In accordance with our constitution, this year the positions of President, Treasurer and one (1) board Member (Directors) are due for re-election. Any two (2) financial members of the Society shall be at liberty to nominate any member to serve in any vacant position on the Board of Directors. Board members are required to be members of the Society. Please find below a link to download the nomination form:

The nomination shall be in writing and signed by the nominee, and the proposer and seconder and be lodged by 5pm Tuesday 30 June 2026. The nomination may be hand delivered during business hours to our office at the Plantation (1204 New Cleveland Rd, Gumdale Qld 4154), or posted to the address shown below, however nominations must be received by us on or before 5pm on 30 June 2026.

Postal Address
The Secretary
Royal Life Saving Society Queensland Inc
PO Box 1093
CAPALABA QLD 4157

Late or incomplete nominations will not be accepted.

All nominations must be accompanied by a citation of no more than 200 words (one page with no pictures). To be eligible, all nominees must comply with requirements for an officeholder as issued by Queensland Government Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the Australian Charity and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) Fit & Proper Persons requirements in addition to any requirements of our rules and by-laws. In the event that there are two (2) or more nominations for a an officer position (or more nominations than are available for other Directors) a postal ballot shall proceed of all financial members as at 30 June 2026.

When ballot papers are circulated, the citation of each nominee will be included, with each citation edited to be in a similar format and font (and cut to a word count of 200 words). The counting of ballot papers will be conducted by the Honorary Solicitor and the outcome of the ballot will be announced at the Annual General Meeting which will be before 30 September 2026.

We all want to believe we’ll never be in a situation where a loved one’s life is on the line. We spend our days hoping the gate is locked and the kids are safe. But just ‘hoping’ nothing goes wrong isn’t enough. We need to actually know what to do when every second counts.

The record-breaking reality

The Royal Life Saving Drowning Report 2025 revealed a heartbreaking reality: 357 people lost their lives to drowning last year. This is a 27% increase on the 10-year average and the highest number of drowning deaths since records began.

On top of that, Australian hospitals see over 1.7 million emergency departments visits for children aged 0-14 every year. Injuries and trauma are leading causes of these visits. In these high-stakes moments, time is the only currency that matters. Knowing exactly what to do is what saves lives.

One hour can save a lifetime

We spend hours every week scrolling through social media or watching the latest show. But one of the most common reasons for people not seeking CPR training is “I don’t have time”.

Spending just one hour with the Heart Beat Club moves you from “hoping for the best” to “knowing exactly what to do.” Don’t wait for crisis to wish you knew more. be ready for anything.

Registrations open May 1. www.heartbeatclub.com.au

The Brisbane Aquatic Centre, located within the Sleeman Sports Complex, has been awarded Platinum Safety Endorsement under Royal Life Saving Queensland’s Platinum Pools Program for 2025-26, the highest level of recognition for aquatic safety, risk management and operational excellence.

The Platinum Pools Program, established in Queensland in 2021, sets a rigorous benchmark for public aquatic facilities in safety and compliance. Platinum endorsement is reserved for venues that demonstrate sustained excellence over time, achieving consistently high assessment outcomes and embedding best-practice safety systems across all aspects of operations.

Facilities are assessed against the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO), relevant Australian Standards, and applicable state legislation. Achieving Platinum status requires not only strong compliance, but clear evidence of a proactive safety culture, continuous improvement, and leadership in aquatic risk management.

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland State Manager, Nikki Thornhill, said the achievement reflects the venue’s long-term commitment to safety and industry leadership. “The Brisbane Aquatic Centre has demonstrated sustained excellence across all areas of aquatic safety, from supervision and staff capability to governance and risk management,” Ms Thornhill said.

“Importantly, this achievement is supported by ongoing independent verification through monthly Mystery Guest Visits, which assess real-time supervision deployment and performance to ensure safety standards are consistently upheld in day-to-day operations.”

“As one of Queensland’s premier aquatic venues, their commitment sets a strong benchmark for the industry and reinforces community confidence in the safety of public aquatic environments.”

Platinum endorsement recognises performance across key areas including lifeguard supervision systems, emergency preparedness, staff training, work health and safety, and child supervision strategies. The Brisbane Aquatic Centre has also demonstrated consistent performance through the Royal Life Saving Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment and Lifeguard Mystery Guest Assessment programs.

Stadiums Queensland, Sleeman Sports Complex General Manager, Alex Hutchison, said the recognition reflects the dedication of the team and their focus on delivering a safe and high-quality experience. “We are extremely proud to achieve Platinum Safety Endorsement. This recognition highlights the commitment of our team to maintaining the highest standards of safety, while continuing to deliver a world-class aquatic facility for our community.” Mr Hutchison said.

“The ongoing partnership with Royal Life Saving Queensland, including the Mystery Guest program, ensures we continue to challenge ourselves and drive continuous improvement across all areas of operation.”

