CLUB DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Surf Life Saving South Australia has 23 clubs with a total membership in excess of 8500, which continues to grow each year. In order to keep our clubs and members motivated and to ensure the future viability of the organisation, it is important that we provide opportunities to develop their skills and abilities, and that clubs pursue development opportunities that are made available by Government and other sources.
Club Executive and Office Holder Training Calendar 2026/2027
Below is a full list of webinars and workshops to assist different portfolio officers within your club. Ensure that you register for your chosen sessions to receive the recording post-webinar. Each webinar is 1.5 hours long unless stated otherwise.
Contact member development@surflifesavingsa.com.au for more information.
| Date | Webinar / Course | What you'll learn | Audience | Hosted by | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available Anytime | |||||
| Available anytime Self-paced online | The Start Line - Sport Governance Foundations | A free foundational course for new and existing directors, board members and committee members. Covers directors' duties and responsibilities and how to contribute effectively to an organisation's board and sport. | New and existing Board / Committee Members | Australian Sports Commission Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | The Defence - Risk Education for Directors | A free course exploring the elements of a sound risk management system. Covers common risks in sport, effective risk management practices and the respective roles of directors and boards. | Directors / Board and Committee Members | Australian Sports Commission Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | The Spirit of the Game - Organisational Culture | A free course on building a strong, positive organisational culture. Covers values, behaviour, shaping a values-driven culture and practical ways to develop, embed and monitor culture. | Board / Committee Members | Australian Sports Commission Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | The Board Manual - Governance in Action | Explores the documents, processes and systems that support effective governance, including corporate structures, constitutions, board meetings, induction, committees, conflicts of interest, performance monitoring and succession planning. | Directors / Board and Committee Members | Australian Sports Commission Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | Member Protection Information Officer Part 1 Online Course | This course will focus on responsibilities required of an accredited Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO). The MPIO training course is in two parts – this online course, and a workshop, which you must also complete to be accredited. | New MPIOs | Play by the Rules Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction course | The Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction course by Sport Integrity Australia is here to help you better understand what safeguarding is and how you can understand Safeguarding Children and Young People in sport. | New Child Safe Officers | Play by the Rules Self-paced online | Access Course |
| Available anytime Self-paced online | Play by the Rules - elearning | Play by the Rules provides free eLearning courses that will help you learn about inclusive, safe, and fair sport. Our courses are for anyone involved in sport and recreation, including coaches, administrators, officials, players, parents, and spectators. | Club Leaders / Administrators / Volunteers / Coaches / Members / Athletes | Play by the Rules Self-paced online | View E-Learning |
| Available anytime Recorded webinars | Sport Integrity Australia - Previous Webinars | A library of recorded integrity education webinars covering complaints and member protection, safeguarding and child safety, inclusion, risk management, anti-doping, inappropriate behaviour, gambling and competition manipulation. | Club Leaders / Administrators / Volunteers / Coaches / Members / Athletes | Sport Integrity Australia Various subject matter experts | View Webinars |
| October 2026 | |||||
| Tuesday 6 October 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Optimising Board Performance | Learn about communication, decision-making, conflict resolution and strategic planning. Gain actionable tips to enhance board performance and drive organisational success. | Club Management | Surf Life Saving NSW TBC | Register |
| Wednesday 7 October | MPIO Training - Part 2 for new MPIOs | This training is a requirement for new MPIOs. This workshop must be attended following completion of the Part 1 Online Module. Understand your role, member protection policies, complaint handling and trauma-informed practice. | New MPIOs | Surf Life Saving Australia Morgan Lander - Not On My Watch | Register |
| Monday 12 October 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | MPIO Refresher Training - for existing MPIOs | This practical and engaging session is for existing MPIOs to refresh their skills, gain insight into best practice and receive guidance around SLSA policies. | MPIOs | Surf Life Saving Australia Morgan Lander - Not On My Watch | Register |
| Tuesday 13 October 5:30pm-7:00pm ACST | Child Safe Implementation | A deeper dive into how to create a child safe culture at your club. This session will explore case studies and best practice from clubs from across NSW. | Club Management / Child Safe Coordinators | Surf Life Saving NSW Jeanette Mangan - SLSNSW Child Safe Officer | Register |
