Aquatic and recreation workforce encouraged to be counted in the 2026 Census
Aquatic and recreation workforce encouraged to be counted in the 2026 Census
Life Saving Victoria is encouraging aquatic and recreation organisations across the state to help ensure the industry is accurately represented in the 2026 Australian Census.
On Tuesday 11 August 2026, Australians will take part in the national Census of Population and Housing, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Held every five years, the Census provides a snapshot of Australia’s population and helps inform planning, policy and investment in the services, infrastructure and workforces that support communities.
For Victoria’s aquatic and recreation industry, the Census is an important opportunity to build a clearer picture of the people who keep pools, aquatic facilities, recreation centres and community programs operating safely every day.
To support this, Aquatics & Recreation Victoria has developed the Australian Aquatic & Recreation Workforce Guide 2026 Australian Census in consultation with industry representatives.
The guide provides recommended Census occupation titles and ABS occupation codes for common roles across aquatic and recreation facilities, helping create a more consistent approach to how the workforce is recorded.
Why this matters
Across the industry, organisations often use different job titles for similar roles. One facility may use Swim Teacher, while another may use Learn to Swim Instructor. Roles such as Duty Manager, Aquatics Coordinator or Operations Team Leader may also not have an obvious Census occupation match.
Without a consistent approach, similar roles may be recorded in different ways, making it harder to understand the true size, diversity and needs of the aquatic and recreation workforce.
Consistent occupation reporting can help government and decision-makers better understand the sector, including workforce trends, emerging skill needs and future investment priorities.
It can also support stronger evidence for workforce planning, training pathways, advocacy and inclusion of key industry roles on National and State Skills Priority Lists.
How organisations can help
LSV encourages aquatic and recreation organisations to share the Workforce Guide with employees before Census night.
Staff should be encouraged to find the workplace job title that best reflects their main role, then use the recommended Census occupation title and ABS occupation code listed in the guide.
By taking a consistent approach, the industry can help ensure roles such as Lifeguard, Swimming and Water Safety Teacher, Aquatic Centre Manager, Recreation Officer and other key positions are better represented in national data.
It only takes a few minutes, but the way our workforce records its occupation can help shape how the aquatic and recreation industry is understood, supported and planned for into the future.
View the Australian Aquatic & Recreation Workforce Guide 2026 Australian Census: