Surf Life Saving NSW runs successful training program in Thailand

February 24, 2020

A week-long training program run by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) through the Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) involved a team of Australian Surf Life Saving trainers conducting lifeguard, junior lifesaver and water safety training for local lifeguards in Phuket Thailand..

The program was supported by the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket, the Phuket Lifeguard Service and the Phuket Hotels Association and was hosted by the Phuket Lifeguard Service and its founder Khun Vitanya Chuayuan.

Training in pool and ocean rescue skills was delivered to 42 Thai lifeguards while 54 high school students received training in personal water safety and rescue.

Australian Consul-General Matthew Barclay and Deputy Governor of Phuket and Mayor of Patong said the bond between Australian and Thai lifeguards was very strong.

Consul-General Barclay advised “I am looking forward to more skills exchanges between lifeguards from Phuket and Australia in the future.”

Australian Lifeguard Service’s international training program coordinator, Steve Allan, from the NSW South Coast, said that the week provided the opportunity for Australian trainers to work with local Thai trainers to facilitate ongoing, localised training.

Allan noted “through the ALS’s ‘train the trainer’ approach, local Thai trainers delivered high-quality instruction to eager trainees, strengthening the ongoing working relationships with surf lifesavers in Phuket.”

A closing ceremony, hosted by the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket and the Phuket Lifeguard Service, was held to celebrate the end of a very successful training program and to promote the ongoing future collaboration of Thai organisations and agencies towards a common goal of coastal risk management, water safety and drowning prevention. It also recognised the efforts of Australian Lifeguard Service trainers from SLSNSW who spent the week in Phuket training their local counterparts.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor of Phuket, Mayor of Patong, Commissioner of the Dept of Education, Consular representatives from Australia, France, Chile and Brazil, Patong Police Department Disaster Management team, Patong Municipal Council members, Phuket Hotels Association and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce.

Training program coordinator David Field said the event was an opportunity to present the second edition of the Thai Lifesaving Manual. The manual was adapted and translated from Surf Life Saving Australia’s Public Safety Training Manual.

A Thai-language version of a children’s book which promotes water safety was also launched at the event. The book, Pirate Kim: Let’s Go Swim by Thu-Trang Tran, was published with support from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program.

Two highlights of the ceremony were Australian trainer, Lachlan Field’s demonstration of the capabilities of SLSNSW’s UAV (drone) technology and a demonstration by Thai trainees of a fast-paced rescue scenario to showcase their new skills and knowledge.

15th February 2020 - Youth inspired at Surf Life Saving Australia annual leadership college

27th January 2020 - Surf Life Saving NSW trials free Beach Wi-Fi technology

4th December 2019 - Surf Life Saving Queensland receives funding boost for surf safety

10th October 2019 - New Surf Life Saving Club Patrol Tower opens at Seacliff

29th April 2019 - Surf Life Saving Australia shares beach safety challenges

27th March 2019 - Dean Hassall Consulting to assist Surf Lifesaving Queensland with development of Statewide Facility Strategy

27th February 2019 - BP donates more than $200,000 to Surf Life Saving NZ

7th February 2019 - Surf Life Saving Australia receives funding for its Seniors fitness program

1st February 2019 - Surf Lifesaving NSW raises water safety awareness with pop-up beach

15th January 2019 - City of Sydney and Surf Life Saving NSW partner for 2019 Sydney Lunar Festival

22nd December 2018 - Surf Life Saving NSW jet ski fleet boosted to increase beach safety for swimmers

10th December 2018 - Lotterywest provides $700,000 to Surf Life Saving WA to support nippers program

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.