Royal Life Saving Society - ACT Annual Report 2011/2012

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1 OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY HONOURS Royal Life Saving Society - ACT

THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCITEY COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL HONOURS (Incorporated By Royal Charter) Service Cross Annual Report Patron Mr G.P McGibbon Her Majesty The Queen Mr H. Hird Mr L. Holley 2011/2012 Commonwealth President Peter Granleese H.R.H Prince Michael of Kent Service Medal Justice Terence Higgins THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY- AUSTRALIA Mr Peter Granleese Patron Mr Kevin Graham Her Excellency The Governor General of Australia Mr Lyal Holley Mr Tony Bandle 08 National President Mr Greg Bowler Chief Justice Terrence Higgins AO CONTENTS Mr H. Hird Branch Director Bar to Service Cross President’s Report 4 Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO Mr H. Hird Executive Officer’s Report 5 06 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY BRANCH INCORPORATED AUSTRALIAN HONOURS President Operations Fellow of the Royal Life Saving Society Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO Mr G.P McGibbon Advocacy 06 Deputy President Mr K. Graham Health promotion 08 Mr Harold Hird Mr I. Cocks Mr Tony Bandle Education 10 Honorary Treasurer Mr Tony Bandle Service Order of the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Training and Skills 12 Mrs C. McGibbon Elected Member to the Board of Directors Sport 14 Ms D. Cocks Mr Peter Granleese Aquatic Risk Management 16 Mr Lyal Holley Meritorious Service Award Mr Peter Castle Mr H. Hird Community Development 18 Mr Peter Macaulay Royal Life Saving Society Commendation for Bravery AUSTSWIM 21 Executive Officer Mr P. Zori Mr Sean Hodges Mr D. McCaskill Mr G. O’Neill Auditor 20011/12 Award Figures 22 Mr M. Gilet RSM Bird Cameron Ms N. Ballenden Solicitors Mr N. Hansford Michael Higgins Constable Russ Quilty 12 Medical Advisor Royal Life Saving Society Australia Rescue Medal Ben Lynch Elise Waser Barton Waser Jon Waser 14

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2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

It gives me great pleasure to present the Annual report Finally on behalf of the Royal Life Saving ACT board I Royal Life Saving ACT is extremely proud of the The 2011-12 ACT Primary Schools Swim and Survive for the Royal Life Saving Society Australia, ACT Branch would like to thank the following; significant contribution it has made to the local ACT program was a huge success and involved 3,396 public for 2011/12. • The dedicated volunteers and instructors who continue community during 2011-12. The efforts of the Royal Life school students from across 30 ACT public schools. These to spread the Royal Life Saving messages Saving ACT staff, volunteers, Instructors and Examiners numbers are a 16% increase on 2010-11. We have witnessed some outstanding results and during this time have made the following fantastic • The Royal Life Saving Australia National office and achievements by our branch over the past twelve results possible. A key highlight for the 2011 ACT Primary Schools Swim board for their continued support months. The theme of ‘ everyone can be a lifesaver’ and Survive program were visits from Alicia Coutts and has been embraced and emphasised through increased • The ACT Government for their ongoing support On behalf of Royal Life Saving ACT I would like thank Grant Hackett, both Commonwealth games and Olympic community engagement with targeted activities, as well • The Labor Club for their generous support everyone involved for another outstanding year and I Gold medallists. Grant attended the Active Leisure as through the increased level of education and training and contribution to the Swim for Life Program look forward to continued success in the year to come. Centre in term 3 and Alicia attended the CISAC pool programs provided to the wider ACT community. • Canberra Milk for supporting our community lifesavers during term 4, both were a hit with our local students. Training continues to be a major strength of our Alicia provided some valuable swimming instruction The ACT branch has been advocating on important Without the support of our members, volunteers and organisation with over 2,500 participants completing lessons and even participated in water safety lessons water safety issues in the ACT, in particular for some sponsors we could not achieve our mission of prevention our accredited training courses over the past 12 months. with one class. time now, swimming and water safety skills for children of drowning and public safety, particularly around water. We have had a strong focus on increasing the number and home pool safety reforms for pool owners have of qualified Pool Lifeguards this year to help elevate The Ngadyung program which started in 2007 has been at the top of our agenda items. This year we have the declining trend of available lifeguards in the local continued to be a huge success for the Local Aboriginal seen an additional funding from the ACT Government industry. Royal Life Saving ACT has worked closely with and Torres Strait Islander community. The Ngadyung to assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds Chief Justice Terence Higgins AO pools and schools across the Territory to ensure that Program is a family connection initiative that brings local attend swimming and water safety programs. The ACT President participation in lifeguarding courses increases and that Aboriginal families together to improve health based Government has also announced new home pool safety newly trained Lifeguards receive the on-the-job support outcomes through participation in aquatic recreation reforms will come in the near future. These are both they need. and water safety education. fantastic results and we commend the ACT Government for taking action on these important issues. The Royal Life Saving ACT Teacher Training program Royal Life Saving ACT continues to work closely with runs every year and offers free Instructor and Examiner the ACT Government to advocate the importance training to ACT school teachers. This program aims to of swimming and water safety in the ACT. With the build capacity in our local high schools and colleges assistance of the Safe Waters ACT working committee, for teachers to offer students accredited VET training the ACT Government has recently conducted a full and outcomes in Basic Water Rescue and/or First Aid. review of Home Pool Fencing Legislation; we look Students can then use these outcomes towards future forward to these positive changes being implemented in learning for employment. This year we introduced 7 new the not too distant future so that we can work towards Instructors from various schools and updated the skills of eliminating toddler drowning deaths in the ACT. 12 more Examiners.

