Lifesaving duties at Australian ocean pools have been carried out by volunteers from surf lifesaving clubs, honorary baths inspectors and lifeguards paid by coastal councils.
The roles can and do overlap. A man or woman may work as a paid lifeguard during the week and then volunteer as a lifesaver at the weekend. Councils can engage surf clubs to provide lifeguard services during the week.
by the late-1930s, some Australian coastal councils would ask their local surf lifesaving clubs to nominate one or more of their members to act as paid lifesavers at the ocean beach and to take some responsibility for supervision of the ocean pool over the holiday season.
Honorary baths inspectors were usually chosen from names submitted to the council by the local swimming clubs and surf lifesaving clubs.