Increased social cohesion and improved health and wellbeing are two of the main social benefits of the Australian aquatic industry, a new report has found. The Social Impact of the National Aquatic Industry report launched this week was initiated by the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia and Swinburne University of Technology. The research looked at all levels of the industry, from small swim schools through to major aquatic and leisure facilities. Royal Life Saving Chief Executive Officer Justin Scarr said the report included the four key elements of social impact infrastructure – people, places, policies and programs. “Public pools mean more to communities now than just being a place to swim; for many communities it is a central hub where people come together. The social impacts are much more diverse than has previously been appreciated,” Mr Scarr said. The research audited existing social infrastructure in aquatic facilities and swim schools via a survey in stage one. Stage two included a qualitative study of interviews with managers and users of more than 100 aquatic facilities and swim schools allowing them to express the richness of their experiences in facilities. Professor Emma Sherry from the Sport Innovation Research Group at Swinburne University oversaw the research design, delivery, implementation, and reporting. Professor Sherry said the results of the research demonstrated that the aquatic industry provides significant social impacts for Australians. “Those benefits include health and wellbeing, increasing social connection, providing safe environments for swimming and education, facilitating social cohesion in communities and providing significant employment benefits,” Professor Sherry said. “We identified that the social impact is created with and for community, as it is the local community that co-creates the social impacts in partnership with the aquatic facilities. The physical buildings themselves are often the least important aspect of the delivery of social impacts.” Report contributor and RLSSA’s National Manager – Aquatics, RJ Houston said although the report highlights the work aquatic facility designers, owners and operators are already doing, more work is needed to ensure the ongoing sustainability and viability of aquatic facilities in an increasingly competitive and changing social and economic landscape. “We know from both this report and our earlier work that while local pools compete for resources, they are worthwhile social investments for governments, communities and business owners,” said Mr Houston. “The engagement with vulnerable community members and tailoring of programs is a key point of difference for the aquatic industry which needs to be addressed in infrastructure planning and policy and program development at local, regional, state and national levels. This report provides critical guidance as to how to maximise each pool’s social impact and therefore it’s relative resourcing attractiveness for policy makers.” The report follows up the earlier research conducted by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia and PricewaterhouseCoopers on the Health, Social and Economic Value of the National Aquatic Industry (available here) – which sought to establish a monetary figure for the industry’s total contribution to Australian society each year. This second report focuses on non-quantifiable benefits such as users’ experiences which are believed to be equally important and compelling as the economic data contained in the PwC report.

Together with Royal Life Saving Australia, Royal Life Saving NSW is honoured to share good news from Multicultural NSW - we won the Community Campaign of the Year award with our focus on drowning prevention and water safety education in multicultural communities. The NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards (PMCAs) recognise excellence in the multicultural media and marketing industry and acknowledge innovative and creative campaigns that inspire social cohesion and community harmony. Working in partnership with community leaders, our NSW Easter Holidays Water Safety Campaign focused on providing culturally relevant, simple and effective messaging for our multicultural communities. The campaign was produced in Simplified Chinese, Nepalese and Arabic to reduce language and cultural barriers. These language groups also align with emerging drowning statistics which demonstrate the most vulnerable groups across NSW. Royal Life Saving NSW Chief Executive Officer Michael Ilinsky said it's a great achievement from the team and community members involved in the project. "The award recognises the hard work and collaboration from different parts of the organisation and our local community groups. The positive outcomes from the campaign are a real testament to our goal: the delivery of water safety education for all, in a culturally appropriate and easy to understand way," Mr. Ilinsky said. The positive feedback we received continued to support the evolution of the campaign as resources were shared across the community. Royal Life Saving is committed to further advancing and evolving our work and partnerships with multicultural communities to identify and close gaps in resources and support around water safety education and drowning prevention initiatives. “I can see community members still sharing videos on Facebook and Twitter. Many thanks for this opportunity and always feel free to include me in future campaigns. Also, NAA received plenty of requests from local community members to organise swimming sessions for adults.” Rishi Acharya, Founder - Nepalese Australian Association (NAA) “It was great working with the Royal Lifesaving staff and seeing their commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campaign. I enjoyed learning about Royal lifesaving and what they are doing to support multicultural communities. This water safety information is really reaching the community and I am happy that it is - Chidubem David Gbuzue – Nigerian Community member” A huge thank you and congratulations to the community groups involved in contributing to the success of the campaign: Advance Diversity Services Nepalese Australian Association (NAA) Swim Sisters NSW CALD Water Safety Network South East Sydney CALD Water Safety Committee Western Sydney/South West Sydney Water Safety Committee Key Nigerian community members Please visit our website Multicultural Water Safety | Royal Life Saving (drowningprevention.org.au) for further resources and details about our current community programs.

School sports activities, including indoor and outdoor pools for student specified activities, are allowed to proceed from 1 November 2021 for the rest of Term 4. Royal Life Saving NSW welcomes the update from the NSW Department of Education, providing another avenue for students to get back in the water and refresh their water safety skills. Students are allowed to participate in the below activities whilst following COVID-19 protocols that align with NSW Public Health Orders and the Reopening NSW roadmap: Indoor pools: school swimming and water safety lessons, swimming squads, lap swimming and rehabilitation Outdoor pools: swimming lessons and recreational purposes The same requirements still apply for access to pool facilities: Students aged 16 and older (and staff) must be fully vaccinated to enter public indoor pool facilities until 1 December and will be required to show proof of vaccination status to facility staff on arrival. Students in Year 7 and above (and staff) must wear masks indoors at all times when not exercising, including in change rooms and bathroom facilities. Third-party providers are allowed to support swimming activities if they are fully vaccinated and must check in and check out using the school’s QR Code if held on a school site or the venue’s QR code if held outside of the school. If transport is required, mixing and mingling between cohorts must be minimised. Masks are required on buses for staff and students in Year 7 and above and are strongly encouraged for primary students. With summer around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your class back in the water and refresh their water safety skills. Read more on the Department of Education website: School sport activities (nsw.gov.au)

Following a Press Conference today the NSW Government has released its updated Easing Restrictions at 80% full vaccination. From the Monday after NSW hits the 80% (aged 16 and over) double-dose vaccination target, eased restrictions will allow those who are fully vaccinated to have: Exercise and recreation Gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities reopen with density limits and up to 20 people in classes. Indoor swimming pools reopen for lessons only. Community sports permitted for fully vaccinated staff, spectators and participants. All premises will operate at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors. People under the age of 16 who are not fully vaccinated are allowed unaccompanied in their workplaces and all outdoor settings, but must be with a fully vaccinated member of their household in hospitality venues (unless collecting takeaways), entertainment facilities, major recreation facilities and places of worship. Craig Roberts, General Manager for Drowning Prevention and Education at Royal Life Saving said "We welcome this revised postion frI’m the NSW Government. This is an excellent outcome for the NSW Community allowing children and adults to get back into water and enrol in essential swimming and water safety lessons before the summer season begins". "This is a much needed boost for the Aquatic Industry with an estimated 25,000 staff and 250 facilities now able to open thier doors in October." For the latest information please visit the NSW Government Website