| Wednesday 14 October | Navigating Conflict on the Beach | Practical guidance for club leaders and volunteers responding to conflict and emotionally charged situations. This session will be recorded. | Club Leaders / Coaches / MPIOs / Volunteers | Surf Life Saving Australia Jacqui McConville | Register |
| Thursday 15 October 1:00pm-4:00pm ACST | Meetings 101 | Make club meetings effective, inclusive, productive and legally compliant. Covers agendas, board reports, participant roles, meeting procedures, minutes, managing unacceptable behaviour and the differences between committee and subcommittee meetings. In person at Clubs SA, Torrensville. | Presidents / Chairpersons / Board and Committee Members / Subcommittees / Club Managers | Clubs SA Kate McPhee - Liquorice Allsorts Consulting | Register |
| Tuesday 20 October 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Managing Capital Work Projects and Finances | Considering a major renovation or capital works project? This session explores how to manage project cash flow to completion and acquittal, and provides advice on the dos and don'ts to avoid common pitfalls. | Club Management | Surf Life Saving NSW Phil Ayres - SLSNSW COO / SLSA Grant Seeking Unit | Register |
| Tuesday 20 October | Youth Wellbeing in SLS | An overview of youth wellbeing in Surf Life Saving, including available support and the importance of creating healthy, supportive club environments. This session will be recorded. | Club Management / Member Services / Youth Leaders | Surf Life Saving Australia Morgan Lander | Register |
| Tuesday 27 October 5:30pm-6:15pm ACST | The Digital Sidelines: Cyberbullying and Online Hate in Young People's Sport | A second offering of the webinar supporting sport leaders, coaches and managers to encourage positive online conduct and protect young people from cyberbullying and online hate. | Sport Leaders / Coaches / Managers | eSafety Commissioner eSafety Commissioner | Register |
| Wednesday 28 October 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Marketing, Media and Promotions | Better promote your club's activities and attract support. Receive tips on how to write media releases and develop communications that help you connect with your members and the local community. | Presidents / Administration / Member Services / Publicity Officers | Surf Life Saving NSW SLSNSW Media Team | Register |
| November 2026 | |||||
| Tuesday 3 November 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Psychosocial Safety | Explores the growing focus on psychosocial hazards, what recent legislative changes mean for clubs, and the practical steps leaders can take to foster safe, respectful and inclusive environments. | Club Management | Surf Life Saving NSW Louise Cooke - SLSNSW GM, Culture & Capability | Register |
| Thursday 5 November 5:30pm-7:00pm ACST | Sponsorship & Funding | Find out all you need to know about sponsor engagement and getting the most out of the SLSA Grant Seeking Unit (GSU) and SLS Foundation. | Presidents / Finance | Surf Life Saving NSW Nikki Ronald - SLSNSW Partnerships Manager | Register |
| Thursday 12 November 11:00am-11:45am ACST | Online Safety 101 for Community Sport Clubs | Provides community sport clubs with practical guidance on types of online harm, responding to harm, common online issues, creating a safer online environment and available resources. | Community Sport Leaders / Club Volunteers | eSafety Commissioner eSafety Commissioner | Register |
| Wednesday 18 November 11:00am-11:45am ACST | Social Media Self-defence in Sport | Guidance for athletes, coaches and officials on online abuse, safer social media account settings, proactive harm reduction, de-escalation, reporting, support services and free resources. | Athletes / Coaches / Officials | eSafety Commissioner eSafety Commissioner | Register |
| Thursday 26 November 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Complaints Management | This hands-on workshop looks at real life case studies and identifies how to work through the Complaints Process, understanding steps in the policy, levels of complaints and how to manage difficult conversations. | Complaints Managers | Surf Life Saving NSW Phil Ayres - SLSNSW COO / Kerry Downes - SLSNSW | Register |
| February 2027 | |||||
| Tuesday 9 February 5:30pm-6:30pm ACST | Finance Webinar 2 | A deep dive into financial compliance. An overview of ACNC requirements for your financial reports, reporting thresholds, audit requirements and EOFY. | Presidents / Finance | Surf Life Saving NSW Rebecca Reurich - SLSNSW CFO | Register |
A number of websites provide documents, resources and online tools to assist clubs:
Sport SA resource page
Clubs SA - Licensed Clubs' Association of South Australia
Australian Sports Commission Club Development
Surf Life Saving Australia Member and Club Development (via members' portal)
Australian Drug Foundation Good Sports
Australian Tax Office Not-for-profit
Sports Community (fundraising, grants)
Our Community (guide for not-for-profits)
Office of Sport (NSW) Running your club
Department of Sport and Recreation (WA) Clubs
Sport New Zealand Managing Sport
State Leadership Opportunities
Lifesaving Development Camp (16 - 17 years old)
The Lifesaving Development Camp is a six day / five night camp based at Chiton Rocks SLSC and the south coast beaches/pool to develop lifesaving, leadership and aquatic search and rescue skills for 16 and 17 year olds. It is an ideal opportunity for those who are looking to push their lifesaving skills and build a knowledge of emergency operations. The week is equally challenging and rewarding as participants undertake a number of advanced SLS awards (culminating in the Cert III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue)), lifesaving and emergency operations activities and scenarios. This years camp will see the introduction of Camp Mentors and Assistant Mentors.
