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3 Feb 2025

Keep Your Cool at the Pool campaign

Risk and Safety
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With multiple recent reports this summer of lifeguards being violently assaulted, abused and even spat on, Royal Life Saving Australia is condemning all violence, abuse and aggression directed at lifeguards and swim teachers, and calling for patrons to Keep Their Cool at the Pool.

With over 2,000 reported incidents of abuse, violence, and aggression directed at staff working in aquatic facilities around the country, Royal Life Saving has launched the ‘Keep Your Cool at the Pool’ campaign, which sets clear behavioural expectations for patrons and calls for users of aquatic facilities to treat each other and staff respectfully.

 

“Lifeguards and swim teachers provide an essential role to the provision of recreation services and they are there to keep everyone safe at our local pool” said Jason Phillips, RLS Aquatic Industry Development Manager. “Often these facility staff are young and working in small teams in regional centres, who at times struggle to recruit Lifeguards and Swim and Teachers. We need to ensure they are protected and respected at all times”.

 

“This campaign has been developed to reinforce a culture of respect, cooperation, and zero-tolerance for aggression in aquatic facilities,” said Royal Life Saving General Manager – Capability and Industry RJ Houston. “Aquatic facilities should be safe spaces not only for swimming but for staff to work. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to ‘Keep Their Cool at the Pool’ this summer and support our lifeguards and swim teachers by standing against occupational violence and aggression.”

 

The ‘Keep You Cool by the Pool’ campaign has garnered strong support from aquatic industry leaders. Belgravia Group Manager - Health & Safety Scott Vanderheyden emphasised the importance of respect for lifeguards and swim teachers in the community. “Unfortunately, lifeguards and swim teachers are often abused for providing basic safety instructions to users, such as to keep watch over their children or use a particular area of the facility.

 

“This can lead to hesitation in providing safety instructions promptly, which is the last thing we want from our lifeguards and swim teachers, as their guidance is essential for everyone’s safety. It’s crucial for all pool users to show respect to lifeguards and swim teachers during their visit,” said Vanderheyden.

 

The 'Keep Your Cool at the Pool' campaign aims to:

  • Support the safety and wellbeing of staff working in aquatic facilities

  • Improve patron safety and wellbeing by encouraging responsible behaviour

  • Encourage a national standard in appropriate patron behaviour at aquatic facilities

  • Improve the confidence of lifeguards, swim teachers and reception staff in delivering safety instructions to patrons by minimising the instances of aggression and abuse

  • Support the sector in delivering critical support for the aquatic workforce

  • Support improvements to the attractiveness of employment in industry and retention of talent

 

For more information please visit https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/Aquatic-Risk-and-Guidelines/safety-programs/keep-your-cool-at-the-pool



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ABN:  73 000 580 825

34/10 Gladstone Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154

PO Box 8307, Baulkham Hills BC NSW 2153

Telephone: 02 9634 3700

Email: nsw@royalnsw.com.au

RTO 90666 - Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (New South Wales Branch)

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Royal Life Saving would like to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of our land - Australia. In particular the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of this place we now call Sydney and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future.

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