Surf Life Saving Queensland Magazine
Surf Life Saving Queensland Magazine
BEHIND HOW THE SOCC KEEPS COASTLINE THE FLAGS: QUEENSLAND’S CONNECTED
While patrolling members keep watch on the sand, another team (who you don’t see) work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our coastline safe – the State Operations and Communications Centre (SOCC). From its new and improved Gold Coast base, the SOCC serves as the operational backbone of Surf Life Saving Queensland by supporting daily patrol operations, coordinating responses, and providing the critical communication link that helps keep beachgoers safe. To learn more about the vital role the SOCC plays in keeping our beaches safe, we spoke with Kate Wake, SLSQ’s SOCC Supervisor on the Gold Coast, about what goes on behind the scenes, the teamwork that drives the centre, and how moments of inclusion are shaping the future of lifesaving operations. “The SOCC plays a vital role in supporting Surf Life Saving Queensland’s operational readiness and coastal safety management,” explains Kate. “On a day-to-day basis, the SOCC oversees the business-as-usual (BAU) operations that ensure the effective coordination and delivery of lifesaving services across the state.” COORDINATING THE COAST Operating seven days a week, the SOCC acts as the central coordination hub for surf lifesaving operations across Queensland. “Its role becomes particularly crucial during peak seasons, public holidays, and major incidents when visitor numbers and operational demands are at their highest,” Kate says. “It’s proactive oversight, coordination, and communication capabilities are critical in preventing loss of life, supporting frontline lifesavers and lifeguards, and ensuring that every beachgoer enjoys a safe coastal experience.”
The SOCC also has an important role when our people are responding beyond the flags and beyond the break, with an increasing role supporting and coordinating SLSQ resources during times of disaster under our SLSQ Disaster Management Plan (SLSQ DMPLAN). VOLUNTEERS BEHIND THE SCENES Many of the SOCC’s operators are volunteers drawn from within the surf lifesaving community — members who bring their frontline knowledge and experience to a new kind of patrol. Before starting shifts, volunteers complete specialised training covering communication protocols, incident management, and SLSQ’s operational systems. “Once trained, they play an essential role in keeping Queensland’s beaches safe — logging incidents, supporting coordination during major events, and maintaining that crucial communication link between the beach and the wider network.” WOMEN LEADING THE OPERATIONS As women continue to grow their presence across operational and leadership roles within the SOCC, a recent shift stood out as a powerful milestone. For the first time, an all-female crew was rostered to control and operate the centre. “Seeing an all-female crew operating the SOCC is both inspiring and deeply meaningful to our team. It represents the continued growth of diversity, inclusion, and leadership within SLSQ,” Kate says “It also serves as a powerful example for younger members and aspiring lifesavers. It shows that there is no limit to where passion and commitment can take you within Surf Life Saving — whether that’s on the beach, in the communication centre, or in leadership and coordination roles.
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