The 2026 camp will be held from Sunday 13th December - Friday 18th December 2026 at Chiton Rocks SLSC.
Details can be found here on our Calendar which will be updated as more details are released, including application process/timeline.
To submit an Expression of Interest please click the button below:
Youth Development Camp (Under 14/15)
The U14/15 Youth Development Camp allows participants to explore the different pathways open to them as they transition to Senior patrolling members of their club. Activities include lifesaving skills and personal development, leadership and teamwork as well as fun activities. Participation is via club nomination.
The camp is held in the April school holidays over three days / two nights at Woodhouse Adventure Park, Crafers. Clubs are expected to provide volunteer adults/leaders to assist with the activities and chaperoning duties.
The 2027 camp will be held from Monday 19th April - Wednesday 21st April at Woodhouse Adventure Park.
Details can be found here on our Calendar which will be updated as more details are released, including application process/timeline.
National Leadership Opportunities
National Leadership College (20 - 30 year olds)
The National Leadership College is the accumulation of year on year development of the nationally delivered leadership program. The college philosophy is 'interactive shared learning' and relates SLSA's leadership competencies to grass roots surf life saving. This is achieved through key note speakers and a focus on facilitator lead workshops.
The college assumes participants come into it with some previous exposure to leadership training, preferably from within the surf life saving leadership pathway, but it could also come from their careers outside of surf. Potential participants can come from a range of different backgrounds, interests and areas of focus within the club environment - although it is preferable that they have been involved in previous state leadership training. These future leaders are most likely patrol captains, chief instructors, club captains, age managers etc.
CIRCULAR for 2026 intake - APPLICATION FORM to be completed & returned to SLSSA via development@surflifesavingsa.com.au
Multi-Cultural and Indigenous Scholarship APPLICATION FORM
SLSA Leaders Masterclass
The aim of the SLSA Leaders' Masterclass (formerly SLSA Leaders' Conference) is to provide an opportunity for existing leaders within SLSA (at all levels) to participate in a high-level leadership development program. The target audience for this masterclass includes committee members i.e. President, Deputy President, Lifesaving, Surf Sports and Junior/Youth roles. They should aspire to club/branch/state leadership roles into the future (next 3 years). The conference will provide participants with an environment that will enable them to refresh and extend their leadership capabilities. Details of next intake will be updated here when available.
SLSA Women’s Mentoring Program
SLSA embraces the importance of a diverse and inclusive organisation, including gender equality, and seeks to increase the number of women who hold leadership roles within SLS nationally. The Women’s Mentoring Program supports and encourages confident, strong and skilled women within SLS, to strengthen leadership skills, and identify, and develop the next generation of leaders to position SLS for the future.
Next intake commences November. CIRCULAR (including online application links for both Mentor and Mentee roles).
Leadership Alumni Network
A Leadership Alumni Network is currently being established to provide an ongoing support network for those members who participate in national leadership programs such as the Leaders Masterclass, Sir Adrian Curlewis Scholarship and National Leadership College.
The Leadership Alumni Network is still in design, but we anticipate it will offer an opportunity for members to share experiences, knowledge and ideas in a likeminded environment. The network will be chiefly an e-forum that communicates the latest thinking in leadership, management and areas directly related to surf life saving. If you have previously been a part of a SLSA leadership program and would like to join the alumni and network please contact us at development@surflifesavingsa.com.au