Inland waterways are the leading location for drowning deaths. Over the last 10 years 940 people have lost their lives in inland waterway locations across the country. While many people drown, no one should. Despite common misconceptions that drownings in Australia are mostly tourists drowning on beaches, this could not be further from the case.
Life Saving Victoria are recognised experts at facilitating coordinated and sustained multi-lateral approaches to drowning prevention which effectively address this complex problem.
We recognise that it is impossible to supervise all aquatic locations, all the time, or simply resuscitate our way to drowning prevention. Complex problems require adaptive systems-approaches, and we design a process around working in collaboration with multiple agencies, interested parties and the communities themselves to sustainably reduce drowning in a community or region.
Inland Waterways Forum
The Inland Waterways Forum is an annual event dedicated to enhancing water safety across Victoria’s inland waterways. Scheduled for Thursday, 30 May 2024, at the All Seasons Resort Hotel in Bendigo, the forum is a collaborative platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, and insights aimed at improving safety outcomes.
Key Topics of the 2024 Forum Include:
- The current state of drowning prevention in Victoria
- The application and integration of water safety plans
- Opportunities for strategic alignment
- Emergency management planning
- Prevention and response strategies
- Research trends and priorities
Who Should Attend?
- Community risk professionals
- Emergency services organisations
- Land managers and landowners
- Waterway management authorities
- Local government authorities
- Government agencies
- Aquatic, recreation and tourism operators
- Education and training providers
Attendance is free, but registration is required. This event represents a unique opportunity for those involved in or responsible for community safety, emergency management, aquatic sports and recreation, education, and local governance to come together and contribute to the collective effort in drowning prevention.
Further information and registration: Event Information
Otherwise contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
Guidelines for Inland Waterways
Guidelines for Inland Waterways
New draft safety guidelines for the ownership, management and use of inland waterways to reduce the likelihood of a drowning or serious aquatic injury have been released for public consultation by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia.
The guidelines provide practical guidance for facilitating inter-agency risk management planning and implementation, as well as practical steps for local governments to take around swimming and recreation areas.
The guidelines emphasise risk management, the development of local water safety plans and community consultation. They also provide information on minimum water safety qualifications and training for employees, as well as guidance on supervision ratios and similar requirements for users recreating, and for providers of structured programs.
The Guidelines are available for consultation HERE
For further information please contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
Inland Waterway Safety Profile
Inland Waterway Safety Profile
Undertaking a local water safety profile is the first step in improving inland waterway safety, as it enables the current situation to be reviewed, analysed, and understood, in order to appropriately inform the next stages of the review.
Key components in developing a safety profile include:
- Review of key data associated with usage and safety
- Analysis of local drowning issues and underlying risk factors
- Clarification of the key aquatic activities and locations
- Community consultation activities
- Emergency service, government and aquatic industry engagement activities
The approach is evidence based, includes multi-stakeholder collaboration, and a focus on balancing the prevention of drowning with reinforcing the benefits of recreating in and around the water.
For further information please contact research@lsv.com.au
Inland Waterway Risk Assessment and Signage Assessment
Inland Waterway Risk Assessment
Australia has many beautiful inland waterways including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes, dams, lagoons and channels; however, they can pose safety risks, and these can vary depending on the type of waterway, the types of users attending the waterway, and the activities being undertaken.
In line with Australian and international best practice, Life Saving Victoria can undertake a detailed risk assessment at your inland waterway/s location and provide a range of risk treatment activities to improve water safety provisions for users.
The risk assessment service used by Life Saving Victoria is consistent with the Australian and Victorian Water Safety Strategy, recognised best practice, and the International Life Saving drowning prevention model.
For further information please contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
Inland Waterway Signage Assessment
Inland Waterway Signage Assessment
In line with Australian and international satndards, Life Saving Victoria can undertake a detailed Signage Assessment associated with any aquatic environment. LSV can aslo design, manufacture and deliver signage to ensure full compliance with the Australian Standards. As an objective risk treatment measure signage is regularly scrutinised following serious aquatic incidents and there are few excuses for insufficient / inappropriate provisions.
For further information please contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
Local Water Safety Plan
Local Water Safety Plan
One of the key actions identified in the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 is for every community to development a Local Water Safety Plan. Any area, region, or town where waterways are present, or where drowning is an issue, can and should develop a Local Water Safety Plan.
A Local Water Safety Plan outlines existing and future community-based drowning prevention actions tailored to individual community contexts. The approach emphasises the role of evidence-based solutions, multi-sectoral collaboration and the capabilities and needs of varying stakeholders, including community, government organisations and vulnerable groups.
Key service benefits include:
- Improved water safety standards and prevention of future drownings,
- Reduction in the negative social, health and economic impacts of drowning in local communities
- Ensure an evidence-based approach leveraging recognised water safety frameworks
- Formal understanding of risk factors and available treatment options
- Facilitate a common local understanding of drowning and water safety
- Develop stronger ties to community groups and like-minded agencies
- Support a commitment to working together on a collective strategy for the region
- Gain independent and expert information and advice
For further information please contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
Inland Waterway Safety Assessment
Inland Waterway Safety Assessment
Inland waterways account for more than a quarter of all drowning deaths. The flat, still surface of an inland waterway can give a false sense of security to patrons who visit these locations. With inland waterways experiencing dramatically increased visitation rates, it is critical that a range of strategies are implemented to reduce the risk of drowning in these locations.
The Life Saving Victoria Inland Waterway Assessment evaluates existing safety provisions such as policies, management plans, operational procedures, safety signage and access control measures. In review, it can provide those with a responsibility for the waterway and surrounding areas with a range of reasonably practical safety and improvement measures.
By engaging Life Saving Victoria to undertake an Inland Waterway Safety Assessment, responsible organisations take a proactive approach in determining appropriate risk treatment actions are in place to help prevent foreseeable loss of life and injury to residents and visitors engaging with the inland waterway.
For further information please contact ais@lsv.com.au or 03 9676 6985
