Members of The Royal Life Saving Society give their time, energy and expertise to combat drowning prevention in Australia and throughout the Commonwealth. It’s thanks to their efforts in fundraising, education and the passing on of vital skills that many lives are saved and potential disasters avoided.

Royal Life Saving Queensland is seeking nominations from any stakeholder (volunteers, members, managers, swim teachers, life savers, etc) for people and groups to be nominated for a society honour.

The following information is available to assist with nominations:

Australian Honours

• Australian Honours Handbook version 2022.01
• Nomination forms (fillable) for Volunteers and Staff

Please also refer to these helpful hints on using the fillable forms.

Commonwealth Honours

• Commonwealth Honours Handbook (issued 2022)
• Nomination form for Commonwealth Honours

All nominations should be sent to:

The Secretary
Honours Committee, Royal Life Saving Queensland
PO Box 1093, Capalaba Qld 4157
By email: admin@rlssq.com.au

Nomination Close: Friday 27 May 2022

More Information…

Commonwealth Honours

Australian Honours

Royal Life Saving has just released 2 new online modules aimed at improving individual and organisational know-how when it comes to child safety in the aquatic industry.

The safety and wellbeing of children should sit at the heart of any organisation’s values.  However, this does not mean that development and implementation of child safe practices is always as good as it needs to be or that improvements can’t be made.  Further to this, ensuring children’s safety in an aquatic industry context can present a range of additional and specialised challenges.  This is why Royal Life Saving have developed two online child safety modules; one targeted at frontline workers and the other at management level staff.

The chief purpose of the modules is to assist the aquatic industry, and its workforce, to develop a clear understanding of the expectations, legal requirements and best practices relating to child safety.

Frontline Staff

This is essentially designed for swim teachers, program instructors, pool lifeguards, and any other staff that come into regular contact with children through their role at an aquatic facility, swim school or similar. It focuses on equipping learners with knowledge and skills around appropriate and inappropriate conduct, identifying abuse – including identifying grooming behaviours, and obligations and best practice around responding to and reporting abuse or suspected abuse. It should take around 30 minutes to complete.

Management Staff

This is essentially designed for those in leadership and management roles within an aquatic industry organisation and for any role that requires leadership and oversight on child safety, e.g. Child Safety Officer. It covers the same content as the Frontline version, but also looks more closely at what can be done at an organisational level, in terms of instilling and promoting a child safe culture, using the 10 Child Safe Standards as a guiding framework, and effectively managing risks to children’s safety at all levels. It should take around 45 minutes to complete.

Of course, we understand that dividing staff into Frontline and Management doesn’t always fit and if you are unsure which version is most appropriate for you or your staff our suggestion is take the Management version.  Why?  It covers exactly the same content, in the same way, as the Frontline version and then goes into other areas.  If the additional content is not so relevant, it can be regarded as information only, and the learner can still focus their learning on the parts that are most relevant to them.

Like many of the professional development products on offer through Royal Life Saving the content is highly contextualised to the aquatic industry environment and uses a range screen designs, interactions, visual representations, scenarios, reflection tools and knowledge checks to maximise engagement and learning.

Like many of the professional development products on offer through Royal Life Saving the content is highly contextualised to the aquatic industry environment and uses a range screen designs, interactions, visual representations, scenarios, reflection tools and knowledge checks to maximise engagement and learning.

The modules are ultimately designed to give those that work in the industry confidence and clarity in managing this extremely important and at times challenging part of their roles.

To enrol in our modules, please click here.

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

Click here to register for the Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships 2022.

Royal Life Saving Australia are pleased to welcome our lifesaving sport community back on pool deck for the Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships 2022.

This page will be updated with information leading into APLSC. If you would like to subscribe to the APLSC Newsletter please register by clicking the link below.

VENUE INFORMATION

Address: Pymble Ladies College Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Avon Rd, Pymble NSW 2073
Saturday 11 June 2022 to Monday 13 June 2022
Venue Website:https://www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/pymble-life/pymbleswimming/
Min pool depth: 2 metres
Max pool depth: 3.7 metres

Redeveloped and opened in 2016 as part of the school’s centenary celebrations, the new Pymble Ladies College Aquatic and Fitness Centre features an 8-lane 50m heated indoor swimming pool with multiple diving platforms, a large purpose-built learn-to-swim pool and a multi-purpose fitness centre.

