Franklin RC, Simmonds EL, Peden A, Scarr J (2008). Drowning Deaths - Rural and Remote Australia. Australian Water Safety Council: Sydney [Secretariat: Royal Life Saving Society Australia, PO Box 558, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia].

This report examines drowning deaths of residents of rural and remote locations and people who visit rural and remote aquatic locations.  Using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the period 1 July 1992 to 30 June 2004 and the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) for the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2007.  It also examines high risk age groups and common locations where drowning occurred.

Franklin RC, Peden A, Rubin T, Scarr J (2008) Issues Paper. Using signage to promote water safety and prevent aquatic related injuries in Australia: An examination of the key issues. Australian Water Safety Council: Sydney [Secretariat: Royal Life Saving Society Australia, PO Box 558, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia].

Signage is a simple, cost effective and extremely valuable tool for injury prevention. Through its provision of information about risks and hazards associated with specific areas, locations or activities, signage is essential for thorough and effective water safety practice. The use of symbols in signage facilitates the rapid transmission of information in a manner that often transcends language barriers so that the meaning and purpose of signs can be conveyed to a diverse audience. Signs work to minimise risk by providing information which aims to subsequently affect behaviour.

This paper identifies issues for the provision and use of water safety signage at all aquatic environments that people access for recreational activity. It is directed at policy makers, researchers, public awareness campaigners producing guidance material, and for managers of aquatic environments.

There were four general areas identified where improvement or future action is required for signs to be effectively integrated into water safety practice. These are: improving the evidence base; promoting the use of a risk management approach to signage among managers of aquatic locations; implementing public awareness campaigns; and strengthening Australian Standards.

Peden A, Franklin RC, Larsen P (2008) Issues Paper. Safety of Aquatic Activity at Primary Schools in Australia: An identification, summary and analysis of legislation, guidelines and policies relevant to teachers, supervisors and students. Royal Life Saving Society Australia: Sydney

This paper identified, summarised and analysed the relevant legislation, guidelines and policies that relate to aquatic based activities at primary schools within Australia and the safety of these activities for teachers, supervisors and students.

Legislation, guidelines and policies are tools that can assist in creating environments that are safe for conducting aquatic based activities. The Australian Water Safety Council’s National Water Safety Plan 2004‐07 (NWSP) recognises that regulation, particularly legislation, can play an important role in preventing drowning deaths and promoting water safety (Recommendation 17) and it is recommended that regulatory documents meet best practice and be consistent throughout Australia.

The review of Australian State and Territory legislation in this issues paper found employers and principals have legal obligations to ensure the health and safety of students and supervisors, to provide information, instruction and training to employees, to protect employees from hazards, ensure safety of third parties and provide first aid kits and equipment. It should also be noted that there is a legal obligation in every State and Territory to ensure that people in specific child‐related occupations undergo a ‘working with children’ check. This ensures that employees do not have any convictions for crimes against children or relevant crimes against adults and aims to ensure a safe environment within which children can be educated.

Includes:

• Introduction from Australian Water Safety Council
• Foreword from the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Sport
• Welcome from the Hon Justine Elliot MP, Minister for Ageing
• Background/Membership - Australian Water Safety Council
• State and Territory Water Safety Council Taskforce Reports
• Conference Program
• Draft Australian Water Safety Strategy 2008-2011
• Keynote Presentations
• Presentations
• Open Forum - Australian Water Safety Council - Australian Water Safety Strategy 2008-2011
• Poster Presentations
• Tradeshow/Exhibitors

Lippmann J (2008) Issues Paper. Recreational Scuba Diving and Snorkelling Safety in Australia: An identification, summary and analysis of policies, legislation and standards relevant to recreational scuba diving and snorkelling. Royal Life Saving Society Australia: Sydney

This paper aims to identify, summarise and analyse the relevant policies, legislation and standards that relate to recreational scuba diving and snorkelling in Australia.