These fantastic results would not be possible without the knowledge and expertise of our volunteer and paid Sean Hodges training staff. Our core trainers come from a wide range Executive Officer professional backgrounds including Teachers, Ambulance officers, Fire-fighters and Lifeguards. Our approach to utilise industry professionals as our core trainers has helped to build our reputation as one of the leading RTO’s in the ACT.

4 5 advocacy Advocacy

Royal Life Saving has a well-developed position on Keep Watch - Ambassadors an extensive range of water safety issues facing Royal Life Saving ACT has continued to involve local the ACT community. Our challenge is to ensure that Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of these issues and our positions are understood and Parliament to act as Keep Watch ambassadors. supported by Government, Industry, the Corporate Sector and the ACT Community. Royal Life Saving ACT would like to thank the following ambassadors: Royal Life Saving is working hard to eliminate drowning. • Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, Chief Minister We believe that through a coordinated and locally driven • Mr Andrew Barr MLA, Deputy Chief Minister campaign we can reduce these statistics. • Ms Joy Burch MLA, Member for Brindabella

Our advocates are lifesavers! Our staff have actively • Mr Alistair Coe MLA, Member for Ginninderra participated in water safety forums, including, hosting • Mr Simon Corbell MLA, Member for Molonglo the Splash 2011 conference and presenting at the • Mr Steve Doszpot MLA, Member for Brindabella Australian Water Safety Conference 2012. • Mrs Vicki Dunne MLA, Member for Ginninderra Royal Life Saving volunteers and personnel sit on a range • Mr MLA, Member for Molonglo of boards and advisory panels of various not-for-profit • Senator , Senator for the ACT organisations. Some of these organisations include • Ms Meredith Hunter MLA, Member for Ginninderra the Australian Council for the Teaching of Swimming • Senator Kate Lundy, Senator for ACT and Water Safety (AUSTSWIM and the Australian Resuscitation Council, ACT Branch. • Mr Shane Rattenbury MLA, Speaker, Legislative Assembly • Mr MLA, Member for Molonglo National Drowning Report Launch • Mr Brendan Smyth MLA, Deputy Can. Liberal Leader Canberra played host to the launch of the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia’s National Drowning Report in September 2011. Ambassador Grant Hackett was present at the event and took the time to speak to the audience which consisted of Royal Life Saving delegates, local and federal politicians, special invited guests and other key stakeholders. Grant shared his personal experiences and his view on the importance of Keep Watch Ambassador Sam Riley, Olympic swimmer learning to swim for all ages. and mother of three young boys

6 7 health Health Promotion Keep Watch

Royal Life Saving’s commitment to reducing Keep Watch continues to be a key drowning prevention water-related incidents and accidents is and water safety program for parents and carers of children under five years of age in the ACT. The program has a wide

best seen through the concept of creating variety of resources and sub-programs that target specific promotion water-safe communities. locations such as bath time, the farm and public pools.

