77795

Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, President of the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) and Head of lifeguarding services for Sydney’s Waverley Council, has been announced as the official ambassador for SwimSAFER Week 2024.

With drowning deaths rising on Australian beaches, SWIM Australia has established a crucial new partnership in collaboration with Hopkins and his water safety initiative, Float to Survive Australia to emphasise the importance of learning to swim and mastering the life-saving skill of floating before heading out to any waterway this summer.

The collaboration comes at a critical time, as Royal Life Saving Society- Australia’s latest National Drowning Report reveals a 45% increase in drowning deaths at beaches compared to the 10-year average, with rip currents being a major contributing factor in over 35% of these tragedies*.

Brendon Ward, Chief Executive of SWIM Group, the industry peak body responsible for SwimSAFER Week, explained "February alone saw more deaths on our beaches than the average, marking a truly tragic year for beach safety in Australia.

"Learning to swim and floating go hand-in-hand; you can’t do one without mastering the other and we know being able to float provides crucial time that enables people to be saved in a water emergency.”

Hopkins who has seen firsthand the devastation caused by drownings during his 30+ year career, is passionate about the campaign’s mission, stating “every year, we see too many lives lost in the water be it in the ocean, lake or pool, and it breaks my heart.

“The ability to float can make all the difference when someone is caught in a rip or struggling in the water. This partnership with SWIMSAFER Week aligns with my survival message ‘Float to Survive’ and is about giving people the knowledge and skills they need, I am very excited to be involved this year.”

Hundreds of swim schools across the country will participate, hosting special float clinics as part of SWIMSAFER Week.

SWIM Australia is the home and voice for the nation’s coaches, teachers and swim schools.

Float to Survive Australia is committed to teaching essential water safety skills, with a particular focus on floating. Understanding the critical importance of this skill, Float to Survive works tirelessly to educate the public and equip individuals with the knowledge needed to stay safe in aquatic environments.

SwimSAFER Week 2024 runs from 18th to 24th November.

Click here for more information.

Image: Brendon Ward, Chief Executive of SWIM Group (left) with Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins.

*National Drowning Report 2024 Royal Lifesaving Society Australia.

Related Articles

29th October 2024 - 40% of children leaving primary school have not achieved key water safety benchmark

25th October 2024 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins partners with GOswim to promote ‘float to survive’ message

19th October 2024 - Coroner’s report includes summer swimming warning

16th October 2024 - Royal Life Saving launches new fatal drowning dashboard

3rd October 2024 - Royal Life Saving Queensland set to introduce AI-enhanced drowning detection systems training

28th September 2024 - Swimmers outside of flagged patrol areas 10 times more likely to need rescuing

24th September 2024 - SCTA attracts over 400 registrations for SWIMCON24

21st September 2024 - Excellence in aquatic education celebrated at SWIM Australia Awards 2024

17th September 2024 - Approaching SWIMCON24 SCTA’s Brendon Ward charts success of Australian swimming

20th August 2024 - Drowning levels continue to increase despite ever increasing resources

20th August 2024 - UNSW safety research shows volunteer surf lifesavers have sole responsibility for patrolling NSW beaches just 14.4% of the time

16th August 2024 - Coroner hears that ‘significant failings’ led to 2020 child drowning death at remote Northern Territory swimming pool

7th January 2024 - Emergency Response Beacon activated to prevent rip drownings

29th December 2023 - ‘Float to Survive’ message promoted across social media

12th December 2023 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins promotes ‘Float to Survive’ message with Blacktown City Council

20th July 2023 - SWIM Australia and AUSTSWIM join forces to reduce drowning rate

23rd January 2023 - Float to Survive message demonstrated in ocean rip at Sydney’s Manly Beach

24th November 2022 - Apollo Projects encourages other businesses to support SwimSAFER Week 2022

3rd November 2022 - Blacktown City Council’s Aqua Learn to Swim program gets Swim Australia recognition

9th September 2022 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins gains support for adoption of Float to Survive initiative as a national anti-drowning prevention message

28th April 2022 - SCTA announce General Manager appointment

14th April 2022 - ASCTA adopts new identity as SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia

18th November 2021 - SwimSAFER Week research reveals more than half of Australian children not learning to swim

7th May 2021 - Bruce Hopkins and Craig Riddington launch ‘Float to Survive’ water safety initiative

16th November 2020 - SwimSAFER Week aims to reverse decline in swimming lesson enrolments

6th January 2017 - Bondi Rescue educates the world about beach safety

27th November 2014 - 400 Australian swim schools unite to create a SwimSAFER nation

26th November 2013 - SwimSAFER week to combat drowning deaths

2nd April 2012 - SwimSAFERCPR mate launch

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.