The official lifesaving patrol season began on the weekend (November 27) and will run until after Easter.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes officially launched the season last week, joining volunteers at Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) headquarters in Port Melbourne to remind Victorians hitting the beach this summer to swim at patrolled locations and between the red and yellow flags.

Bass Coast Shire Council is also urging everyone to stay safe in the water this summer, by always swimming between the red and yellow flags at a patrolled beach.

In Bass Coast, in addition to volunteer lifesavers, the council funds patrols at Woolamai beach and Smiths Beach on weekdays and Saturday mornings from December 27 until the end of February.

In Cowes and Inverloch, the paid patrols run from December 27 until late January.

Phillip Island Nature Parks also contributes to the paid patrols at Woolamai and Smiths beaches.

From now until December 27, volunteer lifeguards will be in place on the beaches on weekends and public holidays.

Last summer, Victoria volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards performed 612 rescues and undertook 233,700 preventative actions to keep an estimated 3.8 million visitors to our beaches safe.

This is the second time LSV has provided an extended lifesaving season, after last year’s season was extended for a similar period following the busiest patrol season on record and an increase in drownings.

Tragically, last year saw Victoria record its highest deadly drowning toll in more than 20 years, with 61 people losing their life.