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Frequently Asked Questions

Lifesavers rescuing a boy from the surf

Have a question for SLSF? Read our FAQs to see if we've answered it here

Our team are constantly adding to the list, so there is a good chance that you will find the information you are looking for. However if you can't, please feel free to get in touch with our team.
Contact the Surf Life Saving Foundation

About the Surf Life Saving Foundation to Surf Life Saving Australia transition

These FAQs relate specifically to our transition from the Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) to Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). During this period, you may notice some temporary changes or mixed references across our materials. The FAQs below outline what is changing, the timelines involved, and how your donations will continue to be managed securely. Please be assured that the purpose and impact of your donation remain unchanged.

The Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) is transitioning into Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA) core operations. SLSF was always a part of SLSA but just operated separately.

This brings our national fundraising activities together under one structure.

Importantly, this does not change how your donation is used. Your support continues to fund vital lifesaving services, training, equipment and coastal safety initiatives across Australia.

No. That earlier transition remains in place.

What's happening now is an internal alignment of fundraising operations nationally. Your donations will continue to support Surf Life Saving operations both nationally and in Western Australia.

You will continue to receive WA-focused stories and updates so you can the impact your generosity is having on West Aussie beaches.

From around 3 March 2026, you may notice a small change to how donations appear on your bank statement (see below). This is a reference name change only. Your support continues as normal.

For those making a donation via credit card, you will notice a change from SLSF Donations to SLS Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

For those making a donation via direct debit, you will notice a change from SLS_Foundation to SLS Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

For those making a donation via direct deposit, you will notice a change from SLS_Foundation to SLSA Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

We are streamlining our national fundraising operations to improve efficiency, and deliver greater impact for frontline lifesaving services.

Some updates, including Privacy Policy updates and statement reference changes, will begin from around 3 March 2026. Changes will continue rolling out to June 2026, when all materials will reflect SLSA branding.

Our friendly Supporter Services team remains available on 1800 642 925.
Our email address is now: [email protected].

No action is required. Your donations and supporter account will continue seamlessly.

You only need to take action if you plan to make future donations by bank transfer.

If so, please use our updated details:

Account Name: Surf Life Saving Australia Limited

BSB: 032-143 

Account Number: 565515

We will keep our previous bank account open for a period of time to continue a smooth transition. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Yes. Your personal information remains secure.

This transition does not change how we collect, store or protect your data. All information continues to be managed in accordance with SLSA's Privacy Policy and Australian privacy laws.

No.

Whether you're a regular giver through our Guardians of the Surf program, or have made a one‑off donation, your contribution continues to fund vital lifesaving services, equipment, training and coastal safety research and initiatives across Australia.

The purpose and impact of your donation remains unchanged.

Yes. If you are making a new bank transfer donation, please use:

Account Name: Surf Life Saving Australia Limited

BSB: 032-143   Account Number: 565515

If you recently donated using our previous account details, your donation is safe. We are keeping that account open temporarily to ensure all transfers are received.

You may notice a small change to how payments appear on your bank or credit card statement. The way your donation is processed has not changed – only the reference name.

From 3 March 2026 - Single (one-off) donations

For those making a donation via credit card, you'll notice a change from SLSF Donations to SLS Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

For those making a donation via direct deposit, you'll notice a change from SLS_Foundation to SLSA Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

From 3 June 2026 - Guardians of the Surf (Regular Givers)

For those making a donation via credit card, you'll notice a change from SLSF Donations to SLS Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

For those making a donation via direct debit, you'll notice a change from SLS_Foundation to SLS Donations on your bank statement, reflecting the transition.

No. This change will happen automatically, and no action is required from you.

No, there will no change to your regular debit date if you are a regular giver as part of our Guardians of the Surf program.

No. Donations of $2 AUD or more remain tax-deductible (excluding Surf Life Saving Lottery ticket purchases).

Because of this year's transition, regular givers will receive two receipts for this financial year:

- one from Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) for donations made before the transition, and

- one from Surf Life Saving Australia Limited for donations made after the transition.

Both receipts can be used when completing your tax return.

If your Workplace Giving contributions are set up via Good2Give or the GoodCompany, your contributions will continue without interruption.

If you make your contributions directly (via your own bank transfer), we would appreciate it if you could update our bank account details at your earliest convenience. Our updated details for Workplace Giving contributions are:

Account Name: Surf Life Saving Australia Limited

BSB: 032‑143    Account Number: 565507

Please note that we will keep our existing bank account open for a period of time to allow for a smooth transition. We will also continue to remind you through direct service communications. Thank you for your ongoing support.

No. Our website is being refreshed and is now called Surf Life Saving Giving to transparently reflect our transition from the Surf Life Saving Foundation to Surf Life Saving Australia. This update is planned and intentional. There has been no security issue.

You can update your communication preferences, ask questions, or opt out of marketing communications at any time by contacting Supporter Services on 1800 642 925.

Yes. The Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) is becoming part of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)’s core operations, and this impacts all fundraising efforts, including Surf Life Saving Lotteries. This is an administrative change only and will not affect how the lotteries run or how your support helps save lives.

Starting with Lottery 236 (opening 3 June 2026), Surf Life Saving Lotteries too will operate within SLSA. Whether you’ve purchased single tickets in the past or you’re a Champions Club member, everything will continue as normal.

