Veterans in Surf Life Saving is a new initiative, launched by Surf Life Saving Queensland in November 2026. It connects veterans with opportunities to use their skills, contribute to their communities and rediscover the connection and camaraderie that can come from being part of a team. It also creates opportunities for veterans to come together around special events and commemorations.
Like many good ideas, it started with a simple conversation.
Veterans Gary and Daniel were on patrol together at their local beach when they began talking about the connection, purpose and sense of belonging they had found through surf lifesaving. Despite being at different stages of life, Gary was 65 and Daniel 42, they found themselves talking about the same thing, how good it felt to be part of a team again. They noted how their ADF experiences had been different, but they both fully understood what it meant to work as part of a team built on standards, responsibility, accountability and a shared purpose.
Both Gary and Daniel were also living with PTSD related to their military service. As they continued their patrol, they reflected on the positive influence surf lifesaving had had on their mental health and broader wellbeing. For them, it wasn’t about being ‘fixed’. It was about finding connection, purpose and the experience of being part of a team again.
For many veterans, transitioning from the ADF can involve changes to identity, purpose and belonging, as well as employment and everyday life. Military service can create strong bonds and foster discipline, trust and a sense of being part of something bigger. Finding that same sense of connection after service can take time.
Through surf lifesaving, Gary and Daniel found opportunities to train alongside others, look out for their teammates, take on responsibility and contribute to their community. They had rediscovered a sense of purpose and camaraderie they had missed after transitioning from the ADF.
Their conversation soon turned to other veterans they knew, including mates who felt isolated, missed the structure and companionship of military life, or were looking for a meaningful way to reconnect with their communities.
They quickly realised that what was helping them could potentially help others. They also agreed on something important: they were not broken, and neither were the other veterans they knew.
They had both seen veterans viewed primarily through the lens of injury, illness or the challenges associated with transition. While some veterans experience significant health challenges, including PTSD, that is only one part of their story and it does not define what they can contribute.
As the idea for Veterans in Surf Life Saving developed, another connection became clear. Many of the skills and qualities developed through ADF service could also be applied in surf lifesaving.
Gary and Daniel knew from their own experience that the ADF had helped them develop valuable skills and strengths, including leadership, teamwork, discipline, adaptability, problem-solving and a commitment to serving others. Those qualities did not disappear when they transitioned from the ADF.
“On patrol, surf lifesavers continually observe their environment, assess risk, communicate clearly, work as part of a structured team and respond calmly under pressure. Many veterans have developed similar capabilities throughout their military careers.
“Veterans do not necessarily have to start from scratch. They can bring skills shaped through training, responsibility and service and apply them in a new environment, where they can continue contributing to their community,” Gary explained.
They also wanted to challenge the misconception that surf lifesaving is only for strong swimmers or younger, fit people.
“Surf clubs rely on people performing a wide range of roles. Alongside lifesavers in the water, clubs need trainers, mentors, first aid officers, radio operators, patrol captains, water safety personnel, administrators, committee members, fundraisers and community volunteers. Each contributes in a different way to the club and its community.
“For veterans, that variety matters. People of different ages, abilities, experience and interests can explore where their skills might best contribute.
“Whether a veteran is 25 or 75, there is a role that can utilise their abilities, experience and strengths. What matters is a willingness to contribute, to learn, to support others and to be part of a team,” Gary said.
For Gary and Daniel, the parallels between military service and surf lifesaving were clear. People may perform different roles, but everyone has responsibilities and contributes towards a shared purpose.
That understanding helped shape their vision for Veterans in Surf Life Saving.
They wanted veterans to know that the skills and experience gained through ADF service were still valuable. They wanted to create opportunities for veterans to learn new skills, train to recognised standards, take on responsibility, contribute to their communities and become part of a team.
Most of all, they wanted other veterans to experience what they had rediscovered while patrolling their local beach: connection, purpose, belonging and the feeling of being part of something bigger.
Gary’s experience also shows that connection doesn’t have to come from one particular activity. Alongside surf lifesaving, he regularly volunteers with his local RSL, including selling poppies ahead of Remembrance Day. Volunteering, wherever it happens, can provide an opportunity to connect with others, contribute to your community and find purpose in something that is meaningful to you. Go Volunteer is an initiative of Volunteering Australia designed to match people interested in volunteering with suitable opportunities nationwide
If you’re a veteran who is already a member of a surf lifesaving club, or you’re interested in getting involved, you can register your interest online at www.lifesaving.com.au/veterans-members
