Release of latest industry guidelines aimed at increasing safety in aquatic facilities

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia and the National Aquatic Industry Committee have released two new sets of Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO).

Both sets of guidelines have involved more than a year’s worth of work including widespread consultation with aquatic facility owners, operators and industry groups.

The first set of guidelines provides practical guidance for owners or operators of aquatic facilities in relation to measures needed to protect children and young people from abuse and/or related harm relating to aquatic facility operations.

The child safety guidelines contextualise the National Child Safe Principles to aquatic facilities and are intended to assist pool owners and operators to comply with regulatory frameworks.

The second set of guidelines provide practical guidance for owners or operators of aquatic facilities in relation to the qualifications, skills and training needed for staff for entry into employment in the aquatic industry.

The Training and Qualifications guidelines bring together the changes to vocational training packages, overseen by the now disbanded Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) working on behalf of the federal government, that impacted a variety of aquatic industry roles.

Advising that the guidelines are intended to simplify and contextualise existing regulatory frameworks into practical guidance for aquatic facility owners and operators,

RJ Houston, Royal Life Saving General Manager - Capability and Industry, stated “the National Aquatic Industry Committee has worked hard over the last 12 months to work through a range of frameworks, guidance, legislation, policy and best practices to bring these guidelines to fruition.”

Matt Simpson, NAIC member and Project Manager - National Programs at Swimming Australia explained collaboration and problem-solving is critical to ensuring guidelines strike the right balance between comprehensiveness and feasible implementation by industry.

Simpson noted “Swimming Australia and other peak associations have been working with our members and clubs to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, with safety a top priority for all.”

Brad Page, NAIC member and Venues and Events Manager at Logan City Council, said the new guidelines assist in providing clarity to venue owners on what arrangements should be in place to ensure facilities are being managed in the best possible public interest, adding “for venue owners, having responsive and comprehensive industry safety guidance is vital for ensuring facilities are managed safely and in line with the latest regulations.”

To view the guidelines, head to the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations section of the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia website at www.royallifesaving.com.au/subscribers/GSPO

Image: Royal Life Socierty Aquatic Safety Training Academy.