Published 22 December 2023
We’ve compiled our top ten Royal Life Saving highlights from a busy 2023, one (or two) for each month.
2023 - has been a year of bringing groups together to build solutions to the many drowning prevention and water safety issues that impact on communities across Australia and beyond
Here are some of our highlights.
Victoria wins the Australian Pool Life Saving Championships
In January 2023, after three days of intense competition, the Victorian State Team were crowned champions of the Royal Life Saving Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships, and Jake Smith, WA State Team (Open) and Chelsea Jones, NSW State Team (U19) were declared Lifesavers of the Meet.
As well as the tremendous athleticism on display, its the volunteers behind the scenes who make the APLSC event a great success and an important part of the pool lifesaving calendar. Many will flock to Melbourne in January again to see if Victoria can win back-to-back.
Report: Drowning in Rivers, Creeks, Lakes, and Dams
In February 2023, we released a new report that found that more than 900 people drowned in inland waterways including rivers, creeks, lakes, and dams in Australia in the ten years to 2020/21, accounting for more than a third of all drowning deaths in Australia.
For the first time, drowning deaths in national parks and state conservation areas have been detailed, with five per cent of deaths occurring in these popular recreation areas.
National Aquatic Symposium (March 2023)
In March 2023, we facilitated a National Aquatic Symposium that was attended by 150 of the brightest minds from across Industry.
The three high-level principles were agreed; 1) ensuring that all people living in Australia have universal access to a swimming and water safety education; 2) strengthening the aquatic workforce by attracting and developing talent and addressing sector-wide risk; and 3) ensuring that all communities have access to sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and safe aquatic facilities.
RLS NT supports evacuees water safety at the Centre for National Resilience
In April 2023, RLS NT jumped into action to support 700 flooding evacuees from Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole and Palumpa stay cool and enjoy the water at the Howard Springs Centre for National Resilience in the Northern Territory. The water safety program, helped keep the pool open seven days a week and staffed by qualified lifeguards, welcomed 150 people through on its first day of operation.
Collaboration key to saving lives in South East Queensland
In May 2023, senior leaders from across government, local government, academia and water safety organisations gathered at a two-day forum to target the causes of drowning in South East Queensland.
The forum was delivered with support from the Australian Government under the inland waterways drowning blackspot reduction program. It was hosted by the City of Gold Coast Council. Many commented that it was the first time in many years that so many diverse QLD stakeholders had been brought together to focus on drowning prevention.
South East Asia drowning prevention forum and workshop, Penang, Malaysia.
In June 2023, delegates from countries across the ASEAN region gathered in Penang, Malaysia for the South East Asia Drowning Prevention Forum and Workshop.
The Forum and Workshop was convened to address what the World Health Organization classifies as a serious and overlooked public health threat claiming 236,000 lives annually.
The Forum and Workshop was jointly hosted with the Life Saving Society – Malaysia – Penang Branch, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, and supported by the Australia-ASEAN Council.
Aquatic Industry leads way on employment
In July 2023, Royal Life Saving Australia released the National Aquatic Industry Workforce Report 2023 that showed that the Australian aquatic industry leads the way in recognising the skills and experience of older workers and women, as well as revealing improvements in Indigenous employment rates.
The report presented demographic information and analysis on the key roles and make-up of the workforce across Australia and builds on research previously undertaken in 2019. More than 2000 facility managers, lifeguards, and swimming teachers completed the detailed survey.
World Health Organization forms Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention
Also in July 2023, on World Drowning Prevention Day in Geneva the World Health Organization launched the Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention. The central aim is to accelerate drowning prevention efforts across UN agencies, Governments, and non-state actors.
WHO is joined by International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and UNICEF. Each UN Agency brings the potential to integrate drowning prevention across sustainable development agendas
We were honoured to join the Alliance at its inception and to work to ensure that the Alliance empowers many other groups to contribute to a global strategy for drowning prevention.
Hot conditions prompt water safety warning
In September 2023, with predictions of a long, hot summer, the 29th National Drowning Report 2023, delivered in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia was released by Hon Anika Wells MP Minister for Sport, and found there were 281 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, which is 17 per cent lower than last year (339), and returns the annual drowning toll closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Drowning deaths down: 20 years of progress
Also, in September 2023, Royal Life Saving Australia released new research showing drowning rates in Australia have dropped by 26 per cent over the past 20 years. The Analysis of Unintentional Drowning in Australia 2002-2022 report found 5,692 people lost their lives to drowning in Australia in the 20-year period. Pleasingly, the biggest gains in drowning prevention were in the 0–4 age group, which recorded a 59 per cent decrease in the rate of drowning.
Warning issued - drowning risk triples when children turn one
In November 2023, Royal Life Saving’s Keep Watch Campaign reminded parents and carers about the risks of child drowning. Research shows that drowning risk for young children peaks in summer, with 38 per cent of all deaths occurring between December and February. It found that drowning risk triples when children turn one. As children become more mobile, they are curious and unpredictable. It is vital you keep constant watch and restrict access to water around the home. We reminded parents that ‘Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to.
National water safety day - Aussies urged to make water safety a priority this summer
Also in November, ahead of National Water Safety Day, Royal Life Saving Australia, together with Surf Life Saving Australia and the Australian Government urged all Australians to make water safety a priority this summer.
World Conference on Drowning Prevention ends with a stage full of passionate people
In December 2023, Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia co-hosted the World Conference on Drowning Prevention. In what was perhaps a once in a generation opportunity (to host the event in Australia), 750 colleagues and friends, from 50 countries, converged on Perth to share, inspire, and focus on building a global strategy, and mobilising local action for drowning prevention. It was such a wonderful event; we are still buzzing with so much positive feedback.
Surge in summer drowning fear
Also in December 2023, and ahead of the holiday break with expected record-breaking summer temperatures and predicted volatile weather events has prompted an urgent summer water safety warning. Last summer (2022/23) there were 90 drowning deaths, and many more hospitalised because of non-fatal drowning incidents. It is sobering that 25% or 23 summer drowning deaths occurred in the days between Christmas and New Years Day.
Thanks to all our colleagues, partners, and friends.
We look forward to working with you all in 2024.
Wishing you a very happy festive season and remember to enjoy the water safely:
- Always supervise children around water
- Avoid alcohol around water
- Wear a lifejacket when boating and fishing
- Know the conditions
- Avoid going alone
Justin Scarr
Chief Executive Officer
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia
