Killcare Surf Life Saving Club

Strategic Plan
2026–2030

Five priorities. One purpose: everyone who comes to Killcare on our watch, goes home again.

Killcare Surf Life Saving Club acknowledges that we operate on Darkinyung land. We honour their connection to country and clan by committing ourselves, as we do every time we put the flags up, to respecting and preserving our beautiful beach and protecting all who visit. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Approaching our 100th anniversary, Killcare SLSC will continue to be a strong, sustainable club ready and committed to executing our core mission, a trusted centre of the community we serve, with healthy ties and support to the iconic organisation to which we belong.
Our Vision, 2026–2030

We Are a Link in a Chain

Part of something much bigger than our own beach.

Killcare Surf Life Saving Club is part of a larger ecosystem that extends upwards to our Branch, Surf Life Saving Central Coast, through Surf Life Saving New South Wales and on to Surf Life Saving Australia.

We will always advocate for the good of our club and our members.

However together our organisations represent one of the most iconic volunteer organisations in the world and the most respected charity in Australia.

Further, we are one of 15 clubs on the Central Coast, 129 clubs in New South Wales and 316 clubs in Australia. All clubs share a common core mission and we will work together, particularly our near neighbours, to share ideas, equipment and personnel so that we might work to our singular goal, that everyone who comes to our beach on our watch goes home again.

Our overarching organisations will necessarily have slightly different strategic priorities but sharing the same base ethos - to prevent unnecessary drownings. We will align our strategic priorities to assist them in achieving theirs and we will unite under common values.

15
Clubs on the Central Coast
129
Clubs across NSW
316
Clubs across Australia
Killcare lifesaver with the Surf Life Saving flag

2026 – 2030

Our Five Strategic Priorities

Each priority sets out where we're focused, what we'll do about it, and how we'll know we've succeeded.

Priority One

Protecting Lives

Everyone who comes to Killcare on our watch, goes home again.

Our Focus

  • In our primary and secondary patrol areas we will provide the highest levels of surveillance, with the best trained personnel, using the best available equipment.
  • We will aim to prevent rescues before they happen using both proven and innovative preventative measures.
  • We will maintain an after hours and off-season call out capability, ensuring that even when it is not ‘our watch’, we are well placed to do what we can to save lives.

Our Actions

  • Conduct compliant patrols in line with our Life Saving Agreement.
  • Ensure lifesavers are trained and requalified, with ongoing scenario training for confidence, not just competence.
  • Maintain and update equipment, embracing the latest technologies.
  • Engage the community on and off the beach with strategic, preemptive messaging.
  • Keep our Emergency Call Out Team trained, available and Rescue Ready with full redundancy.

Our Measures

  • Zero drownings on Killcare Beach.
  • An increase in the average number of awards per patroller.
  • A decrease in rescues, with a corresponding increase in preventative actions.
  • Timely, strong responses to SOC-initiated call outs to our ECOT.

Priority Two

Grow Our Membership, and Our Members

Growth that outpaces attrition — in numbers and in skill.

Our Focus

  • While attrition is natural and unavoidable, we must ensure our growth meets or exceeds that attrition rate.
  • At the same time, it is critical that not just numbers but skills are replaced as that occurs so we must continue upskilling our patrollers.
  • SLS at all levels offers a myriad opportunities in many areas and we must ensure our members take as much advantage as they see fit, for the good of the club and their personal growth.
  • We must value our nippers as they progress and do our utmost to graduate them into the senior ranks, and hold them for as long as possible.
  • Increase our participation in Surf Sports for those that desire.

Our Actions

  • Work with Branch, State and SLSA to ensure their key objective of ‘Making it easier to be a life saver’ comes comes to fruition.
  • Run continual recruitment campaigns in the community both directly and indirectly by being a trusted voice in outreach initiatives.
  • Offer every training opportunity at our club, and where other clubs offer, to ensure continual development and upskilling. We will also target specific awards that we forecast will be required.
  • Communicate all Branch, State and SLSA initiatives and subsidise the costs as much as feasible to remove barriers for participation.
  • Develop a seamless, easy transition for our Rookies ensuring they are trained and integrated onto patrol. Continue to highlight future opportunities to encourage retention.
  • Encourage participation in Surf Sports from U/8 to Masters.
  • Our Winter swimming club, the Frigid Digits, will continue to thrive, offering off season fitness, camaraderie, engagement and a valuable source of new active members.

