TasPorts and Surf Life Saving Tasmania secure three-year partnership
TasPorts will provide Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) $20,000 a year for three years under an exciting new partnership.
Posted
21 July 2023
TasPorts will provide Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) $20,000 a year for three years under an exciting new partnership.
The new partnership will see TasPorts and SLST, along with other emergency services and water users, collaborate on several regional Search and Rescue Exercises each year.
In addition, TasPorts’ support will allow the Beach to Bush school program to continue to educate rural and regional children on the importance of water safety ahead of the busy summer season.
TasPorts Chief Operating Officer Stephen Casey said: “We respect the work of SLST and its members as the key organisation for providing essential educational and emergency rescue services to all users of Tasmanian beaches.
“SLST and its members are fundamental in building healthy communities and creating a safe environment in and around beaches and port regions.”
The newly created TasPorts Leadership Scholarship program is the highlight of the partnership, with applications currently open for SLST members to apply for funding to participate in professional development activities to build a stronger and more capable lifesaving community across the state.
SLST CEO Tony van den Enden said SLST’s goals had always been to save lives, nurture better Australian citizens through development pathways and build stronger communities.
“To offer this program statewide to all of our members with the help of TasPorts is really exciting,” he said.
“Our organisation has always wanted to provide this type of program to our members, and now with funding support from TasPorts, we can finally make it a reality.”
Mr Casey said working alongside SLST to support the new and existing programs would boost water safety outcomes for Tasmanians.
“TasPorts is proud to support initiatives that improve marine safety in Tasmania and ensure the safety of waterways where we operate,” he said.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of services that provide essential emergency support and are working to facilitate training, education, and awareness outcomes.”
SLST has more than 3000 members across the state with 22 affiliates.
“TasPorts has a long-standing relationship with many of our affiliates,” Mr van den Enden said.
“We enable people to experience the incredible natural water environments in Tasmania. As a non-profit organisation, contributions from entities such as TasPorts are critical for supporting our programs.”
TasPorts is a long-time supporter of the Devonport Surf Life Saving Club and has committed to a new multi-year partnership with the club, along with a proud new partnership with the Burnie Life Saving Club, due to the clubs’ shared operations in TasPorts’ port areas on the north west coast.