The pool meets all ILS Facility Specifications and APLSC 2022 will be conducted as a sanctioned competition.

KEY DATES

SANCTIONING

The Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships 2022 will be conducted as an ILS-sanctioned competition. Anti-doping testing will be on standby for youth and open world records.

A new World Anti-Doping Code came into effect in January 2021. It is the responsibility of athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and support personnel to be aware of and understand their obligations under the Code. Further information and a summary of changes in the 2021 Code can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website: https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/anti-doping/2021-world-anti-doping-code

It is recommended that all Royal Life Saving members and APLSC participants complete the Anti-Doping Fundamentals online course (previously Anti-Doping Level 1). This course is free but requires registration to the Sport Integrity Australia e-learning platform (previous Sport Australia / ASADA / Play By The Rules credentials should work at login): https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/login/index.php

COMPETITION HANDBOOK

The National Sport Committee is finalising the 2022 edition of the RLSSA Competition Handbook, which will be distributed via the National Sport Committee and published to the RLSSA website once complete.

All competition events will be conducted under ILS conditions, unless otherwise specified in the Competition Handbook. The current ILS Competition Rulebook is available to view and download here: https://www.ilsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ILS-2019-Competition-Rulebook-March-2022-Update-Final.pdf

SOCIAL MEDIA COMPETITION

The annual APLSC social media competition will be held again in 2022 – information to follow closer to the event.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact Caitlin at the RLSSA National Office:

Email: cturner@rlssa.org.au
Mobile: 0421 143 217

Royal Life Saving Queensland’s Water STAARS (Support To Access Aquatic Recreational Spaces) Program finished up last weekend on the beautiful shores of Bulcock Beach, Caloundra. This program was targeted towards individuals between 5-21 years of age with a disability to access the beach.

In partnership with Steps Pathways College, our 2022 program focused on water and personal safety around the beach. This initial partnership has aimed to drive disability participation, and allow many individuals (who have not previously had the opportunity) the chance to access these aquatic spaces in a safe, supportive and educational manner.

Over the course of the final session, participants engaged in a range of exciting and educational activities!

Learning about raising your arm for help, the H.E.L.P postures and practicing floating in lifejackets.

Practicing falling off inflatable boats, rescues using tubes and boards and asking for help, whilst learning how to keep safe.

Coming together for a lifejacket huddle and having discussions on the benefits of a huddle before engaging in a game of sponge relay!

After the activity session came to a close, we were visited by Jason Hunt MP who attended the certificate ceremony for the participants and volunteers. This was followed by a morning tea, organized and funded by MP Jason Hunt’s office.

“It is through partnerships like this and support from the Sunshine Coast Council, Ithaca Life Saving Club and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services that we can continue to develop these disability programs and increase opportunities for youth with a disability to be part of this exciting program”
– Beverley Newton, RLSSQ Projects Officer.

Over the course of the four weeks, each session had it’s own theme. These included: sun safety and beach signage, rips and waves, personal water safety and rescue techniques and marine animals, team work, boat falls and personal water safety and rescue. Each session also included a range of fun and engaging activites for the participants.

Moving forward, our future programs will not only focus on the coastal aquatic environments, but will also focus on inland waterways such as rivers, lakes and dams and the considerations for each environment.

The success of our pilot program would not have been possible without the support from Steps Pathways College and their volunteers, and the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program. Royal Life Saving Society Queensland will now continue to plan for the next Water STAARS program for summer 2023.

If there are any organisations that would love to get involved in our Summer 2023 program please contact us at projects@rlssq.com.au, or call us on 07 3823 2823 today!

This program is proudly support by the Queensland Government, Queensland Fire & Rescue Service.

A Townsville and Region Water Safety Initiative is calling for expressions of interest to join a multi-agency round table to address drowning prevention measures in the region.