Single‑ticket supporters: 

  • You can continue to purchase tickets and participate in all future draws exactly as you do now.

Champions Club members: 

  • Your membership remains active and unchanged.
  • You will continue to receive tickets in all six major prize home draws each year.
  • You will still enjoy access to exclusive member‑only draws, including birthday draws and special promotions.
  • If you pay by direct debit, you may notice a small change to how your payments appear on your bank statement. From 3 June your payments will appear as SLSA.
  • No action is required from you.

This change simply aligns our national fundraising operations and helps strengthen support for frontline surf lifesaving services across Australia.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Surf Life Saving Lotteries — every ticket you purchase helps save lives on our beaches.

General Frequently Asked Questions

A gift of a fixed percentage of your estate (often known as a “proportional legacy”) allows you to nominate a specific percentage of your estate to the Surf Life Saving Foundation. A legacy of this kind does not depend on your estate being of any set value or size and it is flexible enough to allow for changes in the composition of your assets or financial situation. No matter how your estate changes, whether it grows or decreases in value, your decision as to the proportions will always remain the same.

The correct wording for such a gift is: “I [Your Name] give and bequeath to the Surf Life Saving Foundation, free of all duties, ___% of my estate and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other Proper Officer of the Foundation shall be sufficient discharge to my Executor for the Bequest which is to be applied to the general purposes of the Surf Life Saving Foundation”
The Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) is the fundraising arm of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). SLSA is Australia’s peak authority on beach safety, drowning prevention and rescue.

The SLSF was established to support our unique not-for-profit community cause that exists through community donations, fundraising, corporate sponsorships and government grants.

With over 180,000 members and 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs, SLS represents the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia, and the world.
The Surf Life Saving Foundation distributes funds raised through your donations to support Surf Life Saving Branches and Clubs around the country. Your donations are predominantly used by Surf Life Saving to:

- Maintain and replace lifesaving rescue equipment
- Enhance the training and development programs for volunteer surf lifesavers
- Expand community surf safety campaigns
- Fund aquatic safety research and development
- Continue to provide support services including communications networks, aerial patrols and powered watercraft
Absolutely! Every single donation you make helps us to save more lives on the beach.

Every year millions of people visit our beaches, and thousands of these visitors find themselves in urgent need of a life saving rescue. This is what we are here for, to keep your family and friends safe in the water.

Your support today will ensure that millions of adults and children who visit the beach go home safely.
Australia and its related islands have over 11,500 beaches dispersed along more than 50,000km of coastline, attracting an estimated 500+ million visits every year. Our volunteer surf lifesavers are always kept busy. We have over 180,000 volunteers from over 315 different surf clubs across Australia, and with the help of your generous donations, they make sure that Australia has some of the safest beaches in the world.

Did you know?
- It costs at least $850 to train a new volunteer to Bronze Medallion standard. Surf lifesavers are trained in First Aid, CPR and rescue techniques. Importantly, all of our lifesavers must continue to refresh and update their skills.

- Rescue gear and equipment are some of the largest costs associated with providing lifesaving services throughout Australia. A full life saving patrol can cost up to $80,000.

- Prevention is better than cure, and the best way to save lives at the beach is by teaching people how to stay out of danger. We run campaigns on how to spot rips and what to do if you are caught in one (swim parallel to the shore!).

No matter what area your donation goes towards, you can be sure that it will make a vital contribution to saving lives.
The Surf Life Saving Foundation (SLSF) may collect your personal information to communicate information and offers from SLSF and to provide SLSF products and services directly.

By providing your personal information, you agree it will be disclosed to and used by the SLSF under the terms of this statement and the SLSF Privacy Policy.

SLSF may disclose your personal information to other parties, including SLSF third party service providers. SLSF may use and disclose your personal information for direct marketing purposes, unless you opt out (which you can do at any time in accordance with the SLSF Privacy Policy).
Yes, the Surf Life Saving Foundation constitution contains information regarding the SLSF, its Members, Board, Directors, procedures and by-laws. Download the file to access the Surf Life Saving Constitution in full.
The SLSF Board continues as the Trustees of the Surf Life Saving Rescue Fund Trust. The Trust was established in 2002 to provide an additional and more assured ongoing source of funding for the movement. 
To change your subscription, please contact our customer care team by phone (1800 642 925) during business hours (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.00pm) or by email.

To cancel your subscription, please contact our customer care team by phone (1800 642 925) during business hours (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.00pm).

Some emails that you will receive from SLS relating to your account, purchases or donations are required to be sent to your email address. You can, however, control what you receive from us by updating your marketing communication preferences. To do so, please contact our customer care team by phone (1800 642 925) or by email.
Surf Life Saving takes the security of its supporter and membership data very seriously, in many cases this is also the personal information of many of the staff that work here and we therefore have a vested interest. All data security is under constant review both internally and with external security consultants. Surf Life Saving is also compliant for the DSS PCI compliance for the processing of Credit Card transactions, and we are happy to provide a copy of our assertation of compliance to anyone who requests it.

Guardians of the Surf

Your monthly donation will help train new surf lifesavers, improve the skills of our current volunteers and help us replace equipment that is constantly exposed to the harsh Australian conditions.

Become a Guardian of the Surf