Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) will receive more than $9 million from the NSW Liberal and National government to boost its rescue capabilities.

The funding will help the more than 75,000 members continue their work of keeping the community safe. This investment will enhance their efforts with increased technology and communication systems, operational costs, and vital new lifesaving equipment in the 129 surf clubs in NSW. 

All SLSNSW clubs will receive tablets to better record incidents, preventative actions and rescues through the Patrol App. Additionally funds will go towards the purchase of RWCs (jet skis), radios, rescue boards, first aid kits and defibrillators.

The SLSNSW Coastal Radio Network will continue to be upgraded from analogue to digital, enhancing this vital link between surf lifesavers on the beach, lifeguards and the State Operations Centre when coordinating coastal search and rescue activities with other emergency services. 

The SLSNSW funding package includes a $4 million Water Safety grant and a $5.1 million funding agreement with the NSW government over three years. This year, $1.2 million was invested in water safety initiatives targeting young children in pools, river safety, higher risk takers and the risks of swimming when consuming alcohol and drugs. For more information on water safety, go to www.watersafety.nsw.gov.au.

Online support to close eating disorder gap

The NSW government has launched two vital online resources, one for people living with, or at risk of, developing an eating disorder, and a second for their families, friends and carers.

Navigating Your Way to Health and Navigating Their Way to Health include tips on how to access help during the eating disorder treatment process; navigate treatment options, and give carers and friends information on how to best support loved ones and understand the recovery journey.

About four per cent of Australians are affected by an eating disorder at any one time, with almost 300,000 of those living in NSW.

The online resources were developed by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in collaboration with the Centre for Eating and Dieting Disorders at the Boden Institute, University of Sydney, the Butterfly Foundation and people with lived experience. The initiative is funded by the NSW government.

The resources complement our Service Plan for People with Eating Disorders 2013-2018, being implemented in local health districts to improve and redesign treatment services for people with eating disorders. These resources are for any gender, age, culture, or stage of an eating disorder, and are available at himh.org.au/navigatingedhealth and cedd.org.au/begin-recovery