Beach Lifeguard Service

Council's Professional Ocean Lifeguards

Patrol hours	Quick facts
Patrolled beaches information	Lifeguard skills and duties
Surf Safety tips	Additional Lifeguard Services

Patrol hours

Surf Beach

Council Lifeguards patrol Surf Beach from Monday to Friday.

Regular hours:
9.00am – 4.00pm
26 September 2011 – 24 April 2012

Daylight Savings:
9.00am – 5.00pm
3 October 2011 – 30 March 2012

Summer School holidays:
9.00am – 6.00pm
19 December 2011 – 29 January 2012

Bombo, Kendalls, Easts & Seven Mile Beaches

Council Lifeguards patrol the above four beaches seven days a week,
including public holidays.

Patrol hours:
10.00am – 6.00pm
19 December 2011 - 29 January 2012

Kiama Downs & Werri Beach

Council Lifeguards patrol Kiama Downs & Werri Beach from Monday to Friday.

Patrol hours:
10.00am – 6.00pm
19 December 2011 - 29 January 2012

Back to top

Patrolled Beaches information

During beach season, Council provides a Professional Ocean Lifeguard service on seven of the Municipality’s beaches.

Surf Beach
Kiama Downs Beach
Bombo Beach
Kendalls Beach
Easts Beach
Werri Beach
Seven Mile Beach

Back to top

Surf Beach

Surf Beach is a located in the heart of Kiama, next to Coronation Park off
Manning Street.

It is also home to the Kiama Surf Lifesaving Club (KSLSC), which provides voluntary patrols during beach season on weekends and public holidays.

KSLSC’s voluntary patrol hours may vary throughout the season. Visit Kiama’s Surf Life Saving Club website for more details.

Council's Professional Lifeguards patrol Mondays to Fridays throughout the season.

Dangerous rips and currents can occur at Surf Beach on occasion. Beachgoers should only swim between the flags during patrol hours.

Back to top

Kiama Downs Beach

Kiama Downs Beach is situated in the Municipality’s north, adjacent to North Kiama Drive. The beach is approximately one kilometre in length.

Also home to Kiama Downs Surf Lifesaving Club (KDSLSC), volunteer lifesavers patrol the northern end of the beach on weekends and public holidays from the October school holidays until ANZAC Day.

Voluntary lifesaver patrol hours may vary during the season. Visit the Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club website for more details.

Council's Professional Lifeguards patrol Mondays to Fridays during the Christmas/New Year school holidays.

Dangerous rips and currents can occur at Kiama Downs Beach on occasion. Beach goers should only swim between the flags during patrol hours.

Back to top

Bombo Beach

Bombo Beach is the first beach visible from the Princes Highway after leaving Sydney. It provides excellent conditions for surfboard riders.

Bombo Beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards seven days a week during the Christmas / New year school holidays.

Beach goers should only swim when the beach is patrolled.

Back to top

Kendalls Beach

Kendalls Beach is a short distance south of Surf Beach, adjacent to Kendalls Beach Holiday Park.

It is one of the Municipality’s most protected beaches and suited to young families.

Kendalls Beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards seven days a week during the Christmas / New year school holidays.

Kendalls Beach can experience dangerous conditions on occasion. Beachgoers should exercise care and swim between the flags.

Back to top

East Beach

Easts Beach is found on the southern side of Kiama, next to Easts Beach Holiday Park.

It is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards seven days a week during the Christmas / New year school holidays.

Easts Beach is a protected beach and considered to be one of the Municipality’s safest. However, large swells with dangerous shore breaks are experienced during easterly swells.

Back to top

Werri Beach

Werri Beach is located at Gerringong, in the southern part of the Municipality. The 1.5km long beach is an excellent surf beach.

Home to Gerringong Surf Lifesaving Club, volunteer lifesavers patrol the southern end of the beach on weekends and public holidays from the October school holidays until ANZAC Day.

Voluntary lifesaver patrol hours may vary during the season. Visit Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club’s website for more details.

Council's Professional Lifeguards patrol Mondays to Fridays during the Christmas / New Year school holidays.

Dangerous conditions can occur at Werri Beach. Beachgoers should exercise caution and only swim during patrol hours.

Back to top

Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach extends from Gerroa (south of Gerringong) to Shoalhaven Heads. It is an extremely open beach and windy conditions do occur.

Seven Mile Beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards seven days a week during the Christmas / New Year school holidays.

In big seas, dangerous conditions can occur at Seven Mile Beach. Beachgoers should exercise care and only swim during patrol hours.

Surf Safety Tips

NO FLAGS. NO SWIM!
If you get into difficulty, remain calm, call for help, float with the current and raise your arm for assistance.
Always swim or surf at beaches patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers.
Do not swim or surf alone.
The red and yellow flags mark the area to swim.
If you’re unsure of surf conditions or signs, ask a lifeguard or a lifesaver.
Supervise children at all times.
Never run or dive into water, as depths change regularly.
Avoid exposure to the sun by wearing sunscreen, hat, shirt and sunglasses.
Don’t swim directly after a meal.
Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Please take your rubbish with you; leave only your footprints.

Quick Facts

All Council Lifeguards are members of the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA), are highly qualified, and undertake a rigorous assessment
process every year.
Council employs over 20 Professional Ocean Lifeguards during beach season.
Council’s Professional Ocean Lifeguards are paid as professional staff and wear
nationally-recognised blue and white APOLA Lifeguard uniforms.
Every year over 400,000 people visit Council’s seven patrolled beaches.
Council’s Professional Lifeguards perform over 100 rescues each year.
Over 9,000 preventative actions are carried out each year. These include public
address warnings, verbal warnings and signage displayed on beaches.
Council’s annual Lifeguard recruitment takes place in August every year.
Expressions of interest are open all year round by contacting Council’s Lifeguard Supervisor on 0408 414 967.

Lifeguard skills & duties

Council’s Lifeguard skills and duties include:

Accurately assessing beach conditions.
Choosing suitable swimming locations.
Providing advice and regulatory beach signage.
Performing rescues and providing first aid.
Advising and enforcing local Council laws.
Preparing and delivering surf education to schools and residents.
Liaising with other rescue and emergency organisations.
Providing beach and water surveillance.
Maintaining and using tower surveillance systems.

Lifeguards are experienced in the use of:

Rescue boards and tubes
Personal water rescue craft (jet ski)
Whistles and public address systems
Four-wheel drives and quad bikes
Two-way communication
Oxygen/first aid
Defibrillators
Spinal stabilisation equipment

Additional services

Council can provide a Professional Ocean Lifeguard patrol service outside of specified patrol times by request on a fee for service basis.

Schools or private groups wishing to use this service can contact Council’s Lifeguard Coordinator on (02) 4232 0459.
Council provides a Surf Education Programme on a fee for service basis.

School or private groups wishing to access this service can contact Council’s Lifeguard Supervisor on 0408 414 967.

Last updated: Wednesday 11 November, 2009