Royal Life Saving last week advised industry into the fact that we were seeking clarification regarding learn to swim for outdoor pools. We have been back and forward with the NSW Office of Sport and NSW Health on behalf of the industry. This has now been clarified and is as follows: A NSW Health Spokesperson has said: Outdoor Pools "Outdoor public swimming pools in stay at home areas and areas of concern opened on Monday 27 September with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. NSW Health has worked with the Office of Sport and the Office of Local Government, as well as a range of peak industry groups, to develop a safety plan to help outdoor swimming pools reopen. The safety plan sets out what pool operators need to do to fulfil their obligations under public health orders and minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on their premises, such as ensuring 1.5 metres physical distancing wherever possible and preventing overcrowding at the pool. Pool patrons are subject to the existing rules on outdoor recreation and exercise. There may be groups of up to five people from different households, not including children 12 and under, if all people who are at least 16 years in the group are fully vaccinated. Otherwise, groups are limited to 2. Learn to swim classes may take place in accordance with these rules on outdoor recreation and exercise. The safety plan is available here " What does this mean for outdoor operators: Complete your Safety Plan Ensure Physical Distancing, Hygiene, Ventilation and all other COVID Safety Practices are in place Learn to Swim is permitted under the rule that up to 5 fully vaccinated people at a time over 16 years of age) N.B. "Even though the 5 person limit on gatherings does not include children aged 12 or under, the rule is not intended as a means to allow large gatherings of children for the purposes of exercise or outdoor recreation." "Given the severity of the outbreak and the significant continued risk of transmission presented by the delta COVID-19 variant it is NSW Health’s and NSW Education’s strong recommendation that parents and carers keep their children at home. This is reflected in announcements from the Premier, NSW Chief Medical Officer and NSW Education that the delta COVID-19 variant is very easily transmitted and the high number of infections occurring in children who then pass it on to the household". Indoor Pools "Under the NSW Government’s roadmap, indoor pools will be allowed to reopen from 1 December 2021, with the one person per 2sqm rule. A number of factors are considered when assessing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in indoor settings, including the ability of people to wear masks, the likelihood of people congregating in close proximity, and the use of the facilities by children who are unable to be vaccinated at this time. Vaccination rates among the broader community is also a key consideration in assessing the risk of transmission in indoor settings. All indoor venues are required to fulfil their obligations under public health orders and minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on their premises". What does this mean for indoor operators: Complete your Safety Plan Ensure Physical Distancing, Hygiene, Ventillation and COVID Safety Practices are in place After 1 December Operators will be permitted to open Indoor Swimming Pools with the one person per 2sqm rule including learn to swim and squad training. Royal Life Saving notes that within the NSW Governments Roadmap to freedom unveiled for the fully vaccinated Published: 9 Sep 2021 Released by: The Premier, Deputy Premier this Media Release identified the 70% double dose milestone indicates that "Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the 1 person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people who are double vaccinated." We are continuing to actively engage with the NSW Office of Sport and NSW Health to further clarify these matters on behalf of the industry.

The brand new Swim Teacher infant and toddler course is a nationally recognised course for Swim Teachers looking to gain specialist knowledge in teaching infants and toddlers. The Infant & Toddler course will deliver the skills and knowledge required to create activities for the development of infants (over six (6) months of age), toddlers and care givers in an aquatic environment with communication techniques suited for this age range. It will ensure that work is performed according to relevant legislation including working with children and/or vulnerable people checks, organisational policies and procedures, and best practice principles of aquatic activities. The Infant & Toddler program supports The National Swimming and Water Safety Framework which is a structured and consistent understanding of swimming and water safety education across Australia, providing the development of water familiarisation, exploration and water safety skills. It is assumed that participants are sufficiently physically fit and healthy to undertake this course. You are required to communicate and demonstrate the activity or skill you are wishing your students to perform. Duration The course will take approximately 6 hours (theory online), plus minimum 12 hours mentored practical teaching and on the job workbook to be completed and obtain your qualification. Topics include: Legal, ethical and organisational requirements and responsibilitie Plan, deliver and review a lesson Conditions, factors and external influences that effect participants undertaking a skill Temperament and personality characteristics of infants and toddlers Developmental stages of infants and toddlers Aquatic activities and games to facilitate motor, cognitive and personal development in infants and toddlers Appropriate use, care and ongoing maintenance of relevant equipment and resources. Develop and implement activity plans with infants, toddlers and caregivers in aquatic activities using games and activities. Communication techniques suited to infants and toddlers Course Details Course Cost: $150.00 Pre-requisite: Reasonable communication, swimming & fitness is required Course Length: 4-5 hours flexible online delivery, an additional min 12hours mentoring with an on the job workbook to be completed. Minimum Age: 16 years old Validity: 3 years Please Note: Royal Life Saving Society NSW is not a CRICOS provider; it is unable to provide national training to overseas students holding a student visa. Assessments To gain the Swim Teacher – Infants & Toddler accreditation, the following assessment components must be satisfactorily completed: · On-line theory assessment (completed prior to completing the practical hours and workbook). · Practical on the job teaching hours in a learn to swim environment signed off by a workplace supervisor · On the job workbook to be completed, signed off by a workplace supervisor and submitted to be assessed by a Cert IV T&A Course Requirements This interactive course is delivered in a blended format, it requires the completion of a self paced online knowledge component followed by practical hours and on the job workbook. Outcomes The Royal Life Saving Swim Teacher course contains units of competency which are nationally recognised from the SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training package. Upon successful completion of all assessment requirements, candidates will be issued a Statement of Attainment for the following units: SISCAQU011 - Promote development of infants and toddlers in an aquatic environment In addition, successful candidates will also attain: Swim Teacher Licence For the successful completion of the online components of the course, candidates are required to complete on-the-job workbook and teaching hours in a range of teaching conditions in order to obtain this qualification on their Swim Teacher Licence. This on-the-job assessment ensures the Swim Teacher is able to apply the skills learnt in the training course at their place of employment. The on-the-job component needs to be signed off by a workplace supervisor and uploaded to their online course for marking. More information on who can be a workplace supervisor is provided in the on the job workplace booklet. COVID-19 Information: In order to make sure we are conducting training as safely as possible, and to protect our learners and trainers, Royal Life Saving has implemented some changes to the way we facilitate our Face to Face workshops. We have: · Made hand hygiene facilities available at our training venues; · Increased cleaning frequencies and standards for general spaces and equipment; · Decreased group sizes; Introduced physical distancing as per current Government restrictions; and · Mandated the completion of Infection Control learning modules for all staff and trainers. Before attending a Face to face workshop, please consider your health and others'. Please do not attend your chosen course if you are feeling unwell or experiencing flu-like symptoms. At your course you can expect: · To be asked to complete a Verbal Health Assessment, and Temperature check; · To be asked to wash/ sanitise your hands prior to entering the training space; · To be provided adequate personal space in order to maintain required physical distances from others; · To perform practical assessment tasks on yourself or on a manikin (not on others); · To be asked to excuse yourself from the training space if you declare yourself to be unwell, or begin displaying flu-like signs; · To be asked to wash/sanitise your hands before leaving the workshop. These changes will help to keep everybody safe and they form part of our Terms and Conditions for participation. If you think you may have any difficulty complying with these changes, please contact your local Royal Life Saving office at your earliest convenience. Book into a course Now!

