Celebrating aquatic industry leadership at the 2026 ARV Industry Awards
Life Saving Victoria was proud to support two awards at the 2026 Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Industry Awards, recognising excellence across safety, supervision, and leadership in aquatic environments.
We congratulate the outstanding recipients and acknowledge their contribution to safer aquatic spaces across Victoria.
Pool Lifeguard Award
Jack Carrafa, Glen Eira Leisure Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool
Jack Carrafa was recognised for his leadership, professionalism, and outstanding contribution to lifeguarding across Glen Eira Leisure centres.
As a Lifeguard Challenge team captain and a consistent leader on pool deck, Jack sets a high standard across supervision, training, and team culture. He has stepped into leadership roles and plays an active role in mentoring staff and delivering in-house training.
Jack’s approach to risk management is proactive and consistent. In 2025, he led responses to multiple major incidents, including a suspected spinal injury where he identified key indicators early, initiated a major response, and stabilised the patient to prevent further harm. He also played a critical role in an anaphylaxis emergency, supporting care and escalating treatment.
Across the year, Jack attended five major incidents and 33 first aid cases, demonstrating both capability and composure in high-pressure situations.
His strong communication skills support both team and patron safety, with a calm and confident approach that helps de-escalate situations and build positive engagement on pool deck. Combined with a focus on training, supervision, and continuous improvement, Jack’s contribution reflects the vital role of skilled lifeguards in keeping communities safe.
Watch Around Water Award
Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre, Hume City Council
Splash has been recognised for its strong commitment to the Watch Around Water program, embedding its principles into everyday operations and creating a culture of active supervision throughout the facility.
During the judging process, parental adherence to the program was observed to be exceptionally high. Parents and carers were actively supervising children, no mobile phone use was observed, and all children were wearing wristbands within the aquatic environment.
Splash has also demonstrated a clear focus on community engagement, delivering initiatives that respond to the needs of its local community. This includes water safety sessions for mothers’ groups, culturally responsive education programs, and school visits that extend the reach of water safety beyond the facility.
The team at Splash and Hume City Council should be incredibly proud of this achievement and the role they play in promoting safe behaviours around water.
Large Facility of the Year
Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (NARC)
It was also a standout night for NARC, which was awarded Large Facility of the Year (2025) at the 2026 ARV Industry Awards.
The award recognises excellence across facility management, customer experience, safety, and community impact, and reflects the significant role NARC is playing in shaping the future of aquatic and recreation facilities in Victoria.
Since reopening in 2023 following a major redevelopment, the centre has set a new benchmark for the sector, bringing together contemporary design, sustainability leadership, and strong community connection.
Life Saving Victoria congratulates all finalists and winners from the 2026 ARV Industry Awards and looks forward to continuing to work with the industry to strengthen water safety outcomes across the state.