Queensland Aquatic Industry Facility Safety Code of Practice

Industry Consultation Now Open

Aquatic Facility Safety Code of Practice released for consultation in Queensland

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Aquatic facility owners and operators across Queensland are being invited to read a new industry-developed Code of Practice for the safe operation of public aquatic facilities, now released in draft.

Developed over two years by the Queensland Aquatic Industry Safety Committee (QAISC), the draft Queensland Aquatic Facility Safety Industry Code of Practice is proposed to become Queensland’s first Code of Practice of its kind. It consolidates existing research, regulator, coronial and case law recommendations, industry learnings and recognised guidance into a single, practical document, and reflects the collective view of the industry on the reasonable and practicable measures publicly accessible swimming pools should have in place to protect visitors and patrons.

The Code responds to a number of high-profile, preventable and tragic drowning incidents at publicly accessible swimming pools across Queensland, and to ongoing discussion across multiple industry and government forums.

It has been developed through an extensive collaborative process, facilitated by Royal Life Saving Society – Queensland, bringing together local governments, major facility operators, peak training and water safety bodies, and state government agencies. Contributors include Central Highlands Regional Council, City of Gold Coast, City of Logan, City of Moreton Bay, City of Townsville, Sunshine Coast Council, Belgravia Leisure, BlueFit, City Venue Management, The Y, Sleeman Sports Complex / Stadiums Queensland, AUSTSWIM, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, Queensland Health and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

The Code is not intended to replace legislation or existing regulatory requirements. Rather, it informs owners, operators and duty holders how they can meet their legal obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and the Public Health Act 2005. Building on Royal Life Saving’s Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations, the Code helps operators interpret and apply that recognised guidance to aquatic facilities of differing scale and complexity, providing practical direction that can be tailored to facilities with varying but often similar contexts, risk profiles and operational demands.

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Brad Page, General Manager Venues and Events at City of Logan, said the Code would help councils uphold safety as the foundation of how community aquatic facilities are procured and managed.

“Most public pools are owned by councils but operated externally under contract, which highlights the importance of clear roles, expectations and accountability across all parties involved in facility operations” Mr Page said.

“This Code provides councils and operators with a shared framework to support safe operations, strengthen collaboration and deliver positive community outcomes over the long term.”

Tim Goward, from City of Gold Coast, said the Code provided a strong foundation that could continue to evolve alongside advances in aquatic safety.

“A Code like this gives the industry a consistent, practical reference point, and it should keep pace with emerging best practices which support safety” Mr Goward said.

“This code lays out practical considerations for pool owners and operators to take which enhance safety in line with community and regulatory expectations and industry best practice.”

Paul Barry, Executive Director at Royal Life Saving Queensland, said the Code reflected a shared commitment across the industry to safer aquatic facilities.

“Every drowning at a public aquatic facility is preventable, and behind the data are families and communities who have experienced real loss.” Mr Barry said

“This Code is the product of years of collaboration and a genuine, shared commitment to protecting the people who use Queensland’s aquatic facilities. We encourage everyone across the sector to take the time to read it, reflect on what it means for their own facilities, and consider how they can be part of that shared commitment to keeping communities safe.“

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Feedback on the draft is welcome and will help refine the document before it is finalised. Royal Life Saving will continue to facilitate this collaborative process, supporting the Committee to consider any feedback received and refine the Code ahead of publication. The Code, and its governance through the Queensland Aquatic Industry Safety Committee, will be formally reviewed every two years to ensure it remains aligned with contemporary safety practice, emerging risks and community expectations.

Consultation Process

The consultation period is open until Sunday 27 September 2026.

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To participate:

Step 1: Access the Draft Queensland Aquatic Industry Code of Practice.

Step 2: Review the document.

Step 3: Complete the online feedback form.

Every submission will be considered as part of the final review process undertaken by the Queensland Aquatic Industry Safety Committee.

