Community Programs Officer

Environment:

Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) is the peak organisation for water safety and lifesaving services in South Australia and is affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia. We aim to achieve zero preventable deaths in South Australian waters and build connected, inclusive communities.

SLSSA is responsible for the governance, development, promotion and administration of surf lifesaving throughout South Australia and has the responsibility for servicing its 9,000 members and 22 clubs.

Position Scope:

The Community Programs Officer plays a vital role in providing administrative support for our community programs, with a strong focus on open-water initiatives. This position is key to our mission of connecting with and educating the community in essential lifesaving skills that last a lifetime.

The Officer will support the administration of SLSSA's flagship projects such as Surf Babies and VACSWIM, along with new initiatives at open-water locations. Through this work, the role will contribute to the successful delivery of programs aiming to reach more than 50,000 school-aged children each year.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The Community Programs Officer (Open Water), under the direction of the Community Program Coordinator, is responsible for:

• Administering community programs in line with funding requirements, including:

• Surf Babies

• VACSWIM
• Community Water Safety Sessions/Programs
• Collaborating with stakeholders such as key partners, delivery staff, community groups, councils, and SLSSA clubs to ensure smooth program delivery through effective bookings, recruitment, and participant transition.
• Providing exceptional customer service by supporting community program enrolments and enquiries.
• Managing program logistics, including inputting timetables, staff details, and schedules into relevant management systems (e.g., GameDay for enrolments and Deputy for staffing).
• Supporting SLSSA processes and procedures to ensure programs are staffed, resourced, and delivered to a high standard.
• Delivering administrative support to program instructors, assistants, and volunteers.
• Coordinating travel arrangements for teams delivering programs in regional areas.
• Strengthening community connections by linking program participants with SLSSA clubs.
• Assisting with promotional activities via social media and other engagement initiatives.
• Working with SLSSA clubs and community groups to promote SLSSA's community awareness and water safety strategies.
• Supporting innovation by contributing to the development and administration of new beach, river, and lake initiatives.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date databases, including Deputy and GameDay, for internal and external reporting purposes.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required.

Team Agreement

Our team will create a fun and enjoyable work environment that we are proud of. We will achieve this as a crew by:

• Celebrating our wins
• Showing respect to all
• Supporting each other
• Acting with integrity

Skills, Experience & Qualifications:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other computer skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong verbal and written communication.
• High attention to detail.
• Outstanding administrative abilities.

Desirable

• A recognised qualification in Human Services, Community, Sport and Recreation or relevant industry is desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding and appreciation of SLSSA's culture and their clubs unique needs.
• Experience in the nonprofit or sporting sectors is preferred.
• Proven ability in customer service.
• Proven ability in administration.

Personal Attributes:

• Leads by example and has integrity and willingness to model the values of Surf Life Saving SA.
• Demonstrates commitment, drive and initiative to achieve organisational strategic objectives.
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic team player with the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a team to maximise outcomes.
• Strong customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Solution orientated.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet set timelines.

Hours of work:

The position is full-time, with standard hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and includes some after-hours and weekend work during peak periods. Key time commitments include:

• September to December: Extended hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, two days per week, with flexi-time available during the week to compensate.
• December & January: Some weekend and public holiday work will be required. Adjusted hours will also apply on VACSWIM delivery days.
• Program Activations & Staff Induction Days: Occasional weekend work or extended hours.

How to Apply:

To apply for this exciting role, please submit an application through the SLSSA Careers Page -

Brief enquiries may be made to Charlotte Kemp on

Applications close 9:00am Monday 8 September 2025.