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Royal Life Saving WA and LIWA Aquatics celebrate 20 years of Watch Around Water program

Royal Life Saving WA and LIWA Aquatics celebrate 20 years of Watch Around Water program
December 20, 2024

Celebrating a legacy of water safety in aquatic facilities, LIWA Aquatics has joined with Royal Life Saving WA to mark the 20th anniversary of its Watch Around Water program.

The event held at Beatty Park brought together over 50 professionals from the aquatic industry to reflect on the program’s impact and renew the commitment to water safety as we head into another busy summer season.

Launched in 2004, Watch Around Water emerged as a response to preventable drowning tragedies. Its simple yet crucial guidelines - keeping children under five years within arm’s reach and actively supervising those under 10 years - have since become a national benchmark for water safety. This milestone anniversary served as a poignant reminder of the program’s enduring mission: fostering a shared responsibility between parents and lifeguards to keep public pools safe.

During the event, LIWA Aquatics President Dan Barber highlighted the program’s transformative influence on the aquatic industry, commenting “Watch Around Water exemplifies what we can achieve when the industry unites for a common cause.

“Beyond reducing drowning incidents, it has created a culture of vigilance and shared accountability, saving countless lives while enhancing the safety measures in our facilities.”

The gathering also featured heartfelt testimonials and discussions on how to address emerging challenges. With mobile devices and other distractions increasingly prevalent, the call to action is clear: parents must stay engaged and proactive in supervising their children at all times.

With high summer approaching, LIWA Aquatics and Royal Life Saving WA urge families to embrace the Watch Around Water guidelines in order to ensure pools remain places of fun, memories and, most importantly, safety.

Watch Around Water’s 20 year history is the subject of a feature in the latest issue of Australasian Leisure Management - number 165.

Subscribers and members of Australasian Leisure Management’s partner organisations will have received this issue in the leadup to the Christmas holidays. Subscribers can click here to view this issue.

Related Articles

6th December 2024 - LIWA Aquatics names Dan Barber as new President

8th November 2024 - City of Wanneroo set to install Lynxight anti drowning technology

6th November 2024 - Royal Life Saving highlights summer job opportunities in aquatic centres

23rd October 2024 - Royal Life Saving encourages aquatic facility managers to adopt key health and safety guidelines and regulations

16th October 2024 - Royal Life Saving launches new fatal drowning dashboard

20th August 2024 - Drowning levels continue to increase despite ever increasing resources

16th August 2024 - LIWA Aquatics’ WA Aquatic Recreation Conference features tribute to 20 years of Watch Around Water

13th August 2024 - Royal Life Saving WA farewells industry veteran Tony Head

25th July 2024 - Royal Life Saving highlights importance of World Drowning Prevention Day

8th July 2024 - Fluidra maintains support for Royal Life Saving WA’s Swim and Survive program

7th June 2024 - LIWA Aquatics invites nominations for 2024 Western Australia Aquatic Recreation Industry Awards

28th March 2024 - LIWA Aquatics launches industry mentorship program

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

24th February 2024 - LIWA Aquatics to stage site tour at reopened Bayswater Waves

3rd October 2024 - Royal Life Saving Queensland set to introduce AI-enhanced drowning detection systems training

12th October 2018 - Life Saving Victoria’s Watch Around Water urges parents to put their down phones when at the pool

25th September 2018 - Adventure Park Geelong becomes Watch Around Water first

16th December 2016 - Watch Around Water gets season launch

7th November 2016 - Clubs SA renews major sponsorship of Watch Around Water in South Australia

9th March 2016 - LIWA Aquatics to present new Watch Around Water ‘Facility of the Year’ Award

30th July 2013 - Aims to link Watch Around Water program with other anti-drowning initiatives

30th January 2013 - LIWA uses customised waterborne inflatable to promote Watch Around Water


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