🌊 Shaping the Future of Aquatic Facilities in Australia 🌊

Royal Life Saving Queensland is pleased to support the National Aquatic Infrastructure Symposium 2025 – a key step in developing a national framework for aquatic facility infrastructure provisioning across Australia.

Australia’s public aquatic infrastructure is at a critical juncture. With over 40% of facilities nearing the end of their lifespan this decade, we must embrace innovative, equitable, and sustainable solutions to meet the needs of communities nationwide.

This two-day symposium, facilitated by Royal Life Saving Australia and held in Melbourne on 27 & 28 March 2025, will unite senior industry leaders, architects, planners, policymakers, academics, and drowning prevention experts to co-develop a vision for the future of aquatic facilities – ensuring every community has access to a great local pool.

🔑 Key topics include:
Addressing aging infrastructure and infrastructure gaps
Investment and sustainability models
Equitable access for regional and underserved communities
Framework development for facility provisioning

💡 Attendance is by invitation only, with a small registration fee to cover costs. If you’re interested in attending or presenting, we encourage you to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form below.

👉 EOI Form: https://lnkd.in/gURqJi3g

For more details check out the event website here: https://lnkd.in/gKUUgkrC

Together, let’s create safer, more inclusive, and sustainable aquatic facilities for future generations! 🌟

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WE’RE HIRING!

– Marketing and Training Support Officer
– Full-time position
– Based at our head office in Gumdale, Brisbane
– This role includes on the job training and is suitable to recent school leavers

Royal Life Saving is seeking an energetic person to market and promote our organisation and our range of projects, courses and programs. The successful applicant will be responsible for:

• Promoting and growing our programs and training courses
• Engaging with clients, answer phone calls and enquiries
• Organisation events and activities
• Providing high quality customer service to patrons
• Develop and use our marketing calendar
• Using our various communications media to develop and grow the organisation and our activities

The successful applicant will have strong customer service skills and be computer literate, also be:

• Reliable and dependable
• A friendly and personable disposition
• Able to coordinate simultaneous competing tasks
• Adaptable and willing to learn

Note: This is a customer service role which may involve working outside of normal business hours (including weekends) and some travel.

Note: We expect a lot of applications and may close the advertisement early

Royal Life Saving Queensland releases our draft strategic framework for public comment and feedback.

Executive Director Mr Paul Barry said “the framework has taken two years to developed and has involved a wide ranges of stakeholders including members and volunteers”. Mr Barry also said that “the framework development was driven by members and stakeholders and includes alignment with other Royal Life Saving states”.

The Strategic Framework includes a refreshed purpose, vision and newly developed beliefs. It discusses our values and the has four strategic pillars:

• Eliminate drowning
• Empowering communities
• Succeeding together
• Strengthening safety

How you can provide feedback?

Please review the Draft Strategic Framework and let us know what you think. You can email feedback to us at admin@rlssq.com.au. Please provide any feedback by 20 January 2025.

How do I get a copy?

Please click the button below to get a copy of the Strategic Framework

With summer approaching, public aquatic facility operators are reminded that even well-maintained venues have been linked to outbreaks of illness including cryptosporidiosis. As such Queensland Health is distributing some healthy swimming messaging to our members. Below is the following resources can be used as needed:

• Fact Sheet (A4 – General)
• Fact Sheet (A4 – Change Tables)
• Fact Sheet (A4 – Public/Shared Pools Toilets)
• Fact Sheet (A4 – School Pools)
• PowerPoint Template (Public Pool Screens)
• Social Media Tile (General)
• Social Media Tile (Change Table)
• Social Media Tile (School Pools)
• Social Media Tile (Toilet)

The key messaging regarding healthy swimming is:

• Sometimes germs can contaminate the pool water and make people sick.
• Don’t swim if you have diarrhoea or have had diarrhoea in the last 14 days.
• Avoid swallowing pool water.
• Shower before and after you swim.
• Wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet or changing a nappy.
• Change nappies in nappy change areas inly.
• Contact your GP if you suspect you have contracted cryptosporidiosis.

Download Resources at this link: https://lnkd.in/g_faM8GH

Yesterday (6 November 2024) Queensland Water Safety and Aquatic Collaborative (QWSAC) hosted its first Trainers Workshop.

The collaborative includes Royal Life Saving Society Queensland Inc, SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia (SWIM), AUSTSWIM and Swimming Queensland.

QWSAC members presented to over 50 attendees and discussed key aquatic industry changes, youth engagement and career pathways, updates on RTO standards, industry introduction of AI and inclusivity in training to mention a few.

As well as presentations, attendees participated in small group discussions and QWSCA members walked away with valuable insights on how to better support trainers and students in the aquatic industry.

