Life Saving Victoria and Aquatics and Recreation Victoria release latest State of the Sector Report

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) and Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) have released the Victorian Public Pools: State of the Sector Report 2023-2024 - a comprehensive report providing insights into the size, scope, and performance of Victoria’s public aquatic facilities.

Focusing on participation trends, safety standards and workforce development, the report notes that swimming is the most popular activity among children and fifth among adults in Victoria.

It also shows a robust workforce, 58% female, with many employees working casually or while studying.

Safety and Performance
The report details Pool Safety Assessments (PSA) for 180 facilities, revealing an 11.6% increase in compliance and a 10.7% increase in safety scores compared to the previous three-year average. All-year facilities outperformed seasonal ones in safety metrics. Notably, children are identified as the group most at risk of non-fatal drowning incidents.

Key Initiatives
New and ongoing programs aim to enhance safety, workforce capacity, and inclusion:

• Swim Teacher Retention Framework: Developed to support swim teacher sustainability.

• SwimSafe Campaign: A partnership to boost water safety, particularly for vulnerable groups.

• Lifeguard on Watch: A BlueFit initiative using AI to improve lifeguard performance and safety.

Facilities and Accreditations
The report celebrates new and innovative facilities like the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, which showcase sustainable design and community engagement. It also recognises facilities with gold, silver, and bronze safety accreditations.

Industry Recognition
It also highlights the sector’s achievements as acknowledged through the ARV and LSV awards, which recognise excellence in roles such as lifeguarding, swim teaching, and community impact.

Click here to view the full report.