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Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the consultation process or the draft Queensland Aquatic Industry Code of Practice, please contact:

Royal Life Saving Queensland
Subject: Draft Industry Code of Practice Enquiry
Email: aquaticservices@rlssq.com.au
Phone: 07 38232823

The City of Gold Coast has once again demonstrated its commitment to aquatic safety excellence, with all participating aquatic venues achieving Platinum Endorsement through the Royal Life Saving Queensland Platinum Pools Program.
The Platinum Pools Program recognises aquatic facilities that achieve the highest standards in safety, risk management, supervision, and operational excellence. Platinum Endorsement is the highest level of recognition available under the program and is only awarded to facilities that achieve One Hundred percent compliance and maintain exceptional safety performance across consecutive years of assessment. Facilities undergo a rigorous assessment process that includes an Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment, mystery guest evaluations, and compliance with industry best practice standards and legislation.
In 2026, seven City of Gold Coast aquatic venues successfully achieved Platinum Endorsement, marking another significant milestone for the City’s aquatic operations and reinforcing its position as a leader in aquatic safety across Queensland.

The venues achieving Platinum Endorsement are:

• Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
• Helensvale Aquatic Centre
• Miami Aquatic Centre
• Nerang Aquatic Centre
• Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre
• Pimpama Sports Hub
• Upper Coomera Aquatic Centre

Royal Life Saving Queensland State Manager Nikki Thornhill congratulated the City of Gold Coast and venue teams on their achievement.

“Achieving Platinum Endorsement across all participating venues is an outstanding result and reflects the strong safety culture embedded throughout the City’s aquatic operations,” Ms Thornhill said.

“Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the achievement reinforces the city’s reputation for having world-class aquatic facilities.
“Safety is paramount and this result reflects our continued commitment to providing safe, accessible and high-quality spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy the water,” Mayor Tate said.

“These Platinum Endorsements recognise the professionalism, dedication and hard work of our staff and external partners in maintaining industry-leading standards across our aquatic centres.”

Since the introduction of the Platinum Pools Program in Queensland in 2021, City of Gold Coast aquatic venues have consistently achieved outstanding results, helping to establish a benchmark for aquatic safety and operational excellence across the state.

For further information on the Platinum Pools Program, visit the Royal Life Saving Australia website.

The 2025-26 RLSSQ membership register has been reconciled and ballot papers have been distributed today to financial members by Australia Post to the postal address recorded on the aXcelerate system. Ballot papers should arrive in letter boxes sometime this week. There may be a few people who may consider themselves a member, however do not meet the definition of a financial member as pe rthe ocnstitution. These people have not been distributed ballot papers.

Ballot Papers

The instructions for balloting are in the letter in each envelope. Ballot papers must be returned in the envelope provided and upon receipt, will be placed in a locked box. The ballot closes on 31 July 2026 at 5pm. If any ballot papers arrive late, they will be kept aside and provided to the adjudicator – it is up the adjudicator to determine these are not eligible. The adjudicator will scrutinise the reconciled membership register to determine that all persons that lodge a ballot paper are current financial members.

Lost or Replacement Ballot Papers

If someone claims to have not received their ballot paper (prior to closing of the ballot), or has lost or damaged the paper, a replacement can be arranged but is only provided in person or is posted to the postal address on aXcelerate.  Ballot papers can not be photocopied and have copy protection and unique serial number inbuilt into each paper.

Adjudication and Counting

The ballot box will be opened by the society solicitor Mr Ross Williams in his office after 31 July 2026. Mr Williams will make determination if ballots are eligible, or otherwise; and advise the outcome of the ballot. Nominees are not able to attend counting of ballot papers.

Outcome

Once counted (and adjudication) has been completed, the successful nominee will be advised and invited to attend a face-to-face induction and complete the necessary paperwork, they will formally commence immediately after the AGM.  The unsuccessful nominees will also be advised and thanked for participation. There is no public announcement of the successful nominee until after the AGM.

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.