Royal Life Saving has a proud history of With nearly all public pools across the ACT participating in developing health promotion programs that the Keep Watch @ Public Pools program, and thousands of target special needs groups such as: resources distributed across the Capital, Royal Life Saving • Children under five (Keep Watch) continues to work towards ensuring all children under the • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander age of five are safe, when in, on, or around water. Community Members • Refugees, Recent Arrivals and Culturally and The Keep Watch program now has 26 fact sheets that Linguistically Diverse Communities provide information to help people keep themselves, and those within their care, safe when at a variety of aquatic • Older Australians (Grey Medallion) locations or while undertaking aquatic activities. The • and others including alcohol related information in these fact sheets is regularly reviewed and drowning deaths updated to ensure the most relevant information is being communicated in the best possible way. Historically, Royal Life Saving’s programs have targeted saving lives from drowning, and these The fact sheets cover a range of topics from the four Keep have always been approached through the Watch Actions of: Supervise, Restrict Access, Water Awareness encouragement of safe aquatic recreation. and Resuscitate; to Farm Water Safety, Home Pool Safety, Watercraft Safety and Hypoxic Blackout among others.

The Keep Watch website (www.keepwatch.com.au) provides an invaluable source of information for parents/carers, grandparents, child care workers, swim teachers, community health workers or others interested in preventing child drowning. The website has been recently refreshed to showcase the wide variety of resources the program has to offer and also includes a full list of the official Keep Watch community ambassadors.

Keep Watch – Home Pool Safety Checklist PoolWerx, sponsor of the Keep Watch program for the past five years, continue to support Royal Life Saving in promoting not only the Keep Watch program and resources, but also the Home Pool Safety Weekend. Over the last five years, over 150 Australian children under the age of five have drowned. Half of these deaths occur in home swimming pools.

The Home Pool Safety Weekend campaign uses the slogan “Make this weekend your Home Pool Safety weekend” and encourages pool owners to use the Home Pool Safety Checklist. The checklist acts as a basic reminder to pool owners to check, fix and maintain their home pool and surrounds in order to eliminate child drowning. The checklist can be downloaded from www.homepoolsafety.com.au.

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8 9 Austswim: Teacher of Swimming & Water Safety of Swimming & Water Austswim: Teacher RLS Senior First Aid RLS Bronze Medallion with children with Autism/ Working Aspbergers syndrome The 2011-12 ACT Primary Schools Swimming and Water Water and Swimming Schools Primary ACT 2011-12 The 3,396 involved and success huge a was program Safety schools. public ACT 30 across from students school public 2010-11. on increase 16% a are numbers These been has Certificates Survive and Swim Minister’s The generate to brand localised a create to implemented as ACT, the within profile and awareness community students ACT for goal aspiration an providing as well schools, encourage to this use to is aim Our families. and safety water and swimming ensure to parents and teachers year This schools. local their within offered are programs issued. were certificates Survive and Swim Ministers 424 Swim Schools Primary ACT 2011 the for highlight Another and Coutts Alicia from visits were program Survive and Olympic and games Commonwealth both Hackett, Grant Centre Leisure Active the attended Grant medallists. Gold term during pool CISAC the attended Alicia and 3 term in provided Alicia students. local our with hit a were both 4, even and lessons instruction swimming valuable some class. one with lessons safety water in participated years three of result a is program year’s this of success The the of message consistent a promoting in work hard alone 2011 In safety. water and swimming of importance the for messages related media local 22 of total a had we of use The print. and radio TV, included which program out message our getting in role vital a played has media the of importance the of communities school local the to program safety water and swimming Survive and Swim on-deck 6 and instructors 45 of total a had We We 2011. during program the with assist Coordinators life of walks different many from people recruited and mums home at stay students, university including care child and teachers school primary trained dads, local the from recruits of number a had also We workers. a as community Islander Strait Torres and Aboriginal programs. and connections ATSI strong our of result courses training of range a undertook Instructors RLS All they ensure to workshops development professional and safety water and swimming of knowledge vast a had teaching. for skills included: necessary if provided courses training The • • • • Schools Swim and Survive Program Proudly supported by ducation plays a vital role in E Active (3–5yrs) Swim and Survive: months) (6–36 - Wonder - - Courage (5–14yrs) Bronze Medallion Junior Lifesaving education Water Safety advocating the prevention of drowning and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Royal Life Saving encourages participation in aquatic activities and aims to develop skills, knowledge, positive attitudes and safe behaviours of our local community members in order to participate in a safe and enjoyable Themanner. water safety education programs aim to build awareness of dangers in aquatic environments, teach essential water safety and swimming skills and develop lifesaving skills that may one day save a life; reflecting Royal Life Saving’s mantra that ‘Everyone can be a Lifesaver’. The education scope endeavours to provide opportunities at each age group or life stage from water familiarisation for young children, developing foundation skills for primary school children, arming teenagers with essential survival and lifesaving skills and water safety for older adults. include: Our key education programs • • • Swim and Survive Partners Survive and Swim Society Saving Life Royal The an places and research-driven is program into skills survival incorporating on emphasis This, ages. all of children for lessons swimming is that approach integrated the with along sets child, a of stages life the around based to learn other from apart Survive and Swim programs. swim The ACT boasts 3 great Swim and Survive Partners - Canberra Olympic Pool, Dickson Aquatic Centre and Lakeside Leisure Centre - who all agreed, once again, to provide the Swim Royal Life Saving Society – Australia’s and Survive program to the community through core programs at their respective ACT Royal Life Saving Swim Schools this year. would like to thank these partners.

