coastal safety poles at Pallarenda Beach and Picnic Bay, featuring emergency help points and live video monitoring
• EntrolcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 October 2023Spanish manufacturer of Entrol H14 Flight Training Device, first of its kind installed in Australia for Bell 429 aircraft pilot training
• MerlominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerlo x SLSQ partnership for coffee and merchandise collaboration
• LaerdalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner supporting Queensland Surf Rescue Championships for over a decade, providing simulation training equipment for resuscitation training
• EnginecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Swimwear Partner for SLSQ's Queensland State Championship Competitions
• SharkSkincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial merchandise partner for IRB championships
• Thundercat InflatablescoreTechnology or IntegrationAustralian manufacturer supplying high-quality inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) specifically designed for Australian surf lifesaving conditions, hand-built for strength, stability and speed
• Uncrewed Aviation AustraliacoreTechnology or IntegrationWholly-owned drone licensing academy by SLSQ delivering training, licensing programs, and supporting SharkSmart drone program and club operations
• Bundaberg Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of 2026 and 2028 Pool Rescue State Championships at Bundaberg Aquatic Centre
• Multicultural AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for water safety education targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities, with annual beach trips and safety sessions for young migrants
• Clontarf FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth participation in the Fastest on Sand initiative
• Harbrow MentoringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for Fastest on Sand initiative supporting First Nations youth engagement
• Australian Maritime Safety AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment authority providing aircraft for maritime search and rescue operations, assisting in locating missing persons at sea
• Moreton Bay CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil that named area 'Charlize's Place' in honor of shark attack victim and supporting annual surf lifesaving gala fundraiser
• Member for Pumicestone Ariana DoolanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with SLSQ and victim's family to plan annual surf lifesaving gala for surf lifesaving clubs across Queensland
• Queensland Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLSQ won tender to supply Queensland Police Service with Airborne Law Enforcement from 2024 until 2034, providing Bell 429 aircraft and pilots
• Surf Life Saving AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body that oversees surf lifesaving across Australia, providing national policies, major campaigns, and coordinating with state organizations including SLSQ

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Surf Life Saving Western Australia: Western Australian surf lifesaving organization operating volunteer patrols, training programs, and competition sports across WA beaches, structurally identical to SLSQ in governance and service model.
• Surf Life Saving Victoria: Victorian state counterpart providing beach patrol, water rescue, and surf education services across Victoria's coastline under the same SLSA-affiliated operational model as SLSQ.
• Surf Life Saving NSW: State-level surf lifesaving organization covering New South Wales with the same volunteer-club based patrolling, training, and lifesaving model as SLSQ, operating under the same national SLSA umbrella.
• Australian Lifeguard Service: Professional lifeguard service provider operating on Australian beaches (an SLSQ subsidiary/affiliated entity), delivering paid lifeguard services complementary to SLSQ's volunteer patrols — same geography and customer base.
• Surf Life Saving South Australia: South Australian state-level surf lifesaving body delivering volunteer patrols, lifesaving education, and surf sports competitions on SA beaches with the same operational format as SLSQ.

Regional players

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): UK-based volunteer maritime rescue charity operating lifeboats, lifeguards, and water safety education; a globally recognized equivalent to SLSQ's mission, though focused on UK waters.
• Surf Life Saving New Zealand: Trans-Tasman equivalent operating the same volunteer-based beach patrol and surf education model across New Zealand, providing a regional benchmark for SLSQ's operations.

Broad incumbents

• Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA): National peak body and parent organization of SLSQ; sets national policy, runs national campaigns, and coordinates state organizations — a broader incumbent that oversees SLSQ's strategic direction.
• Royal Life Saving Society Australia: National drowning-prevention charity covering inland waterways, swim education, and pool lifeguarding with overlapping aquatic safety training, making it a broad incumbent peer in the water-safety category.

Others

• St John Ambulance Australia: National first-aid training and event medical services charity that competes with SLSQ's RTO training arm in commercial first aid and CPR course delivery to businesses and the community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@lifesavingqld
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifesavingqld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Surf Life Saving Queensland