Droughts, Fires and Covid have impacted the Swim School Industry over the past 2-3 year more than we could have ever imagined. A significant loss in income, staffing and financial support has seen a resilient aquatic industry pull through, but only just. Now with the support of the Government, Royal Life Saving has launched a brand-new Partnership Program to support Swim Schools get back on their feet and get swimmers in their door! “Our Swim School Partnership is a hub of people, resources, and offerings brought together to give you everything you need to build and deliver successful solutions for you and/or your customers” said Craig Roberts, General Manager of Royal Life Saving. “The new Swim School Partnership extends on the work with the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework to deliver a Swim Teacher Development Framework and a Swim School Excellence Framework and a range of supporting resources so that Swim Schools have what they need at their fingertips”. The Swim School Partnership also offer aquatic facilities the opportunity to take advantage of the new recently revitalised Swim and Survive Program from Royal Life Saving. The Online and innovative solution provides swim schools with the following: Includes: · Access to free and heavily discounted Swim Teacher Courses · Access to the new Swim School Excellence Guideline · Access to the new Swim Teacher Development Guidelines · Access to a library of over 45 Teaching Videos (and growing) · Access to over 50 new Teaching Activities and Games for Swim Teachers · Access to an extensive range of marketing resources · Access to a dedicated Swim School Forum · Access to resources, tips and techniques on implementing Child Safety provisions within your Aquatic Facility · Access to free online education programs for Children aged 3 years to 15 years of age all aligned to the curriculum, syllabus and milestones on the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework Craig Roberts said, “Royal Life Saving is committed to driving a strong direction and level of support with the swim school industry to make life that little bit easier”. “We have engaged industry, we have listened, we have learnt and we intend to continue to work with you for a stronger more vibrant industry”. To view the Latest Swim School Partnership Program visit PARTNERS | Royal Life Saving (drowningprevention.org.au) Swim School Partnership enquiries swimandsurvive@royalnsw.com.au

The Great Reshuffle: The Future of Work Organisations are rethinking their entire working models, cultures, and values. In tandem, employees are reevaluating how and why they work, looking for greater flexibility and personal fulfillment. This month we look at courses that focus on the future of our work environment as we prepare to re-enter the workplace as restrictions start to ease. Hybrid / Blended Work Environment Whilst our facilities remain closed, it is hard to keep your team members engaged and feeling connected. This course will teach you how to apply the principles of coaching and organisational psychology to maintain connections and keep your team members engaged in a virtual work environment. Course Length: 41 minutes Skills covered: Employee engagement | Virtual teams Link: (21) Building connection and engagement in virtual teams (linkedin.com) Building your visibility as an online leader In our industry, many of our workforce tend to carry out our day-to-day duties with only a select few team members. It is paramount therefore that as a leader, your team see you show up and provide reassurance – now more than ever. This course will cover key strategies how to boost your visibility when working with remote teams. Course length: 31 minutes Skills covered: Virtual management | Personal Branding | Virtual Teams | Team Leadership Link: (21) Increasing your visibility when you are a remote leader (linkedin.com) Supporting your team as offices reopen As we move closer to that magic date when our venues are able to reopen, returning to work for our workforce may still present it’s challenges. The ‘new normal’ means we need to develop new and improved strategies for going forward. This team will help assist the development of an action plan to help your team quickly adapt the next time they are faced with the unexpected. Course length: 35 minutes Skills Covered: Team leadership Link: (21) Answering commonly asked questions (linkedin.com) Employee Engagement and Retention What is employee engagement? This course will present strategies to attract, hire and retain quality employees, and more importantly, how to measure and evaluate your effectiveness sin engagement. The Learning objectives for this course include: · Exercising discretionary effort · Attracting engaged employees · Assessing the fit of employees · Making onboarding more engaging · Learning from new employees · Provide opportunities for career growth · Clarifying objectives · Measuring engagement using surveys · Being present for employees · Driving engagement with fun Course Length: 1 hr 22 minutes Skills Covered: Employee Engagement Link: (21) Engagement = success (linkedin.com) How leaders can motivate others by creating meaning It is reported that up to 70% of today’s workforce is disengaged. In the current climate this is likely to be much higher with such a large proportion of our workforce currently stood down or on reduced hours. This course teaches leaders how to motivate their teams by creating meaning. Learn how to define a shared purpose, provide opportunities for growth, create a learning environment, grant autonomy, and more. Course Length: 35 minutes Skills Covered: Employee Engagement | People Management | Leadership Link: (21) Why meaning matters for motivation (linkedin.com) Redesigning how we work in 2021 2021 has certainly faced us with some very difficult choices about work. Many have been stood down, many have had to make the call to stand down their team. Most importantly we have had to manage how we are able to blend our work and home lives in a sustainable way. This course offers guidelines for making strategic and human-centered choices to redesign how people work together at your organisation. This course explains how to reimagine leadership practices, help your employees feel supported and safe, and create a resilient culture, driven by shared purpose and trust. Course length: 31 minutes Skills Covered: Workplace design | organisational culture Link: (21) Designing for success (linkedin.com)

Last week, the National Aquatic Industry Committee communicated it's confirmed renewed position on Lifeguard qualification/licence extensions. The committee endorsed the following: Extension periods for Pool Lifeguards now mirror the length of their associated lockdown (example: 12 week lockdown equals 12 week extension) Extension periods for Swim Teachers remain at a maximum of 4 weeks where the Swim Teacher has been in lockdown for a period of 7 days or more Extension periods for Aquatic Program Instructors remain at a maximum of 4 weeks where the instructor has been in lockdown for a period of 7 days or more All extension periods will commence from the date aquatic facilities are able to reopen. NSW has been harshly affected by this second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and this announcement was welcomed by an industry desperate to get back on it's feet. Craig Roberts, General Manager of Drowning Prevention and Education at Royal Life Saving NSW said "The National Aquatic Industry Committee's statement and renewed position has provided some reassurance across the sector. Pool managers and their teams can now plan a little more confidently knowing that the requirements for requalification are more flexible." Royal Life Saving is planning for the increased demand in training and update courses once Government vaccination targets are met and communities start to open back up again across NSW and the ACT. Penny Hodgers, General Manager of Capability and Capacity at Royal Life Saving NSW said, "Royal Life Saving has training opportunities already scheduled until the end of the year. We strongly encourage all affected Lifeguards and Swim Teachers to book into an update course as soon as it is practical to do so. Our fee-free transfer policy will ensure nobody who has to reschedule a course due to COVID will be financially penalised". With the majority of centres expected to reopen at similar times, those who leave their qualification renewal until the last minute may experience fewer course options. CLICK HERE to read more about the extensions and view the full position statement.

