Building community, leadership and resilience in extraordinary circumstances
Thirteen kilometres south of Hobart, Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) stands as one of the southernmost surf life saving clubs in Australia. Established in 2009, the club exemplifies the impactful role surf life saving clubs play in their communities. The club’s welcoming and community-focused nature has fast become its personality and culture, and with its people-first approach and emphasis on building connections and belonging, Kingston Beach SLSC ensures there is a place for everyone in Surf Life Saving.
“Essentially, we’ve had a short life but a very fast evolution,” says Club President, Danielle Campbell. “We’re growing fast and now have 430 members, 70 active patrolling members, and 190 nippers.”
Challenges and Resilience
Kingston Beach SLSC operates under extraordinary and challenging conditions, including no physical clubhouse. Instead, the club operates out of two sheds, one to hold their Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs), and one to house patrol gear and nipper equipment. The lack of a clubhouse means the club has limited facilities including no running hot water and creates the enormous challenge of no physical presence to aid with additional fundraising or provide a physical hub for members and the community.
“It’s an interesting characteristic of our club,” says Danielle. “We decided that we wouldn’t let that define us. We’re proud of the fact that we can operate without four walls and a roof. We have a strong culture and the resilience within our club is a big part of how we can offer so much to the community.”
Without a physical hub to unite members, the club relies on intentional culture, relationship building, and human connection to build and maintain morale, belonging, and retention. It has established itself as an indispensable community asset, playing a vital role in ensuring safety, wellbeing, and belonging in the local community with an impact that stretches well beyond the beach.
Community Engagement, Services, and Programs
- Lifesaving Services
The club’s core function is to protect beachgoers. The dedicated team of volunteers patrol the beach, respond to emergencies, and provide water safety education across the region. Their efforts are crucial in preventing drownings and other water-related incidents, not just at popular Kingston Beach, but throughout the southwest of Tasmania, where families, young people, international students, and migrants form a large part of the beachgoing community; many with limited swimming or water safety skills.
“We had a rescue this year where three young men got into trouble very quickly, they completely underestimated the conditions,” Danielle recounts. “We had quite a young patrol that day, and our younger members responded immediately and saved their lives.”
Beyond the beach, the club has also been called in to support bushfire evacuation efforts. While they didn’t have to act in the end, the situation gave members a real insight into the expanding role of surf life saving clubs in disaster response, prompting scenario training to prepare members for future emergency situations.
- Nipper Program
The club proudly runs one of Tasmania’s largest Nipper program, hosting 190 nippers between the ages of five and thirteen-years-old every Sunday morning between November and March.
- Starfish Nippers Program
The club also runs a Starfish Nippers program, providing children with disabilities and additional needs the opportunity to build confidence in the water while developing vital surf safety skills, in a fun and inclusive environment.
- SilverSalties
Empowerment and individual aspirations play a key role in Kingston Beach SLSC’s Silver Salties Program, where older community members are supported to achieve their own personal goals, whether that is to reconnect with the ocean, regain water confidence, or engage socially.
- A focus on youth leadership and empowerment
The youth of today are the future of Surf Life Saving, and Kingston Beach SLSC places a strong focus on youth development and retention.
“Our youth are such an important part of our club and future,” says Danielle. “We realised to keep them at the club we needed to empower and involve our youth beyond lifesaving services.”
The club’s extensive Youth Leadership Program provides leadership pathways for members aged thirteen years and up. Designed to nurture young leaders who can contribute positively to society, the program equips young adults with leadership skills, community service values, and confidence.
- Outreach programs for migrant communities
Recognising the need for inclusive water safety education and community connection, and conscious of the discomfort that can come with a parent not having the personal water safety and swimming skills to engage their child in swimming lessons, the club works closely with migrant communities and international students.
“We’re proactive about providing support,” says Danielle. “Prevention techniques are just as important as standing on the beach waiting for someone to get in trouble.”
One way the club engages with migrant communities is by actively going to trusted community spaces such as health centres and playgroups, to engage with families in a space that is comfortable and safe for them.
This article has been abridged from the original case study which was carried out as part of SLSA’s Disaster Resilience and Community Preparedness Project. You can read the full case study on SLSA’s website here: Case Study: Kingston Beach SLSC - Surf Life Saving