Patrol season began on Friday, with more than 50 new lifeguards joining the Wollongong City Council team ahead of what's tipped to be busy summer.
Safety was the key message when local politicians joined lifeguards and surf lifesavers at Austinmer Beach to officially kick off the 2025/26 swim season. Austinmer Surf Life Saving Club hosted the launch, with guests including Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tania Brown; Health Minister Ryan Park, the Member for Keira; and Surf Life Saving Illawarra's president, Gunther Enthaler.
"We're here to remind people to swim between the flags," Lord Mayor Tania Brown said. "We want everyone to be safe this summer. We want everyone having a great time in the surf, obeying the rules, keeping safe, and enjoying summer."
“Over the last few years, tragically, we've had too many people either near drown or drown," Mr Park said. "We don't want that, and we've got to listen to our lifeguards, swim between the flags, stay safe.
“We have a beautiful coastline, but at times it can be treacherous and we need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to keep ourselves safe and our family members safe.”
The red and yellow flags are up at 17 beaches from Stanwell Park to Windang. A team of more than 150 Wollongong Council lifeguards are on duty from Monday to Saturday and will assist the surf life saving volunteers who patrol on Sundays and public holidays. Lifeguards will also be on duty at nine community pools. Patrol hours at beaches and pools may vary.
Beach-goers are urged to swim between the flags at patrolled beaches and to stay out of the water if the red and yellow flags aren't up. Ensure that your friends and family swim to their ability, and ask life savers about how to recognise a rip at your local beach.
Council is also reminding people to never swim alone, be sun smart and read the safety signs at each beach.
If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, stay calm, raise an arm for help, and float on your back.
And if you see tourists in trouble, reach out or tell a lifeguard.
“We get a lot of visitors to our beaches who are people who are not locals," Cr Brown said. "So, if you see someone who's not quite sure where they should be, don't be afraid to say, 'Hey, remember to be between the flags.' Just reach out. Be friendly and just encourage them to swim in a safer location.”
“I think it's important for particularly locals to make sure that other people are abiding by those rules – swimming between the flags, and if they do see someone who's not, help out the lifeguard and tell them,” Mr Park added.
For those who love the beach but aren't strong swimmers, patrolling is not the only way to get involved this season.
"We're continuously trying to encourage more people to join Surf Life Saving to volunteer," SLS Illawarra's Gunther Enthaler said.
"There's so many roles we have either in the surf or on the beach. You don't have to get into the water. A lot of roles for people helping out in the clubhouse functions, some social events. There's a range of things people do to volunteer.”
Beaches and pools at Austinmer, North Wollongong, Port Kembla and Thirroul have facilities to support access for people with disability, including free beach wheelchairs available during patrol hours.
Learn more
Visit the Beachsafe website and download the app to see your nearest patrolled beaches and check conditions.
Read translated information and watch educational videos on Wollongong Council’s Beach Safety page.
See MCCI’s Water Safety page for information on accessible swimming and safety lessons.