BONDI Rescue lifeguard Trent 'Maxi' Maxwell launched an online community platform with his business partner, Birkdale's Leigh Mason this week.
The online program aims to teach kids vital surf, water and fire safety, rescue and life skills.
Mr Maxwell said the Maxi's Rescue Squad was a global online community designed for kids five years and older, so they could learn alongside their parents.
"The community is accessed by an app, not a browser, so parents can be assured their kids are safe."
According to the Royal Life Saving, drowning report of 2019, drowning was a global epidemic with 42 people drowning globally every hour of every day. In Australia, drownings have increased by 10 per cent in the last year.
"A Royal Life Saving report found that less than 9 per cent of children in Australia are learning a rescue skill - we aim to change that," Mr Maxwell said.
Mr Maxwell and Ms Mason met while working together on swimwear label Sunrise at Bondi but started the social enterprise Live Learn Survive after realising more needed to be done to improve water safety awareness among children.
In the 18 months prior to COVID-19, the pair presented to more than 11,000 children, in four countries across 30 cities working with more than 50 schools, libraries, lifesaving clubs and children's groups in their mission to educate future generations about water and fire safety, and life skills.
Mr Maxwell made his debut as a young 16-year-old trainee lifeguard, with his 14-year career well-documented on the award-winning TV series, Bondi Rescue, airing in more than 100 countries.
In 2016, he became a firefighter for New South Wales Fire and Rescue and two years later he became a qualified rescue operator based at the City of Sydney Fire Station.
"In a society that is screaming out for young, positive, male role models, 'Maxi' is a breath of fresh air and is totally committed to playing his part in shaping the young minds of our future generations, not only about surf, water and fire safety but also really important life skills that they may not be taught at school," said Ms Mason.
No stranger to the water herself, as a teenager Ms Mason volunteered as a qualified student swimming teacher alongside her mother, Gillian, who had a career as a professional pool lifeguard and swimming teacher in Nottingham, England.
Maxi's Rescue Squad launched this week with the first of the Maxi's Beach Rescue series of children's picture books to be released on March 26.