Our Measures

  • 10% year-on-year growth of active patrollers.
  • An increase in the average number of awards per patroller.
  • Forecast future award needs covered or in train.
  • 90% retention of U14s transitioning to SRC on patrol; 60% go on to Bronze.
  • Representation in at least Branch carnivals, if not States and Aussies.
  • Growth in Frigid Digits membership and participation.

Priority Three

Be a Trusted, Central Hub of Our Community

A clubhouse the whole community holds dear.

Our Focus

  • We should be a highly trusted voice in the community that we serve.
  • We are blessed with an incredible facility and our aim is that everyone in our community should hold the clubhouse dear to their heart for any one of a million reasons at some stage of their lives.
  • We will continue to work with like-minded organisations such as our local RFB along with community focussed groups including Killy Cares, the Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Organisation, Hardys Bay Club and Electrify Bouddi.
  • We will be there in times of need, providing help, advice and shelter.
  • Trust is earned through strong governance and prudent financial stewardship.

Our Actions

  • Engage the community at every possible opportunity, taking up every invitation to participate or collaborate.
  • Offer advice and warnings through our local Social Media channels.
  • Offer the club at peppercorn rates or even gratis for genuine community use.
  • Our Community Connect program will continue, bringing people to the club for a diverse range of locally led activities.
  • Host our annual Open Day in conjunction with the Killcare RFB.
  • Continue to upgrade the club so that we stand ready to be a place of shelter and/or command post in natural disasters.
  • We will be fully compliant with all local, state and federal laws that are applicable to our operation, as well as directives and SOP’s from Branch, State and SLSA.

Our Measures

  • While largely intangible, it will quickly become clear should we lose the trust of what is a very vocal community.
  • We will also look to ever-increasing metrics on our social media channels and increased positive engagement.

Priority Four

Live Our Values

Proudly diverse, inclusive and equal — not just in word.

Our Focus

  • The values of our organisation, from SLSA down, are clear and unequivocal; we are proudly diverse, inclusive and equal.
  • To thrive we must not just pay lip service to these values but we must espouse them, defend them and live them.
  • There are few more important values than our protection of young people. At Killcare Nippers and throughout Surf Life Saving, all young people have the absolute right to feel comfortable, feel safe & be cared for.

Our Actions

  • Do our best to remove barriers for under represented groups to get involved in the club at levels from board and management, through patrolling, to nippers.
  • Aim for gender equality, encouraging more female participation by identifying and removing reservations to getting involved at all levels.
  • Maintain our successful Pink Patrol celebrating our female members.
  • Continue our annual celebration of Rainbow Beaches.
  • Recognise all similar recognised celebrations such as NAIDOC week and Harmony Week.
  • We will reiterate at every opportunity to our young members that it is NOT OK for anyone to hurt your feelings or your body; It IS OK for you to say NO if someone, even in a position of authority such as an Age Manager or Lifesaver asks you to do something that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. We will listen to you and act to help you. It’s always OK to tell an adult if something doesn’t feel right.

Our Measures

  • Full gender diversity — 50/50 male to female patrollers.
  • Annual Pink Patrol and Rainbow Beaches.
  • Zero complaints related to discrimination and exclusion.
  • Zero complaints related to child protection.

Priority Five

Support the Whole Organisation

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Our Focus

  • We are part of something much bigger than just the club.
  • With the philosophy that a rising tide lifts all boats, our support of larger organisational objectives can only benefit the club.
  • We will work closely with neighbouring clubs, our Branch, SLSNSW and SLSA to assist them in meeting their objectives.

Our Actions

  • We will continue to work with our philosophically aligned neighbours MacMasters and Copacabana in the ‘Bouddi Patrols’ group.
  • We will encourage our members through to Branch Rescue Services and highlight the pathways available for IRB, SMAR, RWC, UAV and Duty Officer.
  • We will participate fully in all Branch portfolio meetings, advocate at Branch Council and attend SLSNSW Conferences and portfolio meetings.
  • Take every opportunity to network and develop contacts at all levels of the organisation so that we might leverage opportunities as they arise.

Our Measures

  • Presence in Rescue Services increased.
  • Full participation in all Branch portfolio meetings.
  • Full participation in Branch Council.
  • Full participation in SLSNSW meetings and conferences.

Our Promise

As we approach our 100th anniversary, this plan is our commitment to our members, our community, our organisation and everyone who steps onto Killcare Beach.

"Everyone who comes to Killcare on our watch, goes home again."