The Southern Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service Pty Limited is owned by Surf Life Saving Australia.
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters operate seven days a week from our Sydney base at La Perouse and our NSW south coast base at Moruya Airport. Funding is provided through the Westpac Banking Corporation sponsorship, the NSW Government, other fundraising initiatives and agreements for service provision with our emergency rescue partners.
From humble beginnings 1973 as a basic beach surveillance and rescue service in Sydney, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter has developed into the largest not-for-profit Aviation Search and Rescue service in Australia. Its aircraft and rescue crews respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies threatening the life, health and safety of people. This includes medical emergency, illness, natural disaster, accidents and mishaps. Westpac Banking Corporation has been the major sponsor of the service since its inception, and all helicopter services run by Surf Life Saving Australia are well known throughout Australia as ‘Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters’. Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters can be found in Sydney, Newcastle, Moruya, Lismore, Tamworth, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
The original Bell C47 MASH type helicopter rescued endangered swimmers by dispatching a crewperson into the water to start emergency care and then lifting both to safety. When the service commenced operations in 1973, it operated on weekends and public holidays during the surf season. The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters then widened capabilities to include search and rescue from cliffs, ravines, bush locations, medical care and accident transfers, hospital patient transfers and other diverse emergency scenarios.
High demand for public emergency and health services meant a need for larger aircraft and increased on-board crew and medical staff. The Southern Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service rose to the challenge and today is on standby to respond to missions 7 days a week, 365 days a year, operating from a purpose-built base at Cape Banks on the northern headland of Botany Bay at La Perouse, and from a base at Moruya Airport on the NSW South Coast.
Board Director
Board Director
General Manager Helicopter Operations
Aviation Development and Training Manager
There are no current vacancies. Please note that unfortunately we are not able to provide work experience placements to students.