education 10 13 Below Left: Ben Cuttriss ACT Trainer of the Year 2011 of the Year Below Left: Ben Cuttriss ACT Trainer STAFF a new casual Saving ACT welcomed Royal Life Baker to the assistant, Stephanie administration Stephanie assisted with data office team this year. growing ACT Swim and management, for the program, and general course Survive Primary Schools is currently studying Public administration. Stephanie Studies at university. Relations and International joined our training team in 2011 Paula Robinson also and knowledgeable First Aid and as an experienced Paula is currently a school teacher Resuscitation Trainer. extensive background in paramedics in the ACT with an from the training courses Paula and training. Feedback positive and participants really enjoy facilitates is always and real-life the hands on approach, practical experience case studies that she offers. importance of Royal Life Saving ACT understands the and trainers and was professional development for staff to the National able to send four ACT representatives Lloyd, Ben Austswim Conference in July 2011. Nicole were Cuttriss, Cherry O’Connor and Sean Hodges win AUSTSWIM present to witness the AIS Swim School year running! for the second Swim School of the Year McDermott and her team at Congratulations to Lyn other Various the Institute for this exceptional result. were made professional development opportunities throughout the available to training and office staff sessions, year including skills updates, team development speakers presenting national conferences and local guest Training”. on topics such as “Multiculturalism in were In 2011, nine Royal Life Saving ACT trainers to the new enrolled for a qualification upgrade TAE10. This Training and Assessment, Certificate IV in Life Saving ACT was a pro-active step taken by Royal services. The to ensure quality training and assessment branch aims to have all trainers qualified with the new Certificate by September 2012. In December 2011 at the Royal Life Saving ACT end of and trainers were excited by the year celebrations staff introduction of some new ‘in-house’ award categories. like to congratulate the following trainers and We’d swim teachers who took out the inaugural titles: - Ben Cuttriss of the Year • Trainer Watson - Trudi of the Year • Swim and Survive Teacher - Jose Duardo • Swim and Survive Appreciation Award Sedgwick - Tim Encouragement Award • Trainers’ training Royal Life Saving ACT’s strong focus onis training evident with a high number of Pool participantsLifeguard this year, despite a decliningavailable trend lifeguards of in the local industry. and pools with closely worked has ACT Saving Life Royal in participation that ensure to Territory the across schools trained newly that and consistent remains courses these need. they support on-the-job the receive Lifeguards training Lifeguard Pool standard the to addition In Aquatic ACT first the hosted branch the courses, of level great a was There course. Supervisors Lifeguards and Supervisors Managers, from participation and/or extend to opportunity the relished who alike Experienced skills. and knowledge current their formalize Canberra to travelled Wales South New from trainers pre- on learners guided and course the facilitate to favourite. crowd a be to proved which visits site arranged operate facilities other how see to able were Participants their to back skills practical take then and visits these on a received Industry Aquatics local The workplace. own ACT Saving Life Royal and course this from boost great to training of level advanced this offer to continue to will supervisors. and managers pool ACT all-time high for First Aid participation has been at an team has Royal Life Saving ACT and as our training accommodate expanded, so too has our capacity to schools and more group bookings from local businesses, have facilitated community groups. In the past year we The Royal close to 40 First Aid group training courses. program has offered Training Life Saving ACT Teacher to ACT free RLSSA Instructor and Examiner training aims This program school teachers for over 5 years now. and colleges to build capacity in our local high schools students accredited VET training for teachers to offer Rescue and/or First Aid. and outcomes in Basic Water This year we introduced 7 new Instructors from various schools and updated the skills of 12 more Examiners. As a result, close to 250 school students across the ACT can now boast the achievement of their new certifications. opportunities, Training In addition to the free Teacher Royal Life Saving ACT continues to support the delivery of lifesaving programs in ACT schools through other professional development courses for teachers and programs and primary school WaterSmart school staff, the provision of training resources and equipment when available. Royal Life Saving ACT provided an updated CPR chart to every ACT Primary School this year.

