URGENT UPDATE: A groundbreaking milestone has just been achieved at Wanda Surf Club as a new cohort of young men from Middle Eastern, subcontinental, and African heritage have officially qualified as lifesavers. This year’s participants, aged between 13 to 22, have successfully completed their Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC), marking the first time in New South Wales and throughout Australia that a program like this has produced teenage lifesavers.
The Surf Life Saving NSW program, which has been running for four years, is designed to equip these young men with essential skills to join patrol teams and perform rescues. The SRC serves as a critical first step toward obtaining the Bronze Medallion, the primary qualification for active surf lifesavers.
Steve Pearce, Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, emphasized the program’s significance: “The true heart of this program is not just the development of some new and very capable lifesavers within our ranks, but the ripple effect that their journey has within their communities.” The initiative was created in collaboration with Wanda Surf Club and Swim Brothers, founded by Omar Mahmoud and Feroz Sattar, after a near-drowning incident involving a group of men from Revesby ASWJ Mosque highlighted the urgent need for increased surf safety awareness.
“This summer, we are devastated by the loss of young lives to drownings—young males from migrant communities are overrepresented,” said Mahmoud. “This culturally safe and bespoke pathway not only brings them into surf lifesaving and surf culture but also helps close the gap in awareness, skills, and participation.”
The program has seen an impressive surge in participation, with 15 men graduating in 2022, and that number has nearly doubled following today’s graduation. Past participants have advanced to achieve rescue boat qualifications and are on track to become Cert IV trainers, capable of delivering the program to their communities.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib confirmed the vital impact of the initiative: “Nearly half of all coastal drownings in NSW are people born overseas. For these young men, not only are they improving their own surf safety understanding, but they can take the knowledge back to their community and help create real change.”
As the program continues to evolve, its ripple effect is already being felt across communities, fostering trust and relationships among participants. The Wanda Surf Club team, led by Denny Rowlands, alongside support from Sutherland Shire Council lifeguards, has tailored the training to ensure these young men are fully prepared to hit the beach and contribute to surf safety.
The urgency of this program cannot be understated; it is not just about saving lives but about building a culture where every young individual, regardless of background, feels empowered to engage with surf lifesaving. As these new lifesavers take their skills back to their communities, the positive impact is set to grow, making beaches safer for all.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as this initiative continues to inspire and save lives.
