Welcome to the second edition of AUSTSWIM's new e-newsletter; Aqualife.

With more than 62 drowning deaths occurring nationwide since between Christmas Eve and Australia Day, up from 48 last year - AUSTSWIM urges AUSTSWIM Teachers to remind patents to be vigilant about water safety as the holiday period comes to a close.

We are absolutely horrified by the number of drowning incidents in the lead up to Christmas and in the early part of the New Year.

Children needed to be constantly supervised when they are near the water. Supervision means constant visual contact, not just the occasional glance. Remind parents to 'never turn their backs on toddlers, children or swimming companions. Don't look away, don't walk off and don't get distracted − not even for a second, children should be kept within arm's reach at all times'.

To help prevent these deaths from occurring Royal Life Saving created the Keep Watch program, which has four simple actions that can be used by parents and carers to prevent their children from drowning. These actions are: 

− Supervising the child when on, in, or near water; 
− Restricting the child's access to water;
− Undertaking water familiarisation classes; and 
− Learning resuscitation in case something does go wrong.

Home swimming pools continue to be the biggest killer of children under 5 years of age and many children are gaining access to the water due to faulty fencing. As part of the 2009 Keep Watch campaign Royal Life Saving is urging all Australians to ensure their pool is safe by undertaking a safety check of the pool fence, pool area and surroundings.

Royal Life Saving have developed a checklist, which can be downloaded from www.homepoolsafety.com.au and used to ensure their pool is safe.

There are a range of factsheets available at www.keepwatch.com.au that you can download to learn more about keeping children safe around water.

A full copy of the National Drowning Report from which these statistics are provided can be found at www.royallifesaving.com.au.

AUSTSWIM would like to remind you to set aside; Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of July 2010 as the date for the annual AUSTSWIM National Aquatic Education Conference 2010!

Following the success of the AUSTSWIM National Aquatic Education Conference 2009. The 2010 event is to once again to be held at the Radisson Resort, Gold Coast - Queensland.

To register your interest in attending, please forward your contact details in an email with the heading 'Conference Interest' to conference@austswim.com.au

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QLD AUSTSWIM AQUATIC WORKSHOP 2010

AUSTSWIM would like to announce that the date for the 2010 QLD AUSTSWIM Aquatic Workshop has been set.

Date:        Saturday 10th April 2010
Venue:     The Plantation, Brisbane - QLD

In conjunction with the 2010 AUSTSWIM Aquatic Workshop, AUSTSWIM will be presenting the 2009-2010 QLD AUSTSWIM State Awards, Royal Life Saving QLD will be presenting Workshops on Sunday 11^th April including Love to Swim and Grey Medallion and there will also be an AUSTSWIM Coordinator workshop being held on Sunday Morning the 11^th April, 2010.

Keep an eye on the AUSTSWIM website for further information regarding the AUSTSWIM regional workshop in 2010 or to register your interest in attending, please contact the AUSTSWIM - QLD Business Centre on (07) 3245 3595.

NSW AUSTSWIM REGIONAL SPLASHOUT! AQUATIC CONFERENCE 2010

2010 will see the popular Regional SplashOut! Conference head north to Port Macquarie. In conjunction with conference AUSTSWIM will also be conducting a AUSTSWIM Teacher of Towards Competitive Strokes™ extension course along with an AUSTSWIM Presenter workshop (for current presenters/presenters in training).

The conference program will be available on the AUSTSWIM website soon, for more information or to register your interest in attending, please phone the AUSTSWIM - NSW Business Centre on (02) 9894 2077.


SA AUSTSWIM AQUATIC SEMINAR 2010

Date: Immanuel College, Novar Gardens
Venue: Sunday 26th Sept 2010

Stay tuned for further details. Anyone interested in presenting please contact the AUSTSWIM - SA Business Centre on (08) 8354 0873.

Why not give someone you know the chance to be the recipient of one of the 2010 AUSTSWIM Awards?

The NT, QLD, SA, TAS AND WA state AUSTSWIM Award nominations are currently OPEN! To nominate someone you know and believe to be deserving of a respective AUSTSWIM state award, please visit your state page on the AUSTSWIM Website to download an appropriate nomination form.

Remember: State awards recipients (except for WA) are automatically nominated for the 2010 National AUSTSWIM Awards in their respective categories.

