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Surf Life Saving Australia has launched the sixth edition of its national Women’s Mentoring Program which pairs mentees and mentors from across Australia in order to develop and support emerging female leaders within the movement.

Established in 2020, the Women’s Mentoring Program is supported by McCarthy Mentoring, a leadership development organisation that has been inspiring and enabling current and future leaders for more than 20 years.

54 participants from clubs across Australia will be paired together according to their shared experiences and aspirations, both within Surf Life Saving and in their professional lives.  

SLSA Life Member and Co-Creator of the Women’s Mentoring Program Suzanne Storrie (Cronulla SLSC, Clovelly SLSC, North Bondi SLSC) was delighted to launch the sixth running of the program and shared “research shows that mentoring and sponsorship programs like the SLSA Women’s Mentoring Program are effective in improving gender equity.

“This program aims to support members and help them access skills, guidance and expanded support networks to further develop their leadership skills.”

Mentee Makayla Atherton (Kingston Beach SLSC) was inspired by past Program participants and was eager to join adding “I heard lots of great feedback from other people around the state and from our club that had participated in it, and they said how it was such a rewarding and amazing experience.

“I want to build my confidence in making leadership goals, while also creating new networking opportunities throughout Australia”.

Almost 200 female Surf Life Saving Members have participated and graduated through the past five cohorts of the Women’s Mentoring Program.  Many participants have gone on to take new leadership roles across Surf Life Saving, and past Mentees and Mentors continue to return to the program to help guide the next cohort.

Dr Leesa Equid (Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC, North Cottesloe SLSC), a Mentor in the inaugural Women’s Mentoring Program, continues to share her knowledge and experience.

“It’s really satisfying helping guide people through their own journeys and navigating along the way,” she said.

“I’ve taken new roles within my Club and at a State level since I was last a Mentor, so I feel I have a bit more that I can give to the program this around.

“I do quite a bit of mentoring in my professional career and I have seen how important and impactful it can be. Unfortunately, when I was coming through surf lifesaving, I didn’t have the same opportunities as I did at work, so I wanted to provide that to someone else.

“I want to keep helping others achieve their goals.”

Surf Life Saving Australia’s  Women’s Mentoring Program pairs mentors with mentees who will support each other across the next12 months. Facilitating empowerment, support and leadership skills will all be part of the program, which participants can then use and apply to their paid roles inside and outside of surf life saving, volunteer activities and everyday life. 

The sixth intake will conclude in September 2025 with successful applicants as follows: 

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