Royal Life Saving is looking forward to a summer back by the pool and our beautiful Australian waterways. We are planning for the return of our vacation swimming and water safety programs in January 2022, only this season we have a new and improved program on offer! Royal Life Saving’s new and improved SwimVAC program is a Swimming and Water Safety holiday program that runs over either 5 or 10 days. Aligned to the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework, SwimVAC programs encompass nationally recognised swimming and water safety benchmarks teaching swimming and personal safety skills to children of all skill abilities. ​ SwimVAC is targeted at children 3 years and up with the aim of getting as many children as possible to the 6 and 12 year old national benchmarks for swimming and water safety. For more information on the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework click here Swimming and Water Safety Framework | Royal Life Saving (drowningprevention.org.au) An extension lifesaving vacation program is also now available for higher level swimmers and is also aligned to the National framework. Registrations are now open for aquatic facilities and swim schools to partner in the states largest school holiday program for Swimming and Water Safety. Benefits of hosting a SwimVac Program include: ​ A nationally accredited Swimming and Water Safety program suitable to children of all ability levels Aligned with the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework Specialised curriculum documents, lesson plans, and certificates created by Royal Life Saving Increase access to aquatic participation for children in the community Employment for local Swimming Teachers Training and upskilling of all teachers delivering the program Attraction of new or returning customers to your facility Access to the SwimVAC marketing kit Access to support through our RLS Swimming and Water Safety Team Association with Royal Life Saving NSW ACT TAS Ongoing support past the 2 week program if you sign up to become a Partner with RLS For more information on hosting and registering for a SwimVAC program in January 2022 click here: SwimVac | Royal Life Saving (drowningprevention.org.au)

It is important for Parents to understand the benefits and what to expect when their most precious goods are starting a Swimming and Water Safety Program. In this articlae we explore what you should expect at a minimum. Key Features of Infant and Toddlers Programs At this stage of the learn to swim journey the Swim School programs should focus on water familiarisation, enjoyment and development of elementary skills required prior to independent participation Ages are from 6 months to 3 years In-water parent or carer participation Learn through play, games and fundamental movement skills What can I expect my child to learn? Getting into and out of the water safely Floating on their front and back Orientating their body using rotation skills Moving through the water using kicking and arm actions Gliding in a forward direction Breathing preparation skills Submerging under water Safety rules for participating in lessons Social skills for interacting with peers and the teacher What Qualifications should my teacher have? All Swim Teachers who are teaching infants and toddlers should hold a unit of competency which is nationally recognised from the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training package. Upon successful completion of all assessment requirements, candidates will be issued a Statement of Attainment for the following unit: SISCAQU011 Promote development of infants and toddlers in an aquatic environment Parent and Carer Involvement Parents and carers are an integral part of children’s aquatic education and, at these early ages, in-water parent and carer participation is necessary not only for safety but to provide support and guidance through activities to get maximum value from lessons. Parent and carer involvement is a massive factor for children’s enjoyment and engagement in the learning process as well as their skill progression and achievement. The best way to do this is to be actively involved and get wet! You as a Parent should also be receiving a range of safety information to help understand and educate your child. This includes such things as: Statistics and Facts of Child Drowning Child Drowning Strategies Parent / Carer Supervision and Common Distrations The important of restricting access in and around the home Bath Safety How to Perform CPR

NSW families with children aged 3 to 6 years will have access to a brand new $44 million swimming and water safety voucher initiative as part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to water safety and active participation. “We fully support the NSW Government in the roll out of this new Swimming and Water Safety voucher program. Our research shows us that across the state, only 35% of the 3-6 year age group are currently attending learn to swim lessons. Affordability has been a real barrier for a lot of families. Royal Life Saving will continue working with Government and industry to ensure that no child misses out on such vital life skills as swimming and water safety.” Michael Ilinsky, CEO of Royal Life Saving NSW said. After working closely with the NSW Government over the past 12 months on a range of water safety initiatives, Royal Life Saving NSW welcomed the announcement today from NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, and NSW Minister for Sport, Natalie Ward. "Importantly, every parent should enjoy the peace of mind their child will be safe in and around the water, with the new voucher program helping to achieve this. “Ultimately this is the type of support that will not only save people money, it could help save lives” – NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet. “Families across NSW will be able to use these vouchers when they enrol their children in swimming lessons, helping to ensure every NSW child has access to quality swimming and water safety education before they start school.” – NSW Minister for Sport, Natalie Ward. Royal Life Saving NSW General Manager of Drowning Prevention and Education, Craig Roberts, said the voucher program is an imperative step towards achieving the benchmarks set within National Swimming and Water Safety Framework. “The National Swimming and Water Safety Framework identifies key milestones for Australian children at ages 6, 12 and 17 years,” Mr Roberts said. “At 6 years of age, every child should be able to exit and enter the water unassisted, float and recover to stand, and perform a specified survival sequence. Without the opportunity to participate and practice these skills, the benchmarks within the framework cannot be realised, making the NSW Government’s water safety lesson voucher program an integral step to reducing drownings across the state.” Mr Ilinsky added that the expected increase in participation would also benefit local pools and swim schools with a boost for local jobs. “The aquatic recreation industry has suffered over the past couple of years with interruptions to business from bushfires and the global Covid-19 pandemic. The participation stimulus generated from the new swimming and water safety voucher program will mean more qualified Swim Teachers for our swim schools, and more professional Pool Lifeguards for our swimming pools. Royal Life Saving will continue to support industry with the provision of quality, innovative training solutions across the sector, with new professional development and specialisation courses in the pipeline.” Mr Ilinsky said. NSW families can hope to hear more about the rollout of the new swimming and water safety voucher program in coming weeks, with access to vouchers expected in early 2022. *Read NSW Government Media Release here: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/kids-dive-into-learn-to-swim-voucher-program

Swimming is one of the joys of life. As well as being a vital life skill, the ability to swim opens up a raft of opportunities for people to enjoy a healthy, active and safe lifestyle and to confidently participate in aquatic activities. This includes: ​ Recreation Swimming Open Water Swimming and Aquatic Activity Life Saving Vocational Employment (Lifeguard, Swim Teacher, Police Officer) Competition (Swimming, Water Sports) Social and Health Benefits Swimming is one of the best activities you can do all year round which benefits your mind and body. No other workout is low impact but achieves high results building muscles, burning calories and stimulating your brain. The great thing about swimming is that it’s for everyone! Check out these range of benefits keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness helps you maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs tones muscles and builds strength provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming. being a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise alleviating stress improving coordination, balance and posture improving flexibility providing good low-impact therapy for some injuries and conditions providing a pleasant way to cool down on a hot day ​ Whilst swimming is an individual activity, it’s also very social! You can meet people from all walks of life when swimming. Have a chat in the lap pool, join a swimming club, or get involved in aquatic facility social events to get to know people in your community. ​ As well as all the health benefits listed above, the great thing about swimming is that you can do it rain, hail or shine, regardless of the temperature! Whilst your backyard pool, the river, or beach cool down over winter, most aquatic facilities run heated pools year round so you’ve got no excuse to stop swimming!

