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Current Students

Beach Ocean Safe Program

Stay safe while exploring Sydney’s beautiful beaches

Program details
Upcoming sessions

Brought to you by:

»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Health Promotion Unit, in partnership with Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, Surf Life Saving NSW, and Medibank.

New to the beach? We've got you covered

Sydney’s beaches are iconic, but if you didn’t grow up near the ocean, it can be hard to know what’s safe and what’s not.

The Beach Ocean Safety (BOS) program is here to help. Over three weeks, you’ll build your water safety skills, learn how to read beach conditions, and connect with trained surf lifesavers, all while making new friends and enjoying everything beach culture has to offer.

See also

Program details and how to join

  • There are limited places available. Registrations for Term 3 2025 will open soon.

    • 3x full-day sessions at Coogee Beach with trained surf lifesavers
    • A mandatory proficiency swim session at the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Fitness & Aquatic Centre
    • Practical skills in reading beach signs, floating, rip currents, emergency response, and more
    • A certificate of attainment and graduation lunch
    • Access to the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Fitness & Aquatic Centre for 1 month
    • Free BOS merchandise
    • Lunch provided at each session

  • Over the three-week program, you will participate in both theory and practical sessions at Coogee beach with trained surf life savers. You will gain skills in: 

    • Reading Signs at the beach  
    • Floating in rips, waves, and tides   
    • Swimming in beach conditions 
    • Basic CPR and first aid  
    • What to do in an emergency  
    • Safe rock fishing  
    • Planning a safe trip to the beach   
    • Risks at the beach  
    • Beach Scenarios and what to do

  • The program is open to »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ students with basic swimming ability. You don’t need to be confident in beach conditions, but you will need to complete the proficiency swim. If you’re unsure, please email healthy@unsw.edu.au with your questions.
Cost
$50 per person

Includes all sessions, merchandise, and 1-month gym access, heavily subsidised thanks to Medibank and »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ.

Perks
Free gear & food

Includes a t-shirt, singlet, towel, sunscreen, and cap, plus lunch at each session.

Did you know?
Real value

A single swim lesson at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Aquatic Centre costs $38. This program offers 3 beach sessions, a gym pass and more, for just $50.

Key dates and locations

Hang tight! Session dates will be announced shortly.

Frequently asked questions

  • The BOS Program runs across three weekends and includes both theory and hands-on water safety sessions at Coogee Beach. You must also complete a proficiency swim beforehand.
    • Float for 2 minutes
    • Swim 100m in under 4 minutes (any stroke)
    • Tread water for 30 seconds
    • Retrieve an object from the pool bottom
    • Hold breath underwater for 10 seconds
      You don’t need to be confident in open water—just meet the above criteria.

    • 3x full-day BOS sessions

    • Community membership with Coogee SLSC

    • Gym pool access for 1 month

    • BOS merch pack

    • Free lunch at all sessions

    • Graduation event and certificate

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Have a question?

Whether you're unsure about eligibility, what to bring to your first session, or how the refund policy works, we're here to help!
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