31/10/2025
Surf Life Saving Sydney is calling for Senior Officials Nominations for our Branch Championships events in 2026.
Across our coastline, Surf Life Saving Sydney continues to adapt and evolve in response to emerging challenges, embracing diversity and inclusion as central strengths. Our members not only save lives but also educate, connect, and protect our communities, by the community, for the community, and that is something we are deeply proud of.
Surf Life Saving Sydney respects and acknowledges the traditional custodians across all the lands on which we live, work and patrol, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Background Image credit: 'Eora Dreaming' depicts the community of the fifteen Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout Sydney, stretching from North Bondi south to Burning Palms in the Royal National Park - Artist 'Billy Reynolds', proud Dharawal and Yuin man.
Our carnivals can’t run without our terrific officials giving up their time to support our events. They make all the machinery of our carnivals operate seamlessly, and all with a smile.
If you’re interested to volunteer as an official, we’d love to have you join our amazing group of supporters. There’s plenty of roles and no shortage of new friends to meet out on the beach. Plus we’re keen to make sure you’re all trained up and qualified, kept informed, and well dressed to do your job.
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Announcement 21:25/26 Senior Officials Nominations SLSS Branch Championships 2026
Officials
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Announcement 12:25/26 Officials Nominations Carnival Season 25-26
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Circular 05/25-26 : SLSS Pre-season Briefing 25-26
Carnival Calendar
There’s no shortage of Carnivals to choose from across the Branch. Be it our Pool Rescue Championships, Board Riding Championships, Surf Boat Series or Branch Championships, our Officials are always welcome.
Plus we have our local carnivals such as the Waverley Sheild, Randwick Sheild, Bate Bay 4 Way and the RNP Carnival.
Or our many club events that are always keen for officials to support.
And that’s without considering State and National events.
Types of Official Roles
There’s so many ways you can help out as an official at our carnivals. From judges and starters, to medical support, referees and water safety, there’s over twenty different roles that you can try as a carnival official. What’s more, there’s six different committees you can join, from the Competition Committee to the Appeals Panel, where every member provides valuable contributions.
Check out the Surf Sports Manual below for a full list of roles and what they require then reach out about next steps
Becoming an Official
We are always on the lookout for new Officials to help our Carnivals run. What better way to show your support to your club and colleagues than by helping officiate at the very carnivals that they are competing in. Without our officials, we couldn’t run the carnivals for our members.
Check the link to becoming an official. The pre-requisite online courses are run by the Australian Sports Commission and are simple and straight forward, and free.
Official Accreditation Levels
Surf Sport Officials training falls within the National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS), and cover three levels of officials.
SLSA Core Official work with entry level participants. SLSA Technical Official fulfil specific officiating role(s) and work with actively competing participants. SLSA Senior Official fulfil specific senior officiating roles and work with elite athletes.
Check out more on the SLSNSW Officials page
Nominating to Officiate at a Carnival
We couldn’t host our carnivals without our terrific officials. They keep the event running smoothly and efficiently, plus you are out on the beach enjoying the day, and supporting your own competitors. What better way to take in the day than contributing to the operations.
Surf Life Saving Sydney is calling for nominations for Senior Officials Roles and SEMCs for our Carnivals for the 2025-26 Season. Nominations close Thursday, 4 September 2025.
SLSS Senior Officials Nomination Form – 2025/26 Season
Official Rules
Surf Life Saving Australia is responsible for maintaining the rules and regulations of Surf Sports, including all carnivals. The SLSA Surf Sports Manual is maintained by SLSA and is a live online document.
The SLSA Surf Sports Manual is now available online and maintained live for direct access. Find the link below for the Surf Sports Manual
Logging Carnival Participation
As an active Surf Sports Official, don’t forget to record your ongoing activity via the online form to ensure all your hours are recognised.
Carnival Appointments
We can’t run our carnivals without our Officials. Each carnival we’ll release an appointment list. These will be housed in the actual event itself. Click the link below to go to our events calendar, where you can find the carnival you’re looking for. Once the appointment list is ready it’ll be housed in the event details itself.
Officials News
16/09/2025
Surf Life Saving Sydney is offering In Person workshops for those seeking Technical Official accreditation for this coming season 2025/26.
18/08/2025
A huge congratulations to Robyn Carr on being named SLSNSW Official of the Year at Saturday night’s Awards of Excellence!
05/07/2025
Surf Sports Legends
Congratulations to Bondi’s Tony Hughes
05/07/2025
That’s a wrap on the 2025 Surf Life Saving Sydney Awards of Excellence 
What a night – filled with celebration, stories, and standout moments recognising the very best of our Organisation.
To every nominee and winner – thank you for the passion, dedication and impact you bring to our beaches and beyond.
Congrats Robyn Carr
07/05/2025
Reminder we have our Officials Function Saturday 21 June 2025 2pm – 4.30pm.
09/04/2025
Save the date for our Officials End of Season Function on Saturday 21 June 2025, 2pm-4:30pm @ Taren Point Bowling Club.
26/09/2024
Nominations are now open for Senior Officials Positions for the Season 2024-25.
Officials Events
Last updated: September 11, 2025