How many lifesavers supervise the children in the water?

Surf Life Saving Australia's Water Safety Procedure (reviewed May 2026) sets these minimum ratios of water safety personnel to children who do not yet hold a Surf Rescue Certificate (which covers all junior members under 13):

• Low risk conditions: 1 water safety person to 10 children.
• Low-mid, moderate and moderate-high risk: 1 to 5.
• High risk and extreme risk: do not proceed.

The ratios are minimums, and the Water Safety Supervisor must provide more where conditions need it. At least 75% of water safety personnel must be in the water using SLSA-approved rescue equipment. Water safety personnel hold a Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate. For children aged Under 8 and younger in low risk conditions, trained Nipper Safety Assistants can help (at 1 to 5), but they cannot make up more than 50% of the water safety team.

A Water Safety Supervisor on the beach in the activity area must be appointed, and a risk assessment must be done before the activity and repeated regularly during it.

Source: https://sls.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/09/Policy-1.01A-Water-Safety-Procedure.pdf