Published: 10 December 2025
New research highlights the need for stronger protections, training, clearer policies and consistent messaging to protect workers from occupational violence and aggression at public pools
Royal Life Saving Australia has released new research revealing the scale of occupational violence and aggression (OVA) directed at lifeguards, swim teachers and front-line staff in public aquatic facilities across the country.
The research snapshot analyses incident data from 250 public aquatic facilities with representation across every Australian state and territory and extrapolates the findings to around 1,300 public pools nationwide.
Across the sample of 250 facilities, there were 445 incidents of verbal abuse, 50 incidents of physical assault or aggression, and 185 incidents of harassment – including sexual harassment – recorded in the 2024/25 financial year. When scaled to public pools across Australia, this equates to an estimated 3,500 incidents of violence, harassment and abuse towards lifeguards and aquatic workers every year, around 10 incidents each day.
Royal Life Saving Australia General Manager – Capability & Industry, RJ Houston, said the findings confirm occupational violence and aggression as a systemic safety issue for the aquatic industry.
“Lifeguards and aquatic staff are there to keep our communities safe, not to be subjected to abuse, threats or harassment,” Mr Houston said.
“This research makes it clear that violence and abuse against lifeguards is not a handful of isolated incidents – it is a recurring hazard affecting facilities in capital cities, regional towns and remote communities across every state and territory, and its totally unacceptable."
“As a sector, we have a responsibility to lift standards, support our workforce and ensure aquatic facilities remain safe, welcoming places for everyone. That means nationally-consistent messaging and training so that, this summer, the public hears the same set of safety messages no matter which suburb, state or territory they visit a public pool in.”
The report highlights the need to embed psychosocial safety into work health and safety systems, strengthen incident reporting, and align patron codes of conduct with zero tolerance for violence, harassment and abuse, including sexual harassment.
Royal Life Saving’s work in this area is supported and lead by the National Aquatic Industry Committee, made up of aquatic industry bodies and aquatic facility owners and operators such as Belgravia Leisure & Health Group, Australia’s largest national operator of aquatic facilities.
Belgravia Leisure & Health Group General Manager – Health & Safety, Scott Vanderheyden, said the findings reinforce the importance of supporting staff to uphold safety standards confidently.
“Our first priority is keeping our staff and the public safe, and that relies on lifeguards and key safety staff being able to speak up and act when they see unsafe behaviour,” Mr Vanderheyden said.
“We want our people to feel empowered to communicate safety messages clearly and consistently and not be in fear of reprisals for doing their jobs. That’s why these figures are so shocking and unacceptable.”
“By backing our teams with strong policies, training, and a clear stance on unacceptable behaviour, we can protect both staff and patrons, and help ensure aquatic facilities remain positive, welcoming spaces for the whole community.”
To support aquatic facility owners and operators and frontline staff, Royal Life Saving Australia with the support of the National Aquatic Industry Committee has recently developed two nationally coordinated resources:
- Keep Your Cool at the Pool campaign – a public-facing campaign to promote respectful behaviour towards staff and other patrons:
https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/Sector-Development/safety-programs/keep-your-cool-at-the-pool - Psychosocial Safety Management at Aquatic Facilities training module – a professional development to help facilities manage psychosocial risks, including OVA:
https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/training-development/professional-development/psychosocial-safety
The full research snapshot, “Occupational violence and aggression at Australian aquatic facilities”, is available to download from the Royal Life Saving Australia website: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/Sector-Development/aquatic-research/occupational-violence-and-aggression-in-public-aquatic-facilities
Media contact
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Phone: (03) 9769 6488
About Royal Life Saving Australia
Royal Life Saving Australia is a public benevolent institution, established in 1894, dedicated to bringing people together to eliminate drowning and empower communities to be safe around water. As a leading national drowning prevention and water safety organisation, we believe drowning is preventable, being able to swim is a human right, and access to safe places to swim builds healthier, more connected communities. Through our leadership, research, advocacy and education, we foster inclusion, build resilience and develop lifelong skills so that every Australian can enjoy the water safely.
