Published: 9 January 2026
Abuse of pool lifeguards occurring daily as Royal Life Saving Australia urges communities to keep their cool at the pool
New analysis from Royal Life Saving Australia shows pool lifeguards and aquatic staff are facing around 3,500 incidents of abuse, harassment and violence each year at Australian public pools – the equivalent of around ten incidents every day.
As a heatwave is hitting most of Australia, public pools are at their busiest, but Royal Life Saving Australia says reports of aggression towards front-line aquatic staff are increasing across the country this week.
Reported incidents include verbal abuse, harassment, threats and physical aggression towards staff responsible for keeping children, families and communities safe around water.
The findings are detailed in a recent Royal Life Saving Australia report analysing incident data from 250 public aquatic facilities across every Australian state and territory. When extrapolated to around 1,300 public pools nationwide, the research estimates approximately 2,300 incidents of verbal abuse, close to 1,000 harassment incidents, and more than 250 incidents of physical assault or aggression against aquatic staff in the past year.
Royal Life Saving Australia General Manager – Capability & Industry, RJ Houston, said community pools play an important role in water safety, health and social connection, and rely on people feeling safe and supported.
“Community pools are where children learn life-saving skills, families spend time together and communities stay active and connected,” Mr Houston said.
“The lifeguards and swim teachers who work in these facilities deserve to feel safe at work and supported by the communities they serve.”
“Many lifeguards and swim teachers are young people who have chosen a job that keeps children safe and helps families enjoy their local pool,” he said.
“We all have a responsibility to treat them with respect and support the work they do.”
To support pools and their staff, Royal Life Saving Australia has developed nationally coordinated resources to promote respectful behaviour and safer working environments. These include Keep Your Cool at the Pool, a public-facing campaign encouraging respectful behaviour towards staff and other patrons, and a Psychosocial Safety Management at Aquatic Facilities training module to help facilities prevent and respond to violence and aggression.
Royal Life Saving Australia is calling on the community to play their part this summer by keeping their cool at the pool, following safety instructions, and treating aquatic staff with respect.
More information about Keep Your Cool at the Pool is available at:
https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/Sector-Development/safety-programs/keep-your-cool-at-the-pool
More information about the Psychosocial Safety Management at Aquatic Facilities training module is available at:
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 at: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/Sector-Development/aquatic-research/occupational-violence-and-aggression-in-public-aquatic-facilities
Media contact
Media Key (national media enquiries)
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.
