The National Water Safety Summit 2025 will bring together people from across all areas of the water safety sector to reflect on progress and explore opportunities to strengthen alignment to the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 (AWSS 2030).
Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia are proudly presenting this event on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council.
The Summit will be held at the Aerial Function Centre, University of Technology, Building 10, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW.
This event forms part of Australian plans to commemorate World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July 2025.
Importantly, and in the context of the steady increase in drowning in recent years, the National Summit will focus attention and revitalize the AWSS 2030. Over the past 12 months, we have been convening workshops and forums on AWSS 2030 issues from alcohol, young men, migrants to scuba, boating and regional areas. The Strategy is being redrafted, and this Summit forms a key part of that plan.
PROGRAM
Program Snapshot
8:00am Registration and Networking Coffee
5:00 PM – 6:30 – Social Networking Function
8:00am Registration and Networking Coffee
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM - Conference
Program Summary
Day One: Thursday 24 July 2025 (9:00am start)
Session 1 – Plenary (9:00 AM Start)
Setting the scene for drowning prevention and water safety at the midpoint of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030. Are we on track? What must be done to reach the 2030 goal of reducing drowning by 50%? What are the biggest issues facing Australia and the water safety sector, and how will we navigate them in the next five years? What are the roles and responsibilities of government, who is accountable for reducing drowning, and how can we work together to maximise our impact?
Session 2 - Plenary
Exploring the national imperative of how we ensure everyone learns to swim, and key focus areas of multicultural communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. Why are kids missing out on learning swimming and lifesaving – what can we do about it? Should we teach floating first? Is funding going towards the right programs for the right children in the right places? Are we addressing the needs of those most vulnerable to drowning? How do we partner better?
Session 3 – Breakouts
Learning together with short presentations, panel and group discussions, and interactive conversations themed by four cross cutting enablers of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030: Education, Policy, Advocacy, and Collaboration. Are our programs building skills and changing behaviour? What policy opportunities could change systems and reduce drowning? Is anyone paying attention to our public campaigning and advocacy efforts – how do we do better? Where can we partner and collaborate?
Session 4 – Plenary
Investigating the national imperative of localising drowning prevention, and key focus area of Older Adults. Is drowning prevention best done at the community level? What responsibility does local government have for water safety? How does the water safety sector adapt to meet the needs of Australia’s ageing population?
Networking Social (5:00 PM – 6:30 PM)
Continuing the day’s most important conversations over drinks and light food – catch up with old colleagues, meet new people, and lean in to being part of the Australian water safety community.
Day Two: Friday 25 July 2025 (9:00am start)
Session 5 – Plenary (9:00 AM Start)
Commemorating Global Drowning Prevention Day 2025. With momentum from the 2021 United Nations Resolution for Drowning Prevention and the 2024 Global status report on drowning prevention – what can each of us do to be part of the global movement to prevent drowning? How is Australia positioned in the global fight to end drowning? What approaches can we learn from other nations?
Session 6: Plenary
Tackling the biggest issues in key places of focus: Beaches, Rivers and Aquatic Facilities. Are lifeguard and lifesaving systems fit for purpose? What is the solution to drowning at unpatrolled locations? How do we address the pending infrastructure crisis of aging pools and a growing population? Should we change the way we organise rescue and response systems?
Session 7 – Breakouts
Another opportunity to explore key topics aligned with the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 enablers: Education (Round 2!), Workforce, Safe Environments, and Research. Who misses out on water safety education initiatives? Do we need to be more inclusive? How can we take care of the those who educate, prevent, and rescue? What place-based solutions can help us move the needle? Are we researching the right questions, with the right data, for the right issues?
Session 8 - Plenary
Bringing it all together – defining where we must go from here to reduce drowning by 50% by 2030. What are the most important actions we must take? Who is accountable and responsible for ensuring those actions happen? What are our biggest barriers – can we navigate these waters together?
REGISTRATION
Registration Pricing Registration Fees | Registration Details |
Two Day Registration | Includes registration for BOTH Thursday 24th July 2025 (including social / networking function) AND Friday 25th July 2025. With morning and afternoon teas and lunches for both days. |
One Day Registration Early Bird = $275 Late = $315 | Includes registration for EITHER With morning and afternoon tea, and lunch for one day. |
STUDENT | Includes registration for BOTH Note - Student registrations will be required to show proof of current study. With morning and afternoon teas and lunches for both days. |
STUDENT | Includes registration for EITHER Note - Student registrations will be required to show proof of current study. With morning and afternoon tea, and lunch for one day. |
Key Registration Dates
Registrations Open: Tuesday 11 March 2025
Early Bird Registrations Close: Tuesday 17 June 2025
Late Registrations Close: Tuesday 15 July 2025
EFT / Direct Deposit Payments
If you are making payment by EFT/Money Transfer/Bank Transfer/Direct Deposit, please make payment with your Bank and include in the Payment Reference, your Name and Invoice Number. Bank details are:
NAB Operating account
Bank: National Australia Bank
BSB 082 057
Acct 74 735 2741
Name: Royal Life Saving Society – Australia
Note upon receipt of this payment a registration receipt will be issued and forwarded to your nominated email address.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Substitution:
If your circumstances change and you can no longer attend the event, you are welcome to nominate a substitute to attend at no additional cost by Friday 11th July 2025.
Cancellation:
You are entitled to a refund if the cancellation is received on or before Friday 11th July 2025.
However, refunds will be processed with a A$50 service charge applied per person of cancellation. Cancellations received after Friday 11th July 2025 are not eligible for refunds.
Any cancellation or substitution requests should be made in writing and directed to info@rlssa.org.au
LOCATION
Aerial Function Centre, University of Technology
Building 10, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW.
Aerial Function Centre is located on Level 7, UTS Building 10. Enter at 235 Jones St Ultimo Foyer, take the lift to level 7 and proceed to the Function Centre.
Aerial is a 5-minute walk from Central Railway Station and 15 minutes to the Sydney CBD. Public buses run regularly between UTS and the city.
Sydney airport is a 30-minute drive (allow for traffic).
Parking:
Paid parking is available on-site at the Interpark UTS Car Park. Enter from Thomas St (travelling west) and a lift to the function centre is accessible from the car park.
Limited metered street parking is available on Thomas Street.
Disability Access:
Aerial is a disability accessible venue, with lifts, ramps and an accessible bathroom on site. A hearing induction loop is also available on request.
Being green:
Aerial Function Centre, is committed to minimising their environmental footprint by using solar energy, reducing food waste, and using plant-based compostable packaging.
ACCOMMODATION
Four Points by Sheraton, Sydney Central Park
88 Broadway Hotel Entrance Via, 4 Central Park Ave, Chippendale NSW 2008
Located just 240 metres from the Conference Host Location (Aerial Function Centre), The Four Points Sheraton is the perfect place to stay. Located in Chippendale, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park is well located for exploring Sydney and surrounds. The hotel offers onsite parking and is near shops and restaurants, Central Station and Darling Harbour.
Accommodation Room Rate (King Room) - $260.00 AUD per night
A discounted breakfast rate is available on consumption @ A$30.00 per person/day.
Booking details/conditions from Four Points by Sheraton:
- Holding Your Reservation: We will need a credit card number to reserve your room
- Cancelling Your Reservation: In the event of cancellation by an individual reservation which occurs 0-30 days prior to arrival, 100% of the total Room Night booking will be due.
- Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Monday 23, June 2025.
Book your group rate for National Water Safety Summit July 2025
