Surf Life Saving Australia recruits former nipper and surf lifesaver Angus Sampson to launch new summer campaign via Banter

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has launched a new national safety campaign via Banter designed to reach men and provide more Aussies with the tools to keep themselves safe when visiting the beach. Starring Australian-born actor and filmmaker Angus Sampson, the new campaign ‘Stop. Look. Stay Alive’ is aimed at getting people to make water safety a priority when visiting the coastline this summer.

 

Tragically last year alone, 150 people drowned along Australia’s coastline, all occurring outside of the patrolled areas. Once again, men were over represented, accounting for 86% of all drownings.

Sampson fronts a new television, online, print and outdoor advertising campaign, appealing to more Aussies, in particular men who continue to swim at unpatrolled locations and take unnecessary risks.

A former nipper and surf lifesaver at Freshwater SLSC on Sydney Northern Beaches, Sampson personally knows how important it is for people to have the basic understanding of surf safety and the inherent dangers of our beaches. Says Sampson: “It is forecast to be another hot summer, and Australians and visitors will be flocking to our coastline to enjoy the best our beaches have to offer. But the message is simple: Stop. Look. Stay Alive.”

As part of the campaign, SLSA has also teamed up with Qantas to unveil a new virtual training platform for the community called ‘Beach Passport.’ Beach Passport is a mobile or online course that will provide the public with basic water safety knowledge. It will be free and available to every Australian citizen and visitor and is available at beachpassport.org.au.

Beach Passport comes as SLSA announces a four-year partnership with Qantas, bringing together two like-minded brands with intrinsic links to Aussie culture and a shared commitment to the well-being of Australians and visitors, backed by over a century of joint credibility in safety, both in the air and on the ground.

To encourage people to use Beach Passport, Qantas is also providing 150 Qantas Points to everyone who completes the course before 30 April 2025, along with the opportunity to go into the draw to win 1 million Qantas points.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Stop. Look. Stay Alive. Campaign is set to be rolled out nationally across TV, print/online and outdoor advertising.

Says Brett Morgan, Senior Manager, Marketing and Brand, Surf Life Saving Australia: “This campaign is a true career highlight. It’s not often that the stars align to bring together great talent, creative and production all wrapped around a very important community safety message, aimed at saving lives. Combined with the Beach Passport virtual course and our partnership with Qantas, we think this campaign will have real-impact on our beaches this summer”.

Says Paul Den, Co-Founder of Banter: “With over 50,000 km of coastline, sadly, too many people still drown each year. Surf Life Savers can’t be everywhere. It’s time for our country to band together and support our Surf Lifesavers. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Brett and the team to create a concept that truly encourages people to stop, look, and stay alive.

“If you had told me nine years ago, when we started Banter, that we’d have Angus Sampson delivering a monologue in a tuxedo jacket and boardies, I wouldn’t have believed it. This truly is a dream campaign to work on!”

 

Surf Life Saving Australia
Brett Morgan – Senior Manager, Marketing and Brand

Banter
Paul Den – Co-Founder
Tori Anderson – Producer
Callam Paul, Account Executive
Lucie Drysdale, Account Executive

Crew
Director: Alan Harca
1st AD: Naomi Einfeld
2nd AD: Oli Roe
DOP: Brendan Barnes SACS ACS
1st AC: Louis Lau
2nd AC: Sid Tinney
Gaffer: Tom Brian
Best Boy: Phil Bacon
Best Boy: Chris Follet
Key Grip: John Balbi
Grip: Brendan Elder
Grip: Nick Towel
Steadicam Operator: Jonathan Baker
Safety Officer: Wayne Pleace
Unit Production: Johnny K
Sound Recordist: Mark Van Kool
Photographer: Steve Baccon
HMU: Alphie Sadsad
Lead Casting: Creative Representation
Casting: Wink Models
Casting Support: Shift20
Catering: Tony’s Chicken Shop
Creative consultant: Colin Sevitt
Director’s attachment: Jacob Warman

Post Production
Offline Editor: Alan Harca
Colourist: Marcus Friedlander
VFX: Aleks Manou
Sound Design and Composition: Mosaic Sound