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Looking to better serve the state’s aquatic industry and enhance operational and strategic capabilities, Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia has entered into a strategic partnership with Life Saving Victoria to provide additional support services.

Committed to equipping the industry in providing important safety services, messaging and programs to South Australian communities, the partnership is centred on critical safety services including:

• Pool Safety Assessments
• Mystery Guest Visits
• Aquatic Facility Design Assessments
• Supervision Plan Assessments
• Critical Incident Reviews
• SwimSafe (a multicultural and adult vulnerable swimmer campaign)
• Platinum Pool Accreditation

Announcing the initiative, Royal Life Saving South Australia Chief Executive, Jayne Minear advised that the initiative provides an instant boost to an important area of service provisioning, stating “we are very pleased to partner with our Victorian colleagues to support aquatic industry services and ensure that we can provide the highest standard of delivery and support to the South Australian aquatic industry.”

With the partnership brings together traditional Royal Life Saving programs and services and integrates them within a larger eco-system of best practice aquatic facility safety strategy and management, Minear added “supporting the Aquatic Industry is a key component of drowning prevention education and advocacy, which remains central to the mission and vision of Royal Life Saving South Australia.”

The partnership will also enhance the opportunities for professional development and networking in the aquatic industry workforce in South Australia, ensuring that aquatic industry personnel have increased access to ongoing professional development opportunities through shared online workshops, forums and events.

Explaining the commitment of Life Saving Victoria (LSV) to the partnership, LSV General Manager - Training and Aquatic Industry, Andy Dennis explained that the body is pleased to provide additional support to water safety in South Australia.

Dennis advised “Life Saving Victoria is thrilled to see important programs like SwimSafe and Platinum Pool be extended to the South Australian Industry, to provide increased assurance, support and peace of mind to facility owners and operators

“We know, from experience and based on industry feedback, that managing aquatic facilities is more challenging than ever and that meeting and achieving both compliance and safe operation against the intricate web of standards, guidelines and legislation is challenging. Therefore we are delighted to provide a more comprehensive package of services to astute facility managers.”

Speaking to facility managers, Royal Life Saving - SA General Manager - Operations Jake Culkin cited the many benefits of choosing to partner with the body in managing aquatic risk, commenting “facility managers can have confidence when partnering with Royal Life Saving - SA that not only are the services being provided by and contextualised to local South Australian aquatic facilities and swim schools, but that they have the backing and support of a larger network of life saving partners who are deeply engaged with the aquatic industry.

“We will continue to work on driving safety standards and creating a stronger, more sustainable and more vibrant aquatic industry, while leveraging efficiencies and expertise in the Royal Life Saving member network to resource, enhance and develop initiatives that meet industry demand.”

The partnership announcement follows the work of the Royal Life Saving network in standardising a national Pool Safety Assessment framework allowing management bodies who manage pools in multiple states and territories to benchmark their safety performance against their other facilities.

While the tool has been adapted to ensure it captures the requirements of the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO) and local public health regulations, it is unique in its ability to benchmark at a national level against national standards for the purpose of state and national advocacy.

Royal Life Saving South Australia and Life Saving Victoria are committed to ensuring that all Pool Safety Assessments are performed by qualified and accredited Auditors per the requirements of the GSPO (‘GSPO NP 12 - Training and Qualifications of Pool Safety Auditors’ details the units of competency auditors should hold as well as any industry licensing requirements).

Life Saving Victoria was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia Victoria Branch (est. 1904) and Surf Life Saving Victoria (est. 1947). LSV plays an active role within the Royal Life Saving state and territory network, supporting lifesaving and water safety initiatives while respecting the proud traditions and programs of the Royal Life Saving.

Royal Life Saving South Australia (est. 1909) has worked with every South Australian community and the aquatic industry for 111 years to reduce drowning and turn everyday people across the state into community lifesavers.

Life Saving Victoria and Royal Life Saving South Australia share a common strategy of supporting and enhancing the aquatic industry’s provision of life saving programs and services to the communities.

Main image courtesy of Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia.

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