Many members of the public ask what is the difference between surf lifesavers and lifeguards. Surf lifesavers are trained volunteers who patrol our beaches and provide beach safety services on weekends and public holidays during the peak school holidays and summer season. They undertake a number of roles including aquatic rescues, providing first aid and emergency care, and providing surf safety information to the public.
Lifeguards are paid employees undertaking patrols at a beach or another aquatic environment. The Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) is the national lifeguard provider of beach and pool lifeguard services to government councils and land managers across Australia. You can refer to the Australian Lifeguard Service website for more information on lifeguarding in Australia.
For simplicity in this manual, lifesaver is used to refer to both lifesavers and lifeguards except when there is a point of difference between the two.