Research conducted by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (RLSSA) has identified North Queensland as a targeted area for reducing drowning. In the 10-years 2011/12 to 2020/21, 655 people drowned in Queensland, 33 of whom drowned in Townsville, equalling an average of 3 people every year in the region.

The objectives of the initiative are to:

• Facilitate a common understanding of local drowning and water safety issues specific to the region
• Present key research and data relevant to the area to interested parties and those with a responsibility for water safety
• Support a commitment to working together on a collective strategy for the region
• Commence working towards collective solutions/actions that could be collated into a local water safety drowning prevention plan

The initiative will be held as a series of round table discussions, comprised of a series of presentations and workshops occurring over a three-month period May-July. The first Round Table workshop will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, at James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville.

Royal Life Saving is extending the invitation to all agencies and organisations with an interest and/or responsibility for water safety and drowning prevention.

To express an interest in being involved, please complete the Expression of Interest form here:

The Expression of Interest process closes COB Friday, April 1, 2022

RLSS Australian Resuscitation Club member Jamie Martin has successfully launched a Queensland Parliament E-petition requesting the House to prioritise the consideration and implementation of a system of mandatory accreditation and annual training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for all residential properties.

This includes any residential property where there is a pool, including new builds, existing dwellings and rental properties where there is an existing pool, or pool to be installed.

Whilst pool fence regulations are there to save children from outside the pool, the requirement for formal mandatory accreditation in CPR training will enhance the ability to ensure the safety of children once inside the pool.

As an organisation dedicated to drowning prevention, Royal Life Saving Queensland urges all Queenslanders to consider signing this e-petition.

Click this link to open the E-Petition: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=3722

Queensland Parliament E-Petition 3722-22 – ‘Mandatory accreditation and annual training in CPR, pool safety standards in Queensland’.

The Queensland Primary and Secondary School Life Saving Championships is back and being held on Sunday 22 May 2022, at the Sunshine Coast Grammar Aquatic Centre.

📅 Sunday 22 May 2022
🕒 Secondary students: 8.00am
🕒 Primary Students: 1.00pm
💲 $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 Secondary School students will have an opportunity to compete in the

• 200 Individual Medley,
• 4 x 50m Team Survival Relay,
• 100m Rescue Race, and more.

The Championships are being hosted by the Sunshine Coast Grammar Pool Lifesaving Club, which is affiliated with Royal Life Saving.

The Championships are open to any school student. Entries close FRIDAY 6 MAY 2022.

Join us in celebrating the amazing contribution of women in global drowning prevention.

Featuring key leaders from drowning prevention across the world, from emergency services, lifesaving, programs, research, advocacy.

Join us to hear from leaders in different areas of drowning prevention:
– learn about leadership challenges and opportunities
– explore the context of #breakthebias and what it might mean for our field
– discuss how can we collectively challenge or change the bias

Speakers include:
• Dawn Whittaker, Chief Executive of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and National Fire Chief Officer lead for water safety and drowning prevention in the UK
• Claire Ann V Alfonso, President, Norges Livredningsselskap (Norwegian Life Saving Society)
• Catherine Greaves, Chief Executive Officer, Life Saving Victoria, Australia
• Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor, Injury Program Lead, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia
• Dr Chanel Phillips, (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi), University of Otago, New Zealand
• Dr Rebecca Sindall, Evidence Manager, RNLI, UK
• Dr Colleen Saunders, University of Cape Town, Life Saving South Africa

Facilitator:

Stacey Pidgeon, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Thursday 10th March
8pm NZ / 6pm AEDT / 9am SAST / 7am GMT

Ipswich City Council, in conjunction with Royal Life Saving Queensland, are happy to offer adults aged 18+ free water safety and swimming lessons in this five day learn to swim program.

Monday 14 – Friday 18 March 2022
9.30 am, 10.30 am and 11.30 am
Orion Lagoon
155 Southern Cross Circuit,
Springfield Central

Each lesson goes for 45 minutes. By enrolling in this program, you are committing to attend all five lessons from Monday 14 – Friday 18 March, at the same time each day. In this program you will learn:

*Please note that this program is for Ipswich City Council residents only.

You can view the terms and conditions below.