SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08

LIFESAVING
OPERATIONS REPORT
Graph 3: Actions by SLSA members
Actions
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
1983–84
See also Table 9 (page130) for more statistical information.
1984–85
OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR
It has been a busy and productive year for the Board of
Lifesaving (BOLS—see page 49) and the SLSA lifesaving
team (see page 57) with many exciting initiatives developed.
We have developed a number of key strategic documents
including the ‘Water Safety for all Australians’ submission
to the Australian Government, the development of the
Australia Water Safety Council Plan and the release of
the ILS World Drowning Report and Drowning Prevention
Strategy, all with a focus on reduced coastal drowning
both here and abroad.
For a full review of our achievements against our
objectives see Table 2: Report Card.
1985–86
OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
The BOLS focused on the following key strategic areas:
• Delivering our peak body responsibility by establishing,
advocating and securing international best practice
water safety standards, practices and systems for
national beach safety and lifesaving services.
• Preventing deaths and injuries in the water by facilitating
the provision of quality beach and aquatic safety,
lifesaving and preventative education resources.
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
Rescues—surf lifesavers First aid—surf lifesavers Rescues—ALS lifeguards First aid—ALS lifeguards
1995–96
Year
1996–97
1997–98
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES ON PERFORMANCE
• People still swim and drown on unpatrolled beaches,
irrespective of the number of surf lifesavers and
lifeguards supervising patrolled beaches.
• Greater diversity in working hours required
smarter patrolling methods and greater fl exibility
in workplace learning.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2008–09
• The launch of the National Total Service Plan detailing
key educational safety campaigns and identifi cation
and treatment of ‘black spots’.
• The roll-out of the Australian Lifeguard Service
(ALS) Network to improve communications across
the lifeguard industry.
• Implementation of key new qualifi cations within the
Public Safety Training Package at Certifi cate III level
which includes beach management, emergency care
and powercraft qualifi cations while reviewing the
burden of administration on volunteers.
• Enhancement of lifesaving technologies and coastal
risk assessment processes and systems.
Peter George AM
SLSA Director of Lifesaving
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
SECTION 02—OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
2007–08
27