Training 12 SPORT, LEADERSHIP & PARTICIPATION & LEADERSHIP SPORT, SPORT

Royal Life Saving has an established sport 2012 Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships participation pathway for lifesavers to Overall the ACT Canberra Milk SEALS placed 5th in compete in regular events from community the Opens Category – a result equal to the previous to elite level. year. The team did well in the 25m Manikin Carry relay events with both the Men’s and Women’s teams coming in 4th place. Some outstanding individual achievements Lifesavers can compete at: include: • Club and School Competition • Regional Competition Competitor Place Event • Junior Provincial/State Competition Men’s Open 200m Matt D’Arcy 5th • Senior Provincial/State Competition Obstacle Swim • National Competition Women’s Open 100m • International Competition Hannah Miles 8th Manikin Carry The sport of pool lifesaving tests a lifesaver’s skills OVERALL Men’s Open Shane Hillier 8th in rescue, accident prevention and emergency Category care. By using variations of simulated emergencies, OVERALL Men’s Open lifesavers compete using the same skills they Rhys Davies 9th require for real-life situations. Category OVERALL Men’s Open Johnny Morris 10th Category

The highlight of the competition for the ACT though was Canberra Milk Seals undoubtedly to unexpected result for Royal Life Saving Training for the ACT Canberra Milk SEALS ACT CEO, Sean Hodges, who competed in the Masters commenced in August 2011 and right from 100m Manikin Tow event and finished in 3rd place! Sean the beginning we could tell there would be happily received his Bronze Medal in front of hundreds difficulties with selections due to some fantastic of cheering spectators! Congratulations Sean! talent. Having competed for the first time in over 20 years in 2010, the team now had a goal to 01 Sean Hodges with his Bronze Medal at the benchmark their efforts and successes on. Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships, Jan 2012 Training continued throughout the year leading 02 Hannah Miles and Luke Hinchcliffe volunteering at up to the National Australian Pool Life Saving the ACT SEALS Bunning’s Fundrasier BBQ, Oct 2011 Championships to be held in Adelaide in January 2012. Fundraising efforts including a Bunning’s BBQ were successful and the ACT was able to 01 officially register a team for the prestigious national event.

14 02 15 Aq Aquatic Industry Development ACT Lifeguard Challenge Series uatic

ACT Water Safety and Austswim Awards On the 9th February 2012 the inaugural ACT Lifeguard Challenge was held at Dickson The ACT Water Safety and Austswim Awards were Pool. The event was an exciting inclusion to hosted by the Royal Life Saving ACT branch in December the local industry calendar and was met with 2011 and presented by Royal Life Saving ACT CEO Sean I anticipation by ACT Aquatic Facilities. Hodges together with Minister for Sport and Recreation ndustry Mr Andrew Barr. Mr Hodges and the Minister welcomed Seven teams from 4 different pools competed special guests and award nominees on the night to again in events such as: celebrate the dedication of local individual and groups to Water Safety and Drowning Prevention. • Obstacle Swim • Manikin Carry Award Recipients include: • Manikin Tow • Relays Award Category Recipient • Simulated Emergency Rescue Competition

D The Minister’s Award for the most Margaret Roberts significant contribution to Water The less-than-ideal weather conditions did evelopment Safety by an individual not put the competitors off their game and Keep Watch @ Public Pools – Pool Canberra the races continued through rain and chill. of the Year International Sport The end result was a particularly happy one and Aquatic Centre for the hosts, Dickson Aquatic Centre whose Royal Life Saving ACT Rescue of Brendan Pollard number 1 team the “Juggernauts” claimed the Year Joel Rivers first place overall.