The National Aquatic Industry Committee has today released a new Position Statement regarding re-accreditation and licensing for Pool Lifeguards and Swim Teachers. Further information regarding the application process for candidates who are due for renewal will be communicated by Royal Life Saving NSW in the coming weeks. Due to the anticipated increased demand for course booking from September, Royal Life Saving advises candidates book ahead into courses now to avoid missing out once restrictions are lifted. View the Full Position statement :

Can you help a newly skilled worker become a valued part of the team? Newly trained and qualified employees need dedicated on-the-job support when they arrive to your workplace. They rely on more experienced mentors to guide them through the intricacies of their new position, and need time and exposure to different types of working scenarios in order to build their confidence and competence. As a qualified Royal Life Saving Workplace Assessor you can be part of the driving force within the aquatic industry that assists these new employees to be the best they can be for your team, and your patrons. RLS Workplace Supervisors are the link between the real world and a theoretical one. They’re industry people who guide the newly skilled with their knowledge and experience to go from tradesperson to craftsperson. Are you that kind of person? Can you provide instruction, guidance and encouragement at the right times? Can you help a newly skilled worker become a valued part of the team? A Workplace Supervisor is an important link in the leadership team. One that comes with responsibility and a good dose of satisfaction. So, what do you need? Well, what you DON’T need is a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing. What you do need is experience and the ability to guide and manage staff along in their development to gain a Licence in the following skill sets: · Pool Lifeguard · Aquatic Technical Operations · Swim Teacher You’ll be required to guide them through their workplace induction and on the job training. Important job tasks such as supervising a pool, delivering a swimming lesson, or backwashing a filter, require a suitably qualified workplace supervisor. You can imagine how hard it is to ensure quality learning without oversight by an experienced person from their workplace. Their written evidence along with your comments and oversight are then sent to an RLS assessor. Royal Life Saving offers a Workplace Supervisor program to help mentors understand the expectations and skills needed for the role. It’s a 90-minute online course with the following modules: · Mentoring in the workplace · Providing work skill instruction · Contribute to assessment Every workplace would benefit from an RLS Workplace Supervisor. If you’ve got experience that can contribute to building a greater industry workforce, this is a great place to start.

Royal Life Saving has launched its brand new VIRTUAL CLASSROOM options for CPR and First Aid training courses! This innovative solution offers first responders an efficient and COVID-safe method of achieving and maintaining vital CPR and First Aid qualifications. In three easy steps, our learners can now obtain or update their qualifications without leaving home: Enrol online Complete your E-Learning online to complete learning and theoretical assessments Join your Virtual Classroom online to complete practical assessments Requirements The new Virtual Assessment course options are facilitated using basic technology and the widely available online video meeting program: 'Microsoft Teams'. Candidates do not need to download specific software as our Virtual Classrooms can easily run from the device's browser. Candidates will simply need a stable internet connection, and a device with a camera that can be physically secured for the duration of the assessment. With these requirements met, our qualified assessors can confidently observe and assess all practical skills performed by the candidate. Course Description As with all other CPR and First Aid training courses offered by Royal Life Saving, the Virtual Classroom options cover the skills and knowledge required to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines. This unit applies to all workers who may be required to provide CPR in a range of situations‚ include education, aquatic leisure, and a myriad of other workplace settings. Using Virtual Classrooms as part of the overall Training and Assessment delivery model allows candidates to complete the theoretical topics and assessments for their course via the Royal Life Saving E-learning Portal, and then participate in an online assessment workshop, where practical assessments will be conducted. All online learning is completed prior to attending the Virtual Classroom assessment workshop. All candidates are required to successfully complete a range of practical assessments. Pre-Course Learning Candidates will be issued the following within 48 hours of enrolment into this course: Immediate online pre-course learning access through the learner portal: https://royalnsw.app.axcelerate.com/learner CPR in Box mini manikin to be used during the online assessment workshop (Sent via post) Candidates must complete all online pre-course learning in order to be eligible to participate in the online assessment workshop. Outcomes The Virtual Classroom courses require practical application of skills and knowledge through a variety of practical scenarios that will require kneeling on the floor. In order to achieve the relevant Statement of Attainment‚ candidates must successfully complete the practical components under the described assessment conditions. Upon successful completion, candidates will be provided a Statement of Attainment with the units of competency relevant to the chosen course: CPR Course with Virtual Classroom Assessment HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation First Aid Course with Virtual Classroom Assessment HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support HLTAID011 Provide first aid Renewal Candidates can confidently use Royal Life Saving's new Virtual Classroom course types to renew and refresh skills and certifications as per their workplace requirements. Specific licencing requirements relating to the embedded competencies‚ including requirements and frequencies for refresher training, should be obtained from the relevant state/territory Work Health and Safety Regulatory Authority. Royal Life Saving NSW RTO 90666

The Office of Sport has a dedicated page to communicate COVID-19 advice relating to the sport and active recreation sector. Key Information includes: Latest Updates Advice for Sport and Recreation Sector Advice for Regional Areas Major Venue Advice Office of Sport https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information NSW Government COVID advice https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Gus Worland - Media Personality, Co-Host of Triple M's Dead Set Legends program, will join the free webinar being offered by Royal Life Saving later this month. So many in our Industry have been affected by the current Lockdowns. Extended weeks with no work, facilities closed and no apparent end in sight challenges even the strongest of people. Now, more than ever, we need to connect with our peers and check in on each other to see how we are all coping. “I want a society where everyone has a Gotcha4Life Mate. That go-to person you can open up to and rely on about anything. A world where we can seek help when life gets challenging, where we can build open and honest relationships and feel comfortable expressing ourselves, no matter what. So no one has to worry alone” Gus Worland, Founder This webinar will provide our attendees with some fantastic tools to apply to their own personal lives, as well as to provide support to their colleagues, friends and family. To register, simply click on this link: Webinar - Mental Health & Building Resilience | Royal Life Saving (drowningprevention.org.au)

Over the past couple of months the Health Promotions team have been hard at work visiting schools and preschools all over Sydney delivering our Water Safety and CPR leadership programs. Since May alone they’ve delivered nearly 40 programs to 1500 students teaching them the importance of making good decisions around water and what to do in an emergency. RLSNSW school programs use a mix of story and practical demonstrations to build student confidence and foster a generation of water confident kids all funded through the ClubGrants program. A recent visit to Fairvale Public School in the Fairfield LGA, saw our educators Kerry and Lisa run sessions for over 400 students across a number of years educating them all about water safety and demonstrating some rescue techniques. The students had a great time and learned some invaluable skills!

Royal Life Saving releases report into the social, health and economic value of the Australian Aquatic Industry. Prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia, and commissioned by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. Our organisation is involved in a diverse range of swimming, water safety and lifesaving agenda and is pleased to contribute to the benefits described in the report and to see these advocated in this way. We wish to provide a copy of the report highlights as well as more information on where to access the full report to assist you, your partners, and your constituents in supporting the aquatic industry’s value and contribution to the Australian community, particularly as the industry rebuilds following the pandemic. The report reinforces the myriad of ways that the aquatic industry benefits the Australian community and found that the industry: is a driver of economic activity throughout Australia, employing the equivalent of 33,600 full time employees and adding $2.8 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) is a generator of $2.5 billion in health benefits, ranging across a reduction in the burden of disease, improved mental health outcomes, reduced absenteeism, and reduced childhood drowning is a provider of $3.8 billion’s worth of social benefits such as: enhancing an individual’s leisure time or creating increased life satisfaction; by bringing people together; supporting more vulnerable groups; and supporting early learning.

