Beach Ocean Safe Program
Stay safe while exploring Sydney’s beautiful beaches
Brought to you by:
¼ Health Promotion Unit, in partnership with Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, Surf Life Saving NSW and Medibank.
The Beach Ocean Safe (BOS) program is here to help you safely take part in Sydney's iconic beach culture.
If you didn’t grow up near the ocean, it can be hard to know what’s safe and what’s not. However, it's never too late for you to learn about safety around the coast.
Through the BOS program, over just one weekend, you will:
- Build your water safety skills
- Learn how to read beach conditions
- Connect with trained surf lifesavers
- Making new friends
- Make the most of everything beach culture has to offer!
How to register
There are limited places available for the BOS program. Fill out our Expression of Interest (EOI) form to apply for Term 3 dates.
You must complete the form by 11.59pm Tuesday, 28 October.
See also
-
- 3x full-day sessions at Coogee Beach with trained surf lifesavers
- A mandatory proficiency swim session at the ¼ 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 ¼ Fitness & Aquatic Centre for 1 month
- Free BOS merchandise
- Lunch provided at each session
-
Over the one-weekend program, you will participate in both theory and hands-on water safety sessions. Learning under trained surf life savers at Coogee Beach, 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 ¼ 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
This includes all sessions, merch and 1-month gym pool access, heavily subsidised thanks to Medibank and ¼.
Perks
Free gear & food
You'll get a T-shirt, singlet, towel, sunscreen and cap, plus lunch at each session.
Did you know?
Real value
A single swim lesson at ¼ Aquatic Centre costs $38. This program offers 3 beach sessions, pool access and more, for just $50.
Term 3
Proficiency Session
🗓️ Friday, 14 November 2025
⏰ 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 8pm
Session 1
🗓️ Saturday, 15 November 2025
⏰ 11am – 5pm
Session 2
🗓️ Sunday, 16 November 2025
⏰ 10.30am – 5pm
-
The BOS Program runs over one weekend. It 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
Please note: You don’t need to be confident in open water – just meet the criteria above.
-
The BOS Program fee includes:
- 3 full-day BOS sessions
- A community membership with Coogee SLSC
- Gym pool access for one month
- A BOS merch pack
- Free lunch at all sessions
- A graduation event and certificate.
Explore more water safety opportunities
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!