Scuba diving and snorkelling (diving) are exhilarating recreational activities, participated in and around most of the Australian coastline by both Australian and international tourists. However, both can be challenging with drowning deaths, deaths from other causes, and other serious injuries occurring.

Diving is conducted in a potentially hostile environment and as such has inherent risks. These risks include: lack of familiarity with the environment; lack of familiarity with equipment, or equipment failure; inadequate physical fitness; inadequate medical fitness; human error and violations of safety rules; attitudinal, marine animals; and boats.

It is essential that divers be made appropriately aware of these risks prior to participation. Risks can be reduced through adequate education and training, ensuring ‘fitness’ for diving, appropriate supervision, appropriate and functional equipment and common sense.

The number of deaths of scuba divers and snorkellers has increased significantly over the past 30 years, almost doubling since the 1980’s. In Australia, the mortality rate of scuba divers can be estimated to be 0.57/100,000 dives. Though obtaining a reliable estimate proved difficult, if the estimate of 0.57/100,000 dives is reliable, it compares favourably with reported scuba diving mortality rates in other countries.

An examination of the legislation in Australia related to the duties associated with the day-to-day running of an aquatic facility.

This Guide to Water Safety Essentials for Local Governments has been produced by the Australian Water Safety Council in accordance with Recommendation 18 of the National Water Safety Plan 2004-2007. This guide includes information on the types of hazards and risks associated with a number of different bodies of water, preventative / risk management measures and a list of resources available (including organisations) that can be consulted for further information.   

Feedback from this report can be provided here.

The Remote Pools Workshop was held in the Northern Territory at the Holiday Inn Darwin and Leanyer Recreation Park on Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 September 2007.

Attendees at the conference included:

• Remote Pool Managers
• Indigenous Health Workers
• Community Leaders
• Youth Workers
• Remote Health Workers
• Sport and Recreation Officers and
• Council Representatives across the Northern Territory. 

The aims for the workshop were to:

• support the use of community swimming pools as a means of preventing injury and promoting health and safety in Aboriginal communities;
• reduce the risk of drowning by using the community swimming pool to improve swimming and water safety skills in Aboriginal communities;
• foster strong networks across remote Aboriginal communities;
• provide a means for exchanging ideas and information relating to the use and management of the community swimming pool in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory;
• exchange ideas and practices for more effective use of community swimming pools in Aboriginal communities;
• increase the health promotion knowledge and skills of participants, particularly in relation to injury prevention and safety promotion in Aboriginal communities; and
• to help remote pools workers and sport and recreation workers progress towards Certificate III and IV in community sport and rec.

The workshop achieved these aims through the delivery of the Presentations, practical demonstrations and the exchange of ideas and practices from attendees.

This issues paper was produced to examine key issues in water safety, including the health, economic and social benefits of swimming pool use for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  Drowning and water safety are important issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been identified by The National Water Safety Plan 2004‐2007 as an at‐risk group. As a general principle, water safety organisations and community bodies should work together to develop flexible, creative policies and practices in water safety service provision. The paper demonstrates how such an approach can improve broader health, economic and social outcomes for whole communities.

Suggested citation:
Rubin T, Franklin RC, Scarr J, Peden A (2008). Issues Paper. Facilities, Programs and Services for the Water Safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Rural and Remote Australia. Australian Water Safety Council: Sydney [Secretariat: Royal Life Saving Society Australia, PO Box 558, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia].

This is Report 3 on the audit of water safety programs - Jan 2008

This report explores the needs of rural and remote swimming and water safety teachers.

The report on the 2007 National Planning Workshop for the 2008-2011 National Water safety Plan

This is Information on Water Safety Peformance Indicators Yr 3 Progress

Paper on Consistent Regulation of Pool Barriers

This is Report 2 on Water Safety Program Audit- Jan 2007

The 2006 Water Safety Conference Proceedings and papers

Information Regardig the Water Safety Peformance Indicators Yr 2 Progress

Report on the 2006 Water Safety Conference

Minutes from the National Home Pool Safety Forum held in Brisbane October 2005

This is the Report on Water Safety Progam Audit- June 2005