The Platinum Pools Program is open to public aquatic facilities, commercial swim schools, and educational institution pools across Queensland. Endorsements are tiered, with Platinum representing the highest level, and are only awarded to facilities that meet strict performance criteria over multiple assessment periods.

More information on the program or to sign up, please contact: aquaticservices@rlssq.com.au

Royal Life Saving acknowledges the support of its State/Territory and National partners in delivering this program.

The Queensland School pool Life Saving Championships are back and being held on Sunday 31st May 2026, at the Sunshine Coast Grammar Aquatic Centre.

📅 Sunday 31st May 2026
🕑 Secondary Students: 8:00am (Warm Up), 8:30am (Start)
Primary Students: 1:00pm (Warm Up), 1:30pm (Start)
💲 $10 per competitor (unlimited number of events)

The event allows schools that undertake programs such as Swim and Survive to give students a sporting alternative.

The Championship for the Primary School students will include age-appropriate swim racing and rescue events, such as the

• 8m Line Throw
• 50m Rescue Race
• 100m Individual Life Saving Race and more

The Championship for the Secondary School students will include events such as the:

• 10m Line Throw
• 100m Rescue Race
• 200m Individual Life Saving Race and more.

The Championships are being hosted by the Sunshine Coast Grammar School,
372 Mons Road, Forest Glen QLD 4556

The Championships are open to any school student. Entries close MONDAY 26 MAY 2026

GIVE POOL LIFESAVING A GO!

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland is proud to announce that two of our members have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of their outstanding service and dedication to life saving (water safety and drowning prevention).

This prestigious national honour reflects their long-standing commitment, leadership, and tireless contribution to saving lives and strengthening aquatic safety across Queensland and Australia. We congratulate both recipients on this well-deserved recognition and thank them for their exceptional service to our organisation and the community.

Mrs Lynda Barry OAM

Mrs Lynda Barry has rendered outstanding service to lifesaving and community safety through more than 37 years of dedicated volunteer leadership, training, administration and operational service.

An active member of the Ithaca–Caloundra City Life Saving Club since 1989, Ms Barry continues to serve as a patrolling lifesaver. Throughout her service she has held numerous senior volunteer roles including Club Captain (2005–present), Deputy President, Club Secretary, Membership Officer, Information Protection Officer and Fundraiser. She was awarded Life Membership in 2009.

A passionate advocate for junior lifesaving, Mrs Barry has served continuously since 2002 as Junior Lifeguard Administrator and Coach, overseeing training programs, child safety compliance and volunteer development. She has also been instrumental in modernising club governance systems through the introduction of electronic forms, payment platforms and policy frameworks.

Mrs Barry is an accredited First Aid and CPR Trainer, a Grey Medallion Program trainer, and has represented Australia through her involvement in World Life Saving Championships as both competitor and team manager.

As at June 2025, Mrs Barry has logged more than 5,800 volunteer patrol hours and remains an active operational member.

Beyond the club, she is a founding member and Treasurer of Life Saving Support Services Inc, helping establish a strong foundation fund that provides grants and financial assistance to volunteer lifesavers.

Her extensive service with Royal Life Saving Society Queensland and Australia includes roles as State Sports Committee Member, Volunteer Trainer and Assessor, State Team Manager at National Championships, Sport Official, international assistant trainer, and Chief Organiser and Referee of Royal Life Saving Queensland beach carnivals for more than two decades. She also holds national accreditation as an Official.

Mrs Barry’s service has previously been recognised through the National Medal, Fellowship and Companion honours with Royal Life Saving Society Australia, multiple Service Crosses and Bars, and induction into the Mark McArdle MP Community Hall of Fame.

Mrs Patricia Barry OAM

Mrs Patricia Barry has been a cornerstone of the Ithaca–Caloundra City Life Saving Club since joining in 1982, contributing more than four decades of exceptional volunteer service, leadership and community engagement.

Beginning as a club chaperone, she has gone on to serve in numerous vital roles including Honorary Secretary (since 2008), Public Relations Officer (since 2012) and Principal Fundraiser (since 2008). She was awarded Life Membership in 2010 and continues to actively patrol Bulcock Beach.

As at May 2025, Mrs Barry has contributed over 4,300 volunteer beach patrol hours, with service continuing.

Her impact extends strongly into education and community safety through her work with Royal Life Saving Society Queensland as a Community Trainer, delivering Water Safety, CPR, First Aid and Grey Medallion programs. Since 2021, she has coordinated the beach training component of the Sunshine Coast Multicultural Program, supporting culturally diverse communities to gain essential lifesaving skills.

Mrs Barry is also a founding member and long-serving Secretary of Life Saving Support Services Inc, strengthening volunteer support and operational capability across the sector.

Her broader community contribution includes long-standing service with U3A Sunshine Coast, where she has volunteered as a French language tutor since 2008, a First Aid tutor, and was awarded Life Membership in 2022. She has also supported international cultural exchange through the Friendship Force of the Sunshine Coast, serving in ambassadorial, translation and coordination roles.