The NT, QLD, SA, TAS AND WA AUSTSWIM state award categories for 2010 are:

- AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety (TSW)
- AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant and Preschool Aquatics (INF)
- AUSTSWIM Teacher of People with a Disability (PWD)
- AUSTSWIM Presenter of the year Award
- Most Outstanding Contribution to AUSTSWIM
- AUSTSWIM Swimming and Water Safety School of the Year

Please be aware that nominations for the 2010 Victorian Aquatic & Recreation Awards will open in late February 2010. Please keep an eye on the Aquatics and Recreation Victoria website for more information.

ALFA Achieves A Membership Milestone - 500th Member!

After only 6 months of operations, the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA) has admitted its 500th member - Southwest Sports Centre, WA.

ALFA caught up with Cameron Woods, Centre Manager at Southwest Sports Centre, to see exactly what membership of ALFA meant for him and his organisation.

Why did you choose to join ALFA?
- To be part of a truly national representative organisation that covers all facets of the recreation industry, in the hope that policy development can be influenced by such a body.

What support would you most like to see from ALFA for your organisation?
- A national approach to industry awards and conditions for staff;
- A national approach to addressing rising energy costs and climate change for our industry; and
- Best Practice and knowledge sharing for our industry.

What benefits do you see in having a national association for the industry?
- The ability to influence policy development in areas such as preventative health and the role that Recreation and Aquatic Centres can play in building healthier individuals and communities;
- Increasing the profile of the industry with all levels of government and highlighting the ability of the industry to deliver real and cost effective, health and social outcomes.

What industry issues would you like to see ALFA address?
- A National Award for indoor and outdoor Recreation, Aquatic and Health and Fitness Centres;
- Increased funding/incentives for sustainability initiatives of existing facilities; and
- Recognition by Government that more emphasis should be applied to preventative health and education measures via existing not-for-profit facilities, particularly for lower socio economic and those at greatest risk (mental and physical) in our community by way of rebates.

Anything else you would like to see ALFA offer it's membership?
- Trend analysis
- Best practice; and
- Professional development opportunities.

The Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA) is the peak, representative body for the aquatics, recreation and leisure facilities industry in Australia. Although only established in 2009, ALFA has a pedigree with aquatics and facilities dating back over 75 years and was formed out of a strong industry need for a national organisation to represent its interests. ALFA represents individual employees, organisations that own, manage or lease facilities and companies that supply to the industry, offering Individual, Organisation and Commercial Supplier memberships.

As an AUSTSWIM Teacher, you will benefit most from an individual membership of ALFA. However, you may wish to encourage your organisation to take out an Organisation membership instead, as they get two individual memberships FREE. Further details on organisation memberships can be found via the ALFA website (www.alfaleisure.org.au).

Memberships are due annually and valid for one year from the date of joining. When a member joins ALFA, they also become a member of the ALFA recognised industry body in their state or territory.

For more information and to download an application form, visit www.alfaleisure.org.au.

The Australia Day 2010 Honours List was announced on Australia Day by the Governor-General. The Honours list provides national and formal recognition for Australians across the nation who have made a significant difference to their communities.

Included in the 2010 Australia Day 2010 Honours List was AUSTSWIM teachers and presenters: Ruth Arnold, Dawn Prowse and Maureen Summerhayes.

Dawn Prowse: OAM for service to the community, particularly through learn to swim programs

Ruth Arnold: OAM for service to water safety as an instructor, and to the community of Wellington

Maureen Summerhayes: The Australian Sports Medal for Outstanding dedication to coaching & teaching swimming for 22 years

These three AUSTSWIM teachers and presenters have given countless years of work and service to the Aquatic Industry and AUSTSWIM would like to we thank them for their contribution and congratulate them on receiving their awards. It is an honour to have them represent AUSTSWIM.

LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

AUSTSWIM would like to acknowledge the continued support of Woodside Energy Ltd in 2010. The strong partnership, seeks to ensure there are AUSTSWIM accredited learn to swim and water safety teachers, to assist local communities to learn to swim safely, throughout the Pilbara Regions of Western Australia.

The AUSTSWIM would like to ‘Thank’ all of the Remote Regional Shires and Organisations, that have also been assisting with the running of the AUSTSWIM accreditations around WA, without their continued support, local communities would not have the opportunity they have had and AUSTSWIM appreciates these valued relationships.