The New South government has announced financial support of $1500 per fortnight for local government employee employees impacted by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. In a statement issued Friday 13th August, Minister Shelley Hancock announced the cash support for local council employees will be made available under a job retention allowance similar to that established in 2020. Minister Shelly advised the job retention allowance provides $1500 per fortnight for any eligible employee for up to three months, in order to help councils retain staff whose employment has been impacted by the current COVID-19 outbreak. This is a great opportunity for local councils to retrain and redeploy affected staff two other areas within the LGA. It is hoped by the minister that local councils will adopt this initiative during the current lock down restrictions. Up until now, Commonwealth Government assistance has not been available to local councils which had a huge impact on the Aquatic and Recreation Workforce during the 2020 lockdowns with many of the workforce stood down and ultimately lost from our Industry. Last week saw the release of the PWC report commissioned by Royal Life Saving Australia on The Social, Health and Economic Value of the Australian National Aquatic Industry The report identified that in NSW, 67% of the 658 Aquatic Facilities are staffed and managed by local government employees; in the ACT, the breakdown is 47% of the 23 facilities and in Tasmania the proportion is the highest with 84% of the 50 facilities being operated by local governments. It is estimated that in 2020, 67,000 frontline workers throughout Australia in the Aquatic and Recreation Industry were stood down. Royal Life Saving CEO, Michael Illinsky, highlighted the importance of this report and how crucial it is to support our Industry’s workforce during these extended lockdowns. “We have identified 63% of the Aquatic industry workforce are either casual or part-time, primarily filling the roles of Lifeguards and teachers of swimming and water safety. To have financial support for our workforce in these uncertain times is imperative to ensure our venues can retain staff and be ready to reopen when restrictions ease.” To be eligible under the current scheme, councils must be able to demonstrate an actual or potential loss of at least 30% in revenue for the current or previous quarter in that business unit or entity. Eligible councils will also need to be part of the Splinter Award or equivalent agreement, have continued to pay eligible employees four weeks paid COVID-19 special leave, and entered into a funding agreement with the office for local government. More information on the Splinter Award and Councils that are currently covered by this Award can be found here. Councils can now lodge their submissions for claims for the New South Wales Job Retention allowance through the New South Wales State Government. Useful links: COVID-19 Local Government Resources Press Release – Office of Local Government: NSW Government to Provide Council Financial Support to Save Jobs Press Release – NSW Government economic stimulus package relief Report - Health, Social and Economic Value of the Australian National Aquatic Industry

Royal lifesaving NSW have been collaborating with the STARTTS organisation on a successful adult swimming program for refugees, funded by Seven Hills- Toongabbie RSL club. STARTTS is a specialist, non-profit organisation that for over 30 years has provided culturally relevant psychological treatment and support, and community interventions, to help people and communities heal the scars of torture and refugee trauma and rebuild their lives in Australia. This past term has seen over 35 women from refugee backgrounds access swimming and water safety lessons. The program runs over a 2-5 week format and has been well received by both the participants, community leaders and teachers. Program participants were repeatedly commenting on the multiple benefits of the program such as confidence, social time, health and of course improvements in swimming, with many of the ladies having never been previously taught how to swim. This program has been able overcome common participation barriers by meeting the needs of the women and their different backgrounds. Lessons have been conducted in a safe and culturally aware space, with female only teachers and lesson structures have been flexible to suit the needs and confidence levels of the participants. Additionally, the collaboration with STARTTS have made having interpreters and transport possible. Many of the women in the program have expressed their wish to continue swimming and enter the aquatics industry by becoming swimming teachers or community educators. Program Participant Feedback: “It was very good, I can't rate it high enough. I felt comfortable and supported by the teachers. They took time to make each person feel valued and I have finished the program feeling more confident in the water. I recommend this program to anyone out there who wants to learn to swim. The swimming pool was clean and I felt safe and respected the entire time.” Program Teacher’s Feedback: “Over the last five weeks, we’re being able to watch the ladies go from strength to strength. Within their first 2 lessons, they went from being afraid to leave the wall or take their feet off the floor, to being comfortable with assisted floats and kicking across the pool with floatation aids. It has been wonderful to see their fear turn to joy. Seeing that they wanted to learn and help each other to learn and improve as well.” “All ladies are now happily kicking with assistance, asking questions and the more advanced adding in arms and swimming on their back. It has been great to see the growth in everyone’s water confidence, knowing they will now be able to take their children/grandchildren into a pool and be safe whilst doing so.” To find out more about running this program in your area, please contact our Cultural Engagement Coordinator Lauren Battaglia laurenbattaglia@royalnsw.com.au

We've taken the all guess work out for our members with access to LinkedIn professional Learning for this month's top picks and hand-picked courses in 3 key areas: Health & Well-Being Inclusion Leadership Health & Well-Being Manager as Multipliers of Well-Being: In our Industry we spend a great deal of time working as part of a team. Often, we spend more time with our colleagues than we do our own family and friends. This course taps into the critical role that managers can play in create a positive environment for your team’s mental wellbeing. (5) Managers hold the key to promoting well-being (linkedin.com) Course length: 38 minutes Well-Being in the workplace: Never has it been more important to keep on top of our mental health. This course will provide practical tips for alleviating anxiety, worry, stress and other common mental health issues. Find the tools to avoid burnout and increase happiness and combat those negative thoughts. (5) The path to a happy career (linkedin.com) Course length: 23 minutes Staying positive in the face of negativity: Even the most resilient people can get weighed down when we are faced with continuous negativity. This can be attributed to both circumstantial moments in our loves – such as the current lockdown, or it can be caused by those around us in our workplace such as negative criticism, or a difficult customer. This course will provide you with some tools to maintain positive strength when it feels like you just can't catch a break. (5) Build skills and habits to foster positivity (linkedin.com) Course length: 56 minutes Developing your Emotional intelligence An employee’s emotional intelligence can often be the difference between getting that promotion and not – regardless of your qualifications. This course will explain the fundamental of emotional intelligence and why it’s so important in the workplace. Learning outcomes include Shifting perspective, empathising, playing to strengths, and collecting feedback. (5) What are the benefits of emotional intelligence? (linkedin.com) Course length: 60 minutes Inclusion Royal Life Saving Cultural Competence Course This a free online course to provide an overview of the broad range of cultures we have that make up our community in Australia. The course will help provide a better understanding of appropriate behaviours and understandings of various cultural backgrounds to better equip our workforce of being more culturally aware and inclusive. To book yourself, or your team in, contact our Cultural Engagement Coordinator Lauren Battaglia laurenbattaglia@royalnsw.com.au Course length 3 hours Diversity, inclusion and belonging: Our industry not only employs people from all cultures and backgrounds, but our customers that enter our facilities every day come rom diverse backgrounds, cultures, genders and races. This course will explore the diversity, inclusion and belonging approach and how to apply this to your workplace. Learning outcomes will include tools on hiring and retaining diverse talent. (5) DIBs: An introduction (linkedin.com) Course length: 47 minutes Communicating and Culturally sensitive issues: Discussions about cultural differences can be uncomfortable. It is hard to know if you’re communicating in a way that may be considered appropriate or offensive. This course will provide a better understanding of how to handle these tricky conversations and how to commit to dialogue, rather than debate. (5) Welcome (linkedin.com) Course length: 55 minutes Unconscious Bias: As humans we all possess bias. Our experience in life shape who we are and how we see other. This course will help you recognise your own bias and how to overcome making decisions without bias. The course will not only look at how to overcome your own personal bias, but how you can adopt these strategies to your organisation. (5) Welcome (linkedin.com) Course Length: 23 minutes Leadership How to be an Effective Remote Manager Managing a team can be a challenge at the best of time, but in a remote environment over extended period can be even more challenging. This course will explore the opportunities for managers to help your team thrive. The course will run through a range of strategies and tools to ensure you get the best out of your team, whilst avoiding some of the classic missteps. (5) Making the switch (linkedin.com) Course Length: 69 minutes Supporting your teams as offices reopen We’ve done this before but what happens when we get to return to work after this lockdown? Your team members will all approach this opportunity with different and mixed emotions depending on their individual circumstances. This course will provide some useful tips to assist navigating your employees into a supportive work environment whilst addressing your own needs as a manager. (5) Supporting your team as offices re-open (linkedin.com) Course Length: 35 minutes How to give Negative Feedback to Senior Colleagues We are all faced with moments when we might not agree with something out manager has said or done but might be too scared to speak up. This course will provide some useful tools and strategies on how to approach these situations in a manner that can be constructive and well-received, and ultimately improve your work relationships. (5) Practical advice for giving feedback to your boss (linkedin.com) Course Length: 19 minutes Tech-based Learning PowerPoint: Eight Easy Ways to make you Presentation Stand Out Do you get nervous at the idea of delivering a presentation or the idea of creating a PowerPoint? This course will give you eight easy tools to make your presentations stand out from the rest and give you the confidence to deliver a more professional product. (5) Eight presentation principles (linkedin.com) Course length: 36 minutes

