The society fosters speleology as a science and sport and co-operates with other bodies in the furtherance of these aims.
SUSS was founded in 1948 and is the oldest caving group on mainland Australia (and second-oldest in the country, having formed two years after the Tasmanian Caverneering Club).
It has been heavily involved in the exploration and mapping of various Australian cave systems since its formation.
The society pioneered the sport of cave diving in Australia and was a founding member of the Australian Speleological Federation.
[1] The society has spent significant amounts of time exploring Jenolan caves to the west of Sydney having published two books on the area.