As demands for beach patrols and ocean life-saving services grow, the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA) has called for a new funding model for the delivery of beach safety.
Speaking at the APOLA national conference in Wollongong at the end of last week, Association life member Ken Holloway told media “we do an excellent job in drowning prevention and we've got a lot of people who are involved.
"However, the demographic is changing on our beaches. This is mainly due to immigration and refugees coming from countries which are sometimes landlocked and they've never been to a beach before. That's showing up in the drowning statistics."
The APOLA life member’s comments follow one of the deadliest seasons on record for beach drownings in Australia - during which 86 lives were lost, an increase of 30% from the previous summer.
While the volunteer-based Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has the most high-profile role in beach safety, professional lifeguards employed by local government guard beaches up to 265 days a year.
SLSA’s income comes from donations, fundraising and state and Federal Government, in contrast to the council funded professional lifeguards.
Explaining this role, Holloway added “(funding of professional lifeguards) always comes back to local councils who are the main providers of those services - including rubbish collection, first aid, parking, showers.
"Wollongong and other councils are struggling to fund the increase in demand for their services.
"If money was to come from both federal and state governments directly for wages and lifeguards we could allocate resources to areas that are becoming very popular.”
Speaking of funding, conference presenter Craig Riddington, founder of Surf Educators International (SEI), noted “governments allocate a lot of funding for water safety but a lot of it is wasted.”
Riddington also highlighted that professional lifeguards have often been excluded from policymaking on ocean safety.
Citing the Australian Water Safety Council (AWSC), which excludes professional lifeguards from its membership, Riddington added “where else would you see an area where the biggest experts are not recognised?”
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
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