Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Skills Active Aotearoa: New Zealand’s pool lifeguards highly qualified and well-supported

Skills Active Aotearoa: New Zealand’s pool lifeguards highly qualified and well-supported
August 11, 2017

Claims that New Zealand pool lifeguards lack sufficient support and training to safely monitor swimmers simply don’t hold water, according Skills Active Aotearoa Chief Executive, Dr Grant Davidson.

Dr Davidson is responding to comments from David Speechley, President of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Associations, who said earlier this week that the New Zealand aquatics industry is placing swimmers at risk, and lifeguards are not adequately scanning pools for people in distress.

Dr Davidson highlights that as the industry training organisation for aquatics, Skills Active works closely with the sector to administer the national on-job training and registration system for pool lifeguards.

He emphasises that pool lifeguards undergo comprehensive practical training and assessment, aligned to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, he says. Skills Active and aquatics peak body the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) regularly review pool lifeguard qualifications to ensure they reflect international good practice, and prepare lifeguards for the critical tasks they perform.

At the NZRA’s JAWS aquatic sector conference where Speechley was speaking, Skills Active launched the new foundation pool lifeguard qualification, fully updated and including the most recent recommendations from the NZ Resuscitation Council.

Dr Davidson added that Skill Active has completed the development stage of an advanced qualification for senior pool lifeguards, due for release in early 2018, which is eagerly anticipated by industry.

He commented “Mr Speechley argues that pool lifeguards should go through training once a year, and re-accreditation every three years. As it stands, New Zealand pool lifeguards already undergo a minimum of quarterly training, and must re-register for their Pool Lifeguard Practising Certificate every two years.

“We also question where Mr Speechley gets his data on drownings at public and resort pools in New Zealand.

“Water Safety NZ figures on council pools, privately-owned pool facilities, school pools and hotel/resort pools, show that total drownings at these types of facilities have averaged two per year over the last five years. They are not ‘continuing to rise’, as Mr Speechley puts it.”

Skills Active was pleased to see an immediate rebuttal of Speechley’s claims from NZRA, which oversees the industry’s PoolSafe quality management scheme.

Image courtesy of Skills Active Aotearoa.

10th August 2017 - NZRA: ‘NEW ZEALAND’S AQUATICS INDUSTRY AND POOL LIFEGUARDS ARE NOT FAILING’ 

9th August 2017 - IFSTA’S DAVID SPEECHLEY SUGGESTS POOL LIFEGUARDS ARE FAILING IN AQUATIC SAFETY 

29th May 2017 - NZRA INVITES NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL AQUATIC INDUSTRY AWARDS

21st April 2017 - ROYAL LIFE SAVING LAUNCHES NATIONAL AQUATIC INDUSTRY SAFETY AWARDS 

27th March 2017 - SKILLS ACTIVE LAUNCHES WORKFORCE PLANNING TOOLKIT FOR SPORT AND RECREATION EMPLOYERS

15th March 2017 - PICTON POOL BECOMES POOLSAFE 

14th December 2016 - SKILLS ACTIVE MAPS THE WAY FOR SPORT AND RECREATION CAREERS

24th October 2016 - BEST PRACTICE AQUATIC INDUSTRY GUIDELINES FROM THE NZRA

16th June 2016 - ROTORUA AQUATIC CENTRE PASSES POOLSAFE ACCREDITATION

31st January 2015 - DOWNWARD TREND IN NEW ZEALAND DROWNINGS

17th February 2014 - NEW ZEALAND’S BIG PICTURE OF ITS AQUATIC, RECREATION AND SPORT FACILITY NETWORK 


Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.


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.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

 

AIS Water

AIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology

 
 

BODY BIKE APAC

BODY BIKE® International is a leading manufacturer of indoor bikes with a 20-year track record of creating the best indoor bikes. Stay connected with Body Bike Australia…

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Sport / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Gladstone MRM

Gladstone Health & Leisure (Gladstone MRM Pty Ltd Australia) is a leading supplier of leisure management and fitness software and is endorsed by leading health and fitness professionals and…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Venues

 
 

Intelligenz Solutions

Intelligenz provides Leisure Management Software for managing all your Program Registrations, Facility Bookings, Membership Sales and POS Transactions; including detailed Reporting, automated…

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Marketing / Technology

 
 

revolutioniseSPORT

revolutioniseSPORT is the emerging market leader in online club management in Australia. Whether it is memberships, registrations, events, online sales or governance tools - revolutioniseSPORT is the…

read more

Recreation / Sport / Technology

 
 

Smart Connection Consultancy

Smart Connection Consultancy is a boutique sport and recreation consultancy who has become one of Australia’s leading advocates for the use of synthetic sports surfaces as a vehicle to grow…

read more

Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 

GymMaster

Contact: Australia: (+61) 1800 849 001 New Zealand: (+64) 3 668 5727 International: (+1) 415 915 0375

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business