Royal Life Saving ACT Lifeguard Patrick O’Keeffe Special mentions go to Milly Brent – highest of the Year female point scorer, and Luke Hinchcliffe – Royal Life Saving ACT Lifesaving Ben Lynch highest male point scorer. Educator of the Year President’s Commendation for Ben Cuttriss Lifesaving Ngadyung Award Bradley Bell Ken ‘Chuck’ Evans Award Heidi Nairne AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming Claire Griffiths and Water Safety™ (TSW) AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant and Yvonne Court Preschool Aquatics™ (INF) AUSTSWIM Presenter Lyn McDermott AUSTSWIM Recognised Swimming Active Leisure and Water Safety School Centre Below: The Dickson Aquatic Centre “Juggernauts” with their 1st place trophy – The Lifeguard Cup - and prizes at the ACT Left: Alison Green accepting Austswim 2011 ACT Swim Lifeguard Challenge, Feb 2012. School of the Year award on behalf of Active Leisure Left to right: Jesse Kennedy, Alex Centre - from Minister Barr Debeljakovic, Patrick O’Keeffe, Jack Matthews Right: Joel Rivers receiving Royal Life Saving ACT 2011 Rescue of the Year award – with Minister Barr

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17 C Community Development ommunity

Royal Life Saving actively implements a The Canberra Labor Club Swim for Life Program community development model that focuses on: The Canberra Labor Club Swim for Life program aims • Community engagement and communication to encourage greater participation in swimming and • Community participation and programming water safety programs for all ACT Children. This year the Canberra Labor Club Swim for Life Program directly • Training, employment and leadership involved over 5,000 ACT Children, with the Canberra development Labor Club brand reaching 100% of all ACT Schools and • Sound project management / evaluation D 40% of all ACT primary school families. methodologies

evelopment The Canberra Labor Club’s Swim for Life Program creates Community projects aim to build local a localised brand to generate community awareness and opportunities for local people and target a range profile for swimming and water safety within the ACT. of health, social and economic issues. We incorporate the Canberra Labor Club Swim for Life branding across a variety of programs which encourage These issues have included: participation and skill development in swimming and • Populations at risk of drowning water safety. We know that not every child is going to • Use of aquatic facilities be the next Ian Thorpe however we aim for every child to be able to Swim and Survive and we want them to • High levels of chronic disease continue to Swim for Life. • Youth diversion • Employment and training pathways In 2011 the following programs were conducted largely thanks to the kind support from the Canberra We are active in a range of communities Labor Club; including: Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander • ACT Primary Schools Swim and Survive Program community members, Culturally and Linguistically • Swim for Life Holiday Program Diverse Communities, refugee communities, second and third generation arrivals. • ACT Junior Lifeguard Program • Water Smart Program • Active Family Fun Days

The success of this year’s program is a result of three years hard work in promoting a consistent message of the importance of swimming and water safety. In 2011 alone we had a total of 22 local media related messages for the program which included TV, radio and print. The use of media has played a vital role in getting our message out to local school communities of the importance of the swimming and water safety program.

