May CEO Update
The Life Saving Victoria team continues its work across our communities to promote, support and improve water safety on all waterways throughout our great state.
While the weather may be getting colder, water safety is a year-round concern.
Our annual Inland Waterways Forum ran in Moama this month, enabling us to connect with community stakeholders to find new solutions to improving safety in lakes, rivers, dams and creeks.
We know that roughly one third of all drownings in Victoria occur in inland waterways.
The forum brought together government and community leaders, emergency services, water safety experts and representatives of relevant industries such as tourism. The event involved a range of guest speakers and sessions that allowed participants to collaborate, share insights and find new ways to work together on inland waterway safety.
Thank you to everyone who participated and LSV’s Aquatic Capability team for making the event such a fantastic success.
Our Education Team ran its annual think tank this month, with a focus on improving swimming and water safety skill outcomes for students.
Of key concern to LSV is that roughly half of Year 6 students nationwide aren’t able to swim 50 metres or tread water for two minutes. Both of these benchmarks are considered minimum requirements for students when they leave primary school.
LSV’s think tank initiative brings together educators, parents and aquatic industry professionals with the aim of opening up communication around water safety skills, identifying underlying challenges and arresting these concerning figures to ensure more children leave primary school with these vital skills.
National Volunteer Week was a fantastic opportunity to recognise our members who give their time and energy freely to keep our community safe in the water.
Our Valuing Volunteers Event at the LSV State Centre on Sunday was a wonderful occasion to recognise the efforts of our full scope of volunteers from across lifesaving, sport, training, development, clubs… and more!
We shared in a delightful morning tea and heard some heartwarming stories of volunteer achievements and anecdotes, while appreciating the profound impact that our volunteers have – both on the lifesaving movement and across the community.
Thank you to all our volunteers for your incredible contribution, and to our Member Recognition team for putting on a terrific event.
It was wonderful to pay a visit to Mildura to visit our intrepid club volunteers, and mark the arrival of Tony Pearce, who’s kayaking 2,400km along the Murray River to raise funds for the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF).
We know that emergency service work, whether paid or volunteer, can carry significant mental health impacts. “Tony’s Trek” has become a regular event of sorts where Tony, a former ESF Chair, takes on a range of gruelling physical challenges to raise awareness and funds for mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
His efforts support programs for emergency workers in the early stages of their mental health journey.
Tony was given a hero’s welcome as he paddled into Mildura, where he was met by Mildura Life Saving Club members and local emergency service personnel to raise awareness of this important cause.
If you’d like to support Tony’s Trek, go to: GiveNow – Tony’s Trek 2026 – Paddle for Awareness.
Thank you to Mildura LSC for putting on a fantastic event, including an evening BBQ on its great riverside beach – and to Tony for your incredible efforts to support our emergency service personnel and volunteers.
Yours in lifesaving,
Cath