SA program encourages a more inclusive environment for women to further their surf lifesaving qualifications
Surf lifesaving volunteers play a vital role in keeping Australian beach-goers safe, but over the past few years there has been a shortage of qualified rescue boat crew. Now, there is a new program encouraging female surf lifesavers to take on the complex and physically demanding role in a more inclusive environment.
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00:00 Surf Lifesavers use inflatable powercraft to patrol beaches across the country and perform
00:07 searches and rescues. The volunteers who operate them are highly trained, fit and dedicated.
00:16 It's been really exhausting on the body, like really taxing.
00:19 These are some pretty serious skippers that we're teaching them and some pretty great
00:24 responsibility they have once they are competent crews.
00:27 But Surf Lifesaving Australia says it doesn't have enough qualified crews and drivers, especially
00:33 amongst its female volunteers.
00:35 Nationally there was roughly 15,000 male ILB crew qualified and 5,000 female ILB crew.
00:42 A new program designed for women and non-binary surf lifesavers has made these participants
00:50 feel more supported and comfortable than in some mixed gender courses.
00:55 Most powercraft courses don't always have that culture that is super supportive of everyone
00:59 in the group. So to be able to offer this course is very exciting and the girls have
01:04 loved it which has been great.
01:05 Sometimes it is like we do get a bit up close and personal so I do feel so much more comfortable
01:09 knowing that it is a female.
01:11 By the end of their training this group of nine will be qualified to perform complex
01:15 rescues on board the inflatable watercraft. It's hoped the SA program will grow in size
01:21 over the next few years and inspire more female focused training interstate.
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