Sunday 25th July marked the very first World Drowning Prevention Day and countries all over the globe united to raise awareness, asking their citizens "What will you do to end Drowning?". Find out more about how you can help prevent drowning>

Royal Life Saving has a great history of conducting lifesaving and water safety activity in regional NSW. This tradition will now expand to the establishment of a full-time training and development officer to be based in Tamworth, who will guide and oversee our operations in the North West of the state. The role is a diverse one and one that requires experience and knowledge of water safety education, trends in vocational training, as well as being passionate and current with industry trends within the aquatic sector. Gary Johnson is a name many people will recognise and we are excited to announce that Gary will head up our operations within this area and he ticks off on all the requirements for the role. If you haven’t met Gary at a conference, over a webinar, or at one of our training courses please read on as Gary has experienced a wonderful, colourful and fulfilling life based around aquatics. Q&A with Gary Johnson: Welcome to Royal Life Saving Gary! We’ve designed some random questions that we thought our readers would enjoy. Do you remember your first experience at a RLS course? Yep, I was in year 4 (1980) when I did my Intermediate Award at Sutherland Swim Centre. To us, the dizzy heights of a Bronze Medallion were the pinnacle. Then I did my first PLG Course at the Gunnedah Pool in 1997 with probably the worst trainer I’ve ever met. A rookie named Jason Phillips. I remember a young Gary Johnson attending his first Trainer workshop in Grafton in 1998. You haven’t put on one extra kilo – what’s the secret to staying fit and healthy? I’m one of those lucky people who got a good dose of the skinny gene. If you could invite 3 people to a dinner party (alive or dead) who would they be? The Attenbro, my convict ancestor James Johnson and Derryn Brown. From your 30 + years of volunteering and working within the aquatic industry what are the Pox (not the best aspect) and Rox (highlights) of your career? The worse was not seeing a kid in time to successfully resuscitate him. Ironically, if that hadn’t happened, I’d never have asked myself the questions that lead me to learn so much. Highlights… there’s nothing like presenting internationally and the friendships you develop from that. Dr Tom Griffiths was my unicorn… my ultimate hero. I could hardly speak when I first met him. Now we’re drinking buddies. Love the guy. You are a passionate volunteer for your local community and in particular your role with the RFS. What are some aspects of volunteering that can assist your professional career? Understanding the complexities of decision making within the constraints of minimal time and serious consequences. The importance of reassuring people. The importance of having strategies to manage critical incident stress. As a committed Conference attendee and speaker, your cupboard at home would be full of conference satchels and pens. How does your lovely wife Vanessa, put up with all the freebies you hoard, and what is the best thing about attending a conference? I used to give all my freebies to my kids. They’d think it was Christmas. Lanyards… I’ve kept the lanyards. The best thing is usually the locations. How good’s a beach side resort? Do you remember your first conference as a Speaker and how did you over come the usual nerves of presenting to the room? I definitely remember it. You can’t be too prepared. Feel the fear and do it anyway. A schooner beforehand doesn’t hurt either. Your presentations are known for their ability to engage, motivate and inspire people in the room and I’m sure you get plenty of emails and messages of support. Who is one of the people that have inspired you as a presenter? I saw Bruce Sullivan present at an ARI conference and thought… I wanna be like that. An energetic, motivated speaker who doesn’t use notes and makes excellent use of pauses. Peter Baines was another speaker that had a big impact on me. Dr Justin Sempsrott is another speaker that I’ll go and watch every opportunity I get. These guys are the masters of toeing the line between presenting and performing without us really noticing. Long after people have forgotten what you said, they’ll remember how you made them feel. You’ve presented and worked in various countries such as New Zealand, the US and the UK. What is one highlight from your time spent abroad?You know how the guy at the party with the accent gets all the attention of the girls in the room? Well, you can be that guy. You’ve got the accent and the time difference means you can party all night. Particularly in the US where I found they love Australians. I could literally walk into a bar and by the time I’d opened my mouth and ordered a beer, people would want to talk to me. You live on the outskirts of the bustling village of Bendemeer on a beautiful property approx. 30 mins from Tamworth. Pox and Rox of living in Bendemeer? My family and the bush ground me. It’s fun acting like the rockstar, but I need to be Gary Johnson. It’s what my soul needs to allow me to do the things I do. Covid lock down on a farm is heaven. The worst part… mobile data for internet access can be painful. No Netflix for us. I’ve seen your fashion sense outside of Council and RLS attire and it’s a little outside of the normal business shirt and slacks. Have you always been passionate for tie died shirts, rock star jeans and Willy Wonker jackets? Hell yeah. I hear people say you only live once. Not true. You only die once. When the occasion arises, I’m equally happy dressed like Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman or an extra in the video clip to The safety Dance. Did I mention I like to sing? For some of us the eighties just never left.

