Royal Life Saving Facilitators are volunteer professionals eager to provide customer focused programs that foster training and skills that can save lives and prevent accidents. Facilitators We are the leading provider for Lifesaving Awards in Australia. With an extensive range of courses, support and resources available. Log In About Facilitators Royal Life Saving offers a variety of awards and non-accredited programs, aimed at individuals or groups within the community. These awards can be gained progressively by people of all ages and abilities. The scheme has several strands, each with sequential flow and focusses on educating the community on water safety, personal survival, rescue and resuscitation. These programs are delivered by Facilitators who are volunteer professionals eager to provide customer focused programs that foster training and skills that can save lives and prevent accidents. As a Facilitator, you will gain access to the Facilitator Portal. This Portal contains the information and resources required to deliver a range of Royal Life Saving NSW Water Safety and Resuscitation Programs. You are required to keep your qualifications up to date, to maintain a current Facilitator status and receive RLS Lifesaving Awards. Lifesaving Awards Explore the range of Lifesaving Awards available to Students Resuscitation Awareness Bronze Star Bronze Medallion Bronze Cross Junior Instructor Facilitator Application Apply, transfer or renew your Facilitators and Membership with Royal Life Saving Facilitator Requirements Learn what the requirements are to become a Royal life Saving Facilitator View Now Apply to be Facilitator Click here to submit your licence application to be a Royal Life Saving Facilitator Apply Now Renew your Facilitator status To renew your Facilitator Application please go to the Facilitator Portal. If you don't have an account please contact us Renew Now Facilitator Portal Approved Facilitators can access their Learning and Assessment Resources here Access Now

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On Wednesday 25 February 2026, Royal Life Saving NSW had the honour of recognising extraordinary acts of courage, leadership and lifesaving skill at the 2026 Royal Life Saving NSW Commendation Awards Ceremony , hosted at Government House Sydney by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales. The ceremony brought together recipients, families, emergency services personnel and community members to acknowledge individuals who stepped forward in critical moments to protect and preserve life. Each year, Royal Life Saving NSW presents Commendation Awards to people who demonstrate exceptional initiative, expertise and compassion when responding to emergencies. These awards recognise both members of the public and Emergency Services Personnel whose actions reflect the very essence of the Royal Life Saving mission – helping people develop the skills and confidence to save lives. Stories of Courage and Commitment This year’s recipients were recognised for extraordinary acts of courage, quick thinking and compassion in a range of life-threatening situations across New South Wales. Incidents included lifesaving responses during extreme bushfire conditions, coordinated rescues at beaches, off-duty police responding to a drowning emergency involving a toddler, and members of the public entering dangerous surf to assist a swimmer in distress. Other awardees were recognised for their decisive actions during critical medical emergencies, including stabilising a surfer following a shark attack using improvised tourniquets and performing CPR and defibrillation on an unconscious driver until paramedics arrived. In each case, the calm leadership, teamwork and lifesaving skills of those involved played a critical role in protecting or preserving life. Together, these stories demonstrate the powerful impact of preparedness and the willingness of ordinary people and emergency responders alike to step forward when every second counts. Why Recognition Matters While each story is unique, they share a common thread: the willingness to act in moments when every second counts. These acts of courage demonstrate the profound impact that training, awareness and community responsibility can have during emergencies. They also reinforce the importance of the lifesaving skills Royal Life Saving teaches across communities every day – including CPR, first aid, and water safety education. For Royal Life Saving NSW, the Commendation Awards are more than a ceremony. They are an opportunity to celebrate individuals who embody the organisation’s long-standing motto: “Whomsoever you see in distress, recognise in him a fellow human being.” This philosophy reflects the shared responsibility we all have to look out for one another, particularly around water and in emergency situations. Celebrating Lifesavers Across Our Community The 2026 Commendation Awards highlight the extraordinary difference ordinary people can make when they are prepared to act. Whether responding to a drowning incident, a medical emergency, or a life-threatening injury, each recipient demonstrated calm leadership, compassion and a commitment to preserving life. Royal Life Saving NSW congratulates all recipients and thanks them for their courage and dedication to the safety of others. Their actions serve as a powerful reminder that lifesaving skills truly save lives.   If you know someone deserving of a Commendation Award- fill out a nomination form today! Commendations | Royal Life Saving   Photography by: Daniel Kukec Photography

