Local co-production in safety service provision: The case of Surf Life Saving in New South Wales

Abstract

Beaches are iconic in Australian culture. However, coastal areas are intrinsically hazardous, given the nature of recreational beach activities. The need for beach regulation and safety services has spawned a vast network of voluntary life-saving clubs across Australia that operate collaboratively with local government and volunteers. In this paper, we examine the operation of Surf Life Saving New South Wales (SLSNSW) through the analytical lens of local co-production. We argue that the effectiveness of SLSNSW can be mainly ascribed to the efficacious manner in which SLSNSW, local councils and volunteers have been combined to generate beach safety services.