AusLeisure

With professional lifeguards concerned at the high level of ocean and open water drownings, the annual conference of the Australian Professional and Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA) is to raise questions and discuss how monies are spent in the name of water safety for drowning prevention.

With the theme ‘Investing in Drowning Prevention’, the conference is being held Park Beach, Coffs Harbour on Friday 3rd May.

In a statement explaining the issues that the conference will address, APOLA advise “it is no secret that death rates from accidental drowning have never been higher and questions about how monies are spent in the name of water safety for drowning prevention need to be discussed.

“Investing in proven drowning prevention strategies is the obvious way to go, however are decision makers with the capacity to wisely invest public funds prepared to listen to experienced experts without being unduly influenced by a lot of political white noise and non-proven assumptions?

“The facts (statistics) confirm that effective supervision and education for water survival is obviously where investment should occur - but is this happening?”

The single day Conference and Workshop will be of interest not only for lifeguards and others with a brief in managing risk and safety in public open space including beaches, pools and other waterways, but also others involved in safety education for people choosing to visit these aquatic locations.

Registrations close Friday 26th April 2024.

Click here for details on the APOLA Conference in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: Coffs Harbour City Council.

Related Articles

12th March 2024 - Drowning death at Cairns swimming hole highlights need for improved safety signage

1st March 2024 - Surf Life Saving Australia reveals summer with 99 drowning deaths and more than 5,000 lives saved

28th February 2024 - Aquatic Industry event highlights achievements of drowning prevention campaigns

28th January 2024 - World Conference on Drowning Prevention organisers invite input on closing statement

14th January 2024 - Ironmen and Ironwomen save swimmers from rip at Sydney beach

7th January 2024 - Emergency Response Beacon activated to prevent rip drownings

30th December 2023 - Surf scientist Professor Rob Brander advises of what to do when caught in an ocean rip current

29th December 2023 - ‘Float to Survive’ message promoted across social media

12th December 2023 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins promotes ‘Float to Survive’ message with Blacktown City Council

2nd December 2023 - Bondi lifeguards plead for return of stolen beach buggy

30th November 2023 - Randwick Council introduces professional lifeguarding services at two new Sydney beaches this summer

19th September 2023 - City of Newcastle lifeguards prepare students for a safe summer

17th March 2023 - Shellharbour City Council lifeguards recognised by APOLA

24th February 2023 - Royal Life Saving develops new online course specifically for pool lifeguards  

9th July 2022 - Waverley Council sacks beach lifeguards over their COVID-19 vaccine status

15th November 2021 - Royal Life Saving highlights ‘tens of thousands’ of job vacancies for lifeguards and swim teachers

7th May 2021 - Review gives ‘top marks’ to Gold Coast’s professional lifeguard services

15th December 2017 - Leading professional lifeguard says swim between flags message is ‘desirable but unrealistic’

27th December 2015 - Professional Lifeguards highlight need for safety first at the beach

29th April 2015 - Professional Ocean Lifeguards gather on the Coffs Coast

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.