Students in year 10 interested in a career in Sports, Recreation and Aquatics but unsure about University now have a fantastic VET pathway - SIS31015 Certificate III in Aquatics and Community Recreation. This School Based Traineeship combines online learning with on-the-job training that aims to deliver valuable customer service experience, practical industry knowledge and transferable life skills. Gone are the days where a career in Aquatic was just a stop-gap job whilst finishing University or school. The Aquatics Industry is a rapidly growing, and thoroughly rewarding industry, with career opportunities available to a diverse workforce for people of all ages and backgrounds. Royal Life Saving recently profiled a few familiar faces in our industry that started out their own careers through Vocational Education and have built successful and rewarding careers. Read their stories: Scott Vanderheyden: Area Manager; Belgravia Leisure Uni isn’t for everyone – I studied I.T. and never used it a day in my life! Instead, I worked as a Casual Lifeguard for my local council pool before becoming a Duty Manager, Operations Coordinator and eventually Centre Manager at Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. Now I oversee five different venues as an Area Manager and love the ability to impact peoples’ careers while helping them develop and learn! Throughout my time in the sport/aquatics industry I’ve learnt irreplaceable business skills, made lifelong friends, engaged with the community that I love and have had the chance to make a real positive impact on society. Louise Smalley: Royal Life Saving Society NSW; Swimming and Safety Coordinator After finishing school I worked as a Swim teacher, Pool Lifeguard, Customer Service Officer and casual Swim School Supervisor and loved every minute of it! Before undertaking further tertiary study, I was offered a full time Supervisor position and never looked back. I am now the Swimming and Water Safety Coordinator with Royal Life Saving NSW, managing large, swimming and water safety programs throughout NSW. Just as I’ve had the opportunity to work in several roles and learn many transferable skills along the way, the Cert III in Aquatics and Community Recreation is a great launching pad for a career in the sports, fitness and aquatics industry – especially with the availability of debt-free VET qualifications. Roz Neville: Manger, Willoughby Leisure Centres I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I left school, but I loved sport and being active, especially water and so it made sense to work as a Swim Teacher / Lifeguard. I was very lucky to have some great mentors along the way and after completing some VET study and industry-based training, I gained the skills, knowledge, and confidence to reach my dream job of being a Facility Manager. I have been fortunate to sit on several Industry Committees throughout my career and I am now able to give back to those working in an Industry that has given me so much. Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life! Jason Phillips: Royal Life Saving Society NSW; Regional Manager After thirty years in the Sports and Recreation industry, despite many changes and innovations, the sector remains essentially the same: we’re dedicated to supporting people’s passions and providing opportunities for everyone to safely participate in a range of aquatic and recreational activities. Nowhere is this more important than in our great regional and coastal towns of NSW that boast some of the best beaches and waterways in the world! After joining this industry as a young employee, I enjoyed fabulous on-the-job training and mentoring, built confidence and practical knowledge, and now have a huge range of friends and colleagues throughout NSW that I love visiting and working with.

Swim Brothers is a male only Swimming Program founded by Co-founders Omar and Feroz, after hearing the story of a near-drowning of a prominent leader in their community and his son whilst on a camping trip at Seven Mile beach in October 2019. As a result of this incident, Omar and Feroz launched Swim Brothers – a culturally sensitive learn to swim and ocean skills & safety program for all Men with an emphasis on those most vulnerable. On a cold wet Saturday night in June, a group of 60 men braved the weather to attend an event coordinated by Swim Brothers at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre. Royal Life Saving NSW together with Surf Life Saving NSW, collaborated with Swim Brothers to arrange an evening to educate participants about key water safety strategies that will help them stay safe around water. The men were educated on making good decisions around water, identifying water dangers and rip currents, as well as practical demonstrations on how to provide assistance to someone in trouble. Participants also learnt some basic CPR skills and practiced putting those to good use before enjoying a BBQ and some socialising time around the pool. This initiative is a terrific example of organisations working together to educate and upskill the more vulnerable members of our community in vital water safety and lifesaving skills. For more information on the Swim Brothers program, visit their website .

In the Easter School holidays, Royal Life Saving conjunction with Maitland City Council conducted an intensive learn to swim program for children residing in the Maitland Council area from low socio-economic backgrounds who are non or weak swimmers. For many of these participants they had never had a formal swimming lesson. The intensive program saw both skills and water confidence improve daily. A number of organisations worked closely with Royal Life Saving to identify worthy families including local schools, The Smith Family, The Benevolent Society, Brighter Futures and Early Links. One notable participant of the program was a single father who was extremely grateful that his five children were given the opportunity to participate in such a worthy program. This program was conducted at Maitland Aquatic Centre and was proudly funded by Maitland City Council and Royal Life Saving NSW.

With a one-week extension of the current stay at home orders for residents within the defined ‘Greater Sydney’ area, and continued restrictions for the remainder of the State, the NSW aquatic industry is experiencing understandable pressure. The extension requires residents of Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and to remain at home, until midnight Friday 16th July 2021. Regional NSW residents must continue to wear masks in indoor settings, restrict the number of visitors in their homes (max 5) and maintain adequate social distancing (1 person per 4 square metres indoors and outdoors). Royal Life Saving NSW is continuing to communicate with the NSW Office of Sport seeking clarity and direction for a safe and permanent re-opening strategy for affected pools and swim schools. The NSW Government is developing a roadmap for exiting the lockdown period which will soon be made publicly available. Royal Life Saving NSW has not been unaffected by these impacts. The Royal Life Saving Aquatic Academy facilities in Seven Hills and Denistone East remain closed as do all other pools and swim schools throughout Greater Sydney. Despite the hurdles, Royal Life Saving NSW remains committed in its leadership and support for the sector. Over the last 3 months Royal Life Saving NSW has fully subsidised 600 newly trained Swim Teachers (via direct government support). Technical Operator subsidies and Pool Lifeguard subsidies are also on the way. These training incentives will be imperative for industry in future Covid-recovery phases. The National Swim and Survive program has been revitalised this year with new support resources and tools available soon to participating NSW swim schools. Royal Life Saving NSW will be engaging with industry across term 3 to showcase these opportunities and new partnership options. The NSW Government recently announced the introduction of a new pre-school swimming and water safety voucher initiative in 2022. This is welcome news for our industry and will assist with concerns of a skills drop for NSW children post-Covid. Royal Life Saving NSW will continue working closely with NSW Government on governance and industry developments around this program. Royal Life Saving NSW will deliver a series of comprehensive Industry Seminars across the state as restrictions are eased. Seminars are planned in each region, and more information will be distributed in the not-too-distant future. Royal Life Saving NSW understands that with stay-at-home orders in place, forced closure of public pools, and zero patronage/ clientele for many businesses, there are significant stresses affecting managers and employees alike. Industry leaders are encouraged to continue monitoring and sharing with their teams, the support opportunities available through State and Federal Governments. Some helpful links have been included below for convenience. The past 18 months have been challenging. Royal Life Saving NSW understands the importance of ensuring swim schools and pools are listened to and will continue communicating with Government to ensure concerns are raised and addressed. Specific questions or support requirements at this time can be directed to any of the six Royal Life Saving NSW offices across the state. Michael Ilinsky CEO Royal Life Saving NSW USEFUL LINKS Financial Support (business): https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/financial-support#:~:text=The%20Pandemic%20Leave%20Disaster%20Payment,the%20Pandemic%20Leave%20Disaster%20Payment. Financial Support (individuals) https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/financial-support-individuals-and-households NSW Government Public Health Orders: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx NSW Government Mental Well-Being Services: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/your-mental-wellbeing#:~:text=Mental%20wellbeing%20services%20provided%20by,of%20yourself%20or%20someone%20else.