With NSW Seniors Festival  approaching next week, communities across the state will come together to celebrate the valuable contributions of older Australians and promote opportunities for people to stay active, connected and healthy as they age. At Royal Life Saving NSW, Seniors Festival is also an important reminder of the role that water safety and aquatic activity can play in supporting healthy ageing — both physically and socially. Over the coming months, Royal Life Saving NSW is proud to partner with the NSW Government and local aquatic facilities across Western Sydney to deliver a series of FREE Seniors Water Wellness Programs  for adults aged 60 years and over, starting in March. These programs are designed to help older adults confidently return to aquatic environments, build skills and enjoy the many benefits that water-based activity provides. Why Water Safety for Older Adults Matters New national research from Royal Life Saving Australia highlights why programs like these are so important. The latest report shows that older Australians are now experiencing the highest drowning risk on record , with people aged 65 years and over accounting for 26% of all drowning deaths , despite representing just 16% of the population . In 2024/25 alone, 115 older Australians lost their lives to drowning  — a 55% increase on the 10-year average . Over the past decade: 736 older adults have drowned in Australia 57% had a pre-existing medical condition 75% of those conditions were cardiovascular-related Many incidents occurred close to home or within 5km of residence Common activities included swimming, boating and unintentional falls into water As Australians live longer and remain more active, time spent around water also increases. While this is positive for health and wellbeing, it also highlights the need to better understand and manage risk. Factors such as underlying medical conditions, reduced mobility, medications, fatigue and falls can increase drowning risk with age. The message is clear: staying active around water is important — but doing so safely is essential. Supporting Lifelong Aquatic Participation Royal Life Saving strongly supports a lifelong approach to aquatic participation . Water-based activity provides significant benefits including improved mobility, cardiovascular health, balance, strength and mental wellbeing. It also creates opportunities for social connection, which is vital for healthy ageing. The goal is not to discourage participation, but to ensure older adults can continue enjoying aquatic environments safely, confidently and with awareness of their personal limits . Seniors Water Wellness Programs Across Western Sydney To support this, Royal Life Saving NSW will deliver FREE Seniors Water Wellness Programs  across multiple aquatic centres in Western Sydney from March onwards. These programs focus on: Returning to aquatic activity in a safe and supportive environment Building confidence in and around water Learning practical water safety and lifesaving skills Understanding personal risk factors and safe decision making Gentle aquatic exercise to support strength, mobility and balance CPR awareness and emergency response knowledge The programs are suitable for: Adults aged 60+ People new to aquatic activity Those returning after time away All fitness and swimming ability levels Importantly, the sessions are social, welcoming and delivered by experienced instructors who understand the needs of older participants. Get Involved As we celebrate Seniors Festival, there is no better time to prioritise health, wellbeing and confidence in, on and around water! Registrations are now open  for upcoming Seniors Water Wellness Programs across Western Sydney, with sessions commencing in March. Spots are limited and bookings are essential. 👉 Visit our events page to find a program location near you and register. www.drowningprevention.org.au/industryevents Together, we can support older Australians to stay active, connected and safe in the water for life.

On Tuesday 10th February, we said goodbye to Terry McCallum, a colleague, mentor, and friend who dedicated more than 40 years of his life to lifesaving education and drowning prevention. Terry’s impact on Royal Life Saving cannot be overstated. He wasn’t just a trainer, he was someone who shaped the culture around him. He brought warmth, humour, and an extraordinary depth of knowledge into every course, every office conversation, and every interaction, he had a rare gift for connecting with people. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Terry set the standard. He reminded us what professionalism looks like when it’s paired with kindness. He was the kind of person who checked in on others, who made people feel seen, and who gave his time freely, not because he had to, but because he genuinely cared. Terry trained tens of thousands of people in CPR, First Aid, aquatic rescue and lifesaving skills, and through that, his legacy lives on in every person who has ever used those skills to help someone in an emergency. His contribution reached far beyond our organisation, into the community, and into the lives of people he never even met. Even after retirement, Terry continued to give back to Royal Life Saving, supporting education initiatives and helping with community defibrillator servicing, because for him, this work was always more than a job. We are incredibly grateful for everything he gave to our organisation, our team, and the wider community. We farewell not only an outstanding trainer, but a true gentleman and an even better friend. Thank you for everything, Terry. You will be deeply missed. Vale Terry McCallum.