News: Safety
Parents urged to appoint a ‘Responsible Pool Person’ at events near water
With more than 50 Australians having lost their lives to drowning incidents over the summer period, water safety advocate Laurie Lawrence is calling on party organisers to...
Jan 25, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Aquatics
Queensland issues dam swim safety warnings ahead of long weekend
Water safety in summer isn’t just about swimming between the flags at the beach: it’s about swimming in the designated areas in dams as well. On the eve of the Australia Day...
Jan 24, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Royal Life Saving WA helps women learn to Swim and Survive
Royal Life Saving WA is in partnership with the South West Sports Centre in Bunbury to offer multicultural women’s swimming lessons. The aim is for women to build on their...
Jan 23, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Australian Festival Association launched to create ‘world-leading’ standards
A group of major festival promoters have united to set up the Australian Festival Association to help “deliver safe and well-run festivals around Australia, and establishing...
Jan 23, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Venues /
Entertainment
Swimsmart programme aims to reduce drowning rates in New Zealand
A Christchurch City Council Swimsmart survey has revealed that learning water survival skills at a young age is the main motivation for parents when booking swimming lessons....
Jan 22, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Western Sydney University scientist creates star rating for playground heat performance
With Australia’s current heatwave having a massive impact on outdoor play and recreation, urban ecosystem scientist Dr Sebastian Pfautsch of Western Sydney University is...
Jan 19, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Play /
Environment
NSW Government to require licensing of music festivals after drug deaths
Following a series of drug deaths and overdoses, the NSW Government is to introduce regulations that will require music festivals to be licensed. The move, that will see event...
Jan 19, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Legal /
Venues /
Entertainment
Leading medical body calls for pill testing trials at Australian festivals
Australia's peak body for physicians has thrown its support behind calls to introduce pill testing at music festivals, urging state governments to take action to introduce the...
Jan 17, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Legal /
Wellness /
Entertainment
Parents urged to enrol children in vital Swim and Survive lessons
With 61 drowning deaths across Australia so far this summer (from 1st December 2018 to 14th January 2019), 20 more than at the same time last year, Australia is in the midst of...
Jan 15, 2019
Safety /
Education /
Aquatics
City of Sydney and Surf Life Saving NSW partner for 2019 Sydney Lunar Festival
The City of Sydney will partner with one of Australia's largest volunteer-based community organisations to help raise funds and awareness of water safety in New South Wales. The...
Jan 14, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Recreation
Cairns rescues highlight dangers of swimming in local waterways
The dangers of swimming in local waterways during the Cairns wet season have been highlighted through a series of recent rescues at a single Aloomba causeway. The causeway,...
Jan 13, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Palmerston Water Park to become one of the coolest and safest places for Northern Territorians
Palmerston Water Park is to benefit from the installation of CCTV cameras to complement a recently-completed new shade over the toddler pool. The Northern Territory Government...
Jan 13, 2019
Safety /
Aquatics /
Play /
Waterparks
Life Saving Victoria urges beachgoers to use technology to stay safe around the water
Life Saving Victoria is urging Victorians to use technology to keep safe around the water this week as high numbers of beachgoers are expected to cool off in the heat, with...
Jan 13, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Technology /
Aquatics
Life Saving Victoria introduces new Safety Endorsement Program for pools
As part of the Victorian Safer Public Pools program, facilities can now be awarded a recognised safety endorsement from Life Saving Victoria (LSV). A new three-tiered (bronze,...
Jan 11, 2019
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Thousands stung as record numbers of bluebottles swarm on southern Queensland beaches
More than 2,500 people have been treated for bluebottle stings at beaches on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts over the weekend as jellyfish swarmed coastal areas in record numbers....
Jan 6, 2019
Tourism /
Safety /
Recreation /
Aquatics
Victoria Police keep rival protest groups apart at St Kilda beach
A rally by far-right and anti-immigration at Melbourne's St Kilda beach on Saturday has been largely contained by Victoria Police. Scores of Police, including some with riot...
Jan 5, 2019
Events /
Safety /
Legal
Improved night-time lighting to enhance safety for City of Perth
The City of Perth is aiming to improve night time lighting to enhance safety, walkability and practicality, befitting of a capital city. Commissioners for the City of Perth have...
Jan 3, 2019
Safety /
Culture /
Recreation /
Security
iFly Queenstown enjoying successful first summer of operations
New Zealand’s first indoor iFLY skydiving attraction in Queenstown is enjoying a successful first summer. Having joined Queenstown's suite of adventure attractions when it...
Jan 1, 2019
Tourism /
Safety /
Recreation /
Attractions
Airlie Beach lagoon drowning prompts WorkSafe Queensland advice
The drowning of a father and son at a lagoon attraction in Airlie Beach in October has prompted Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) to issue an advisory note to...
Jan 1, 2019
Safety /
Aquatics
Rangers warn of dangers as walkers ignore heat warnings in Northern Territory parks
Park rangers in the Northern Territory are pleading with visitors to take notice of severe heat warnings in Central Australia after several walkers underestimated conditions...
Dec 31, 2018
Tourism /
Safety /
Environment /
Parks
New Australian Open extreme heat policy to allow 10-minute breaks in men's matches
The Australian Open has released its new extreme heat policy, allowing 10-minute breaks in men's singles matches for the first time ever in a grand slam tennis tournament. At...
Dec 29, 2018
Events /
Sport /
Safety /
Wellness
Lifeguards threatened by parent of unattended child at Makino Aquatic Centre
A parent who left their child swimming unsupervised launched a tirade of abuse and threatened lifeguards at Feilding's Makino Aquatic Centre in the week before Christmas. The...
Dec 26, 2018
Safety /
Legal /
Aquatics /
Security
Former Zamperla rides engineer drives Aussie World to new heights
The man responsible for installing and upgrading new rides and attractions at Aussie World believes the theme park is well on its way to becoming one of Australia’s leading...
Dec 26, 2018
Tourism /
Safety /
Attractions /
Entertainment
Surf message aims to keep multicultural community safe on the beaches and waterways
Those from diverse backgrounds are being urged to heed the surf safety message of a program which educated more than 31,000 people in Queensland in the past year on how to stay...
Dec 23, 2018
Safety /
Education /
Culture /
Recreation