QWSAC aims to make the workshop an annual event to continue to deliver support to trainers, swim teachers, employees and students in the aquatic industry and work towards achieving better VET outcomes.

RLSSQ is delighted to announce changes to the RLSSQ Board and also to welcome two new members.

Mr James (Jim) McClelland BM OAM has been appointed Deputy President. Jim is a life member and volunteer, having commenced his service to the society in 1971. Jim is an active member with Ithaca–Caloundra City Life Saving Club where he patrols every Saturday during summer. Jim is also a trainer and involved in the development and delivery of club based courses. Jim is a member of a number of advisory committees with Royal Life Saving Queensland, Australia and Commonwealth. In his work life, Jim owns an accounting practice.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment to the board of directors of Mr Tim Goward. Tim works for the City of Gold Coast as the manager of major venues and has been involved in the aquatic industry since 2004 holding positions from facility manager. Tim’s experience in the aquatic industry supports the board skill base and will assist us enhance our governance and quality of product delivery.

And finally, RLSSQ is pleased to announce the appointment to the board of directors of Mr Andrew Chan. Andrew has been a member and trainer since 2012 and is experienced in RTO management, administration, compliance and Learning and Development. Andrew has supported RLSSQ for many years in an informal capacity with RTO advice and industry engagement, and his role on the board will bring further skills to the board to enhance our training breadth and skills.

Congratulations to all and thank you for your continued service to RLSSQ.

Advancing Aquatic Safety: Supporting the use of AI-Enhanced Drowning Detection Systems

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed various industries, and the aquatic sector is no exception. AI-enhanced drowning detection systems are now emerging as an innovative tool to improve aquatic safety in facilities across Australia. These advanced systems use strategically placed cameras, sensors and AI algorithms to monitor pools, identifying potential drowning incidents and alerting lifeguards in real time.

Recent research has found that delayed drowning detection occurs when lifeguard/patron ratios exceed 1:75*. By integrating these new technologies, aquatic facilities can support the capabilities of lifeguards and strengthen supervision systems. This provides an additional layer of safety, that helps to prevent incidents and potential tragedies.

These AI drowning detection systems are designed to identify unusual movement, patterns or behaviours, which indicate distress in the water, alerting lifeguards via a smartwatch or alarm system and enabling them to intervene swiftly. This can be particularly helpful in busy environments where lifeguards are monitoring visually cluttered scenes and processing large amounts of stimuli for sustained periods.

Royal Life Saving – Australia is conducting a survey to better understand how to safely and effectively incorporate AI-enhanced drowning detection systems into current supervision frameworks, plans and protocols. As these technologies gain traction, we aim to identify the support needed for the industry to maximise a safe and positive impact. This survey will gather feedback on current knowledge, perceived benefits, challenges, and the training required to successfully implement these systems in aquatic environments.

Click here to participate in the survey and contribute to the future of aquatic safety.

For more information on AI-enhanced drowning detection systems, visit our website or contact us at: info@rlssa.org.au.

*(Araiza-Alba, Matthews, Foster & Kaufman 2023)

Powered by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

Royal Life Saving Queensland, introduces Award Membership. Award Membership is granted to any person who has completed one or more nationally recognised training course with us. Unless a person opts out, the person will automatically become an Award Member upon, either:

• completion of a workbook for an eligible course, or
• registration for an eligible course via the society’s training system (aXcelerate).

Course participants do not need to do anything, they will automatically become a member when they complete an eligible course with us, unless they opt out.

Benefits of being an Award Member include:

• We may issue offers that are only available to members
• You can contact us at any time for free advice in respect to aquatic safety
• You will be sent our newsletter with interest articles around aquatics and drowning
• You can attend our Annual General Meeting and receive our annual report
• You can nominate people for a society honour or award
• You can upgrade to paid membership

We encourage Award Members to become paid members of the society (which are referred to in our constitution as an ordinary member). Ordinary Members are entitled to voting rights and can be elected to the board or a committee. To become a paid member, please go to the Royal Life Saving Hub and sign up as a paid member.

We encourage Award Members to become paid members of the society (which are referred to in our constitution as an ordinary member). Ordinary Members are entitled to voting rights and can be elected to the board or a committee. To become a paid member, please go to the Royal Life Saving Hub using the QR code to the right.

Eligible Courses include:

Any course completed after 1 July 2024 with the following characteristics:

• Any course with a Unit of Competence attached
• Any Club Course

Royal Life Saving releases it’s annual report for the financial year (June 2024). 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 “As we approach the 120th anniversary of Royal Life Saving Queensland, it is a privilege to reflect on the remarkable progress we have made in our mission of drowning prevention and water safety. The past year has been a testament to our
resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to saving lives.“

“.