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19 01 Ngadyung Austswim

The Ngadyung program was developed to target AUSTSWIM has maintained a strong presence in 2012 State Advisory Committee local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) the ACT Aquatics Industry over the past 12 months. Sean Hodges Royal Life Saving ACT communities and involve them in aquatic recreation With some of the largest swim schools in Canberra Cherry O’Connor Royal Life Saving ACT and safety focused activities. choosing to partner with AUSTSWIM and become Lyn McDermott AIS Swim School – BRUCE official “AUSTSWIM Recognised Swim Centres”, Margaret Roberts ACT Swimming The program implemented strategies to increase the community has been able to witness the participation rates among local ATSI community Royal Life Saving provided AUSTSWIM Teacher of professional growth of our iconic organisation right members in swimming and lifesaving whilst improving Swimming and Water Safety (TSW) training for 160 self-esteem, skills and establishing and supporting on their doorsteps. trainee swim teachers this year and AUSTSWIM Extension employment pathways for ATSI people. training for 36 more. The course providers for AUSTSWIM in the Capital To date the Ngadyung program has reached over 40% – Royal Life Saving ACT – have worked closely with The ACT Water Safety Awards, incorporating the State of the local ATSI community and provided employment the AUSTSWIM Head Office to improve systems and AUSTSWIM Awards were held on the 7th December 2011 opportunities within the aquatic industry to over 20 communication with Swimming and Water Safety and presented by Royal Life Saving ACT CEO Mr Sean community members. Teachers who are new to the industry. Hodges. The event was particularly exciting for the staff at Active Leisure Centre who, this year, upset AIS’ reign A special thanks should go to Brad Bell and Heidi Narine These new teachers form the future of our industry and took home the state award for ‘AUSTSWIM Swim for driving this program, Brad and Heidi were originally and it is important that we recognise their value early School of the Year’. Other deserving winners on the employed to run the program however funding run out on and nurture the passions that each of them hold. night were: With this in mind, Royal Life Saving ACT and AUSTSWIM during 2010/11 and Brad and Heidi have volunteered • Claire Griffiths - ‘AUSTSWIM Teacher of the year – have implemented a new Professional Development their time to continue to run the program to ensure Swimming and Water Safety’ local ATSI students don’t miss out on their opportunity to plan for local and regional Swimming and Water Safety • Yvonne Court - ‘AUSTSWIM Teacher of the Year – Infant participate in the program. teachers and hope to continue to offer a diverse range of opportunities throughout the Territory. and Preschool Aquatics’ • Lyn McDermott – ‘AUSTSWIM Presenter of the Year’ Ngadyung represents at local As in previous years, AUSTSWIM hosted the National 02 Zone Swimming Competition Water Safety Education Conference on the Gold Coast On the 29 March 2012 Ruby Riley-Brown and Nakira in July and representatives from the ACT were able Riley-Brown attended their school’s Zone Swimming to attend and witness the impressive standard of Carnival which groups local schools into a higher level presenters, trades, and events over the 3 days. of competition. Both the girls raced in the 50m Breast Stroke and 100m Breast Stroke events. The conference included the National AUSTSWIM Awards presentation dinner and representatives from The girls have been attending Ngadyung Swim and the ACT were proud to see Active Leisure Centre Survive lessons with Royal Life Saving ACT at Canberra nominated as a contender in the National Swim School Olympic Pool on the weekends since 2008. Both Ruby of the Year category. and Nakira have a real interest in learning to swim and 03 have always participated with a positive attitude in ACT Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety are their lessons. looking forward to some exciting new developments for AUSTSWIM in the coming year including reviewed It is great that they each had the opportunity to and refreshed programs, new Professional Development participate in the Zone Swimming Carnival and opportunities, and additional employment pathways enhance their confidence and self esteem. within the local industry.

Congratulations Ruby and Nakira, keep on achieving! AUSTSWIM will continue to work collaboratively with 04 We look forward to the results! key stakeholders in these areas to ensure the best possible outcomes for both teachers and learn-to-swim students across the Territory.

01 Participating in the Ngadyung 02 Ngadyung Logo 03 Ruby Riley-Brown and Nakira Riley-Brown at Zone Swimming Carnival 04 Participating in the Ngadyung

21 20 20 2011/12 Award Figures

Royal Life Saving Award Figures July 11 – June 12 Participants

Water Safety Education (classroom) incl: Water Smart 225 Swim and Survive Active (5-14 years) 6,396 Bronze Star 11 New Issue 302 Bronze Medallion Statement of Attainment 302 New Issue 305 Resuscitation Reaccreditation 223 Statement of Attainment 258 New Issue 109 Pool Lifeguard Reaccreditation 119 Statement of Attainment 24 New Issue 1,148 First Aid Reaccreditation 138 Statement of Attainment 1,203 Instructor/trainer Assessor 48 Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety 143 AUSTSWIM Instructor Extension Courses 36 RLSSA Partners 12 RLSSA Partner Pools Swim and Survive 3 Aquatic Facility Safety Assessments – Public Pool 6 Swimming Pool Safety Assessments - Home 2

Total 11,045

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