Professionally, Mrs Barry devoted over 20 years to education, including 24 years at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, where she served as a Secondary Teacher, Head of Languages and Teaching Practicum Coordinator.

Her service has been recognised through multiple Royal Life Saving awards, including Service Cross and Service Medal Bars, Fellowship of Royal Life Saving Society Australia, and the Bronze Medallion.

We are delighted to share the prestigious award that the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) has bestowed on Dr Shayne Baker OAM at the recently concluded World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The International Lifesaving Federation (ILS) Board of Directors has also bestowed a very prestigious international award on Dr. Baker in recognition of the outstanding voluntary contribution he has made to the drowning prevention and research effort worldwide. This is a recognition of the many years he has devoted to improving the knowledge and skills of lifesavers throughout Australia and the Commonwealth.

Dr Baker is currently, and has been a member of, the ILS Rescue Commission, in addition to his contributions to the Royal Life Saving Society and  World Health Organisation Public Health Programs in the efforts to avoid drownings, and in Australia, Director of Research at Yellow Dove Australia, with the Research Panel at Surf Lifesaving Queensland (SLSQ), a Peer Support Officer.

 His influence has extended internationally, helping to develop a standard in flood rescue, educational water safety, and the well-being of aquatic professionals.

A special presentation has been made by the President of the ILS, Graham Ford AM, and the ILS Secretary General in Sharm El Sheikh, Dr Harald Vervaecke, although the formal occasion will occur at the Australian Lifesaving Championships in April 2026.We congratulate Dr Shayne Baker OAM on this truly significant award and thank him for his commitment to improving water safety and drowning prevention in Australia and around the world.

Queensland’s leading aquatic organisations have joined forces to address workforce shortages and build a stronger, more sustainable industry through the Queensland Aquatic Workforce Attraction and Retention Program.

Led by the Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance (AQIA) in collaboration with AUSTSWIM, Royal Life Saving Society Queensland (RLSSQ) and SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia (SWIM), the Aqua Jobs initiative is supported by the Queensland Government’s Department of Trade, Employment and Training under the Growing Workforce Participation Fund.

The program aims to help swim schools attract, train, and retain Queenslanders for key roles across the aquatic sector, including swim teachers, Lifeguards, coaches, swim school managers, pool operators, aquatic technical operators, and customer service team members. It provides clear pathways for 150 jobseekers and professional development opportunities for 75 existing employees, ensuring long-term workforce participation and retention.

Brad Maunsell, CEO AUSTSWIM, said the partnership represents a milestone in workforce collaboration:

“Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and sustainable workforce that will ensure quality swimming and water safety education across Queensland.”

Paul Barry, Executive Director RLSSQ, added:

“This partnership isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about building a sustainable workforce and ensuring every Queenslander has access to quality aquatic education.”

Brendon Ward, CEO SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia, said the initiative will drive systemic change:

“By uniting our expertise, we can deliver a coordinated and sustainable approach to workforce attraction, development and retention across the state.”

The collaboration aligns with Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s 2025 National Aquatic Industry Workforce Reports, which call for stronger retention, professional development, and diversity in the aquatic industry.

Queenslanders looking to grow or start a career in the aquatic industry – whether you’re an aspiring swim teacher, Lifeguard, coach, or part of the existing workforce can explore opportunities and register their interest at aquajobsqld.com.au

Media contact:
Victoria Clark
Phone: 0408 835 341
Email: victoria@swim.org.au

Royal Life Saving releases it’s annual report for the financial year (June 2025). The society continued to provide increased services to the Queensland community, with significantly increased activity in community programs, training and other activity.

Society President, Ms Nicky Sloan said “This year has been one of consolidation and strategic renewal. The Board has been firmly focused on ensuring the Society is well governed, financially sustainable, and
strategically positioned for the future. The adoption of our new Strategic Framework has been a significant milestone, giving clear direction for our mission while reinforcing our commitment to drowning prevention and community safety and wellbeing.”

A huge thank you to SET – Specialised Engineering Technologies for signing on as our Drinks Sponsor for our 120 Year Celebration on Thursday 23 October 2025!

SET proudly delivers the AngelEye AI Drowning Detection System, a world-leading aquatic safety solution trusted across 30+ countries and ISO 20380 compliant.

What sets AngelEye apart?

A fully closed network system with all processing and data storage powered by an on-site local server. That means:

No reliance on the cloud
Faster, more reliable alerts
Maximum data privacy & security
Full facility control over footage and access

By combining cutting-edge technology with a strong focus on safety and security, SET is helping make aquatic centres smarter, safer, and more secure.

Learn more about SET & AngelEye here:

• https://set.services/ai-drowning-detection-systems-angeleye-lifeguard/
• https://set.services/angeleye-safeguard/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/set-specialised-engineering-technologies/

#AquaticSafety#DrowningDetection#SETtingTheStandard#AngelEye#LocalServer#120yearsOfLifesaving