Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030

The Australian Water safety Council has recently released the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 (AWSS 2030) and it’s good news for Smart Beaches!

The Australian Water Safety Council acts as a consultative forum comprising leading water safety organisations and focuses on the presentation of key water safety issues to governments, industry and the community. For Land Managers the AWSS 2030 presents a framework that identifies focus areas and inspires action by establishing a roadmap that may be monitored, supported and celebrated.

Smart Beaches is an Association of Land Managers creating SAFER, SMARTER, BETTER beaches through the development of best practice approaches for beach safety operations (SAFER); improved lifeguard data quality through well integrated technology (SMARTER), and collaboration with researchers and industry stakeholders (BETTER).

The AWSS supports each of these goals and identifies beaches as a priority focus area for drowning prevention. Coastal environments are dynamic, presenting a variety of risks and making coastal safety management complex.  An average of 114 people die on our beaches each year, accounting for 19% of all drowning deaths. 90% of all Australians live within 100km of the coast and beaches remain a popular place to recreate.

SAFER – Beach Safety Managers Group.

The AWSS calls for partnerships between federal, State and Territory, Local Governments, National Parks and land and water management authorities.

In NSW, as with most jurisdictions, Land Managers are ultimately responsible for beach safety risk management. The Office of Local Government Practice note 15 guides Land Managers to strengthen their water safety functions and responsibilities using a risk management approach. Land Managers retain this responsibility even when the lifesaving function has been delegated to a contracted and/or volunteer service.

The AWSS 2030 states that attention needs to be given to all levels of government in developing, implementing and evaluating public policy and that evidence informed policy can generate positive change. Operational working groups between Land Managers will achieve exactly this. Advocacy efforts can be strengthened by a united voice and consistent safety messages. Key activities for these groups will include the development of evidence based best practice and local water safety plans for key locations and communities.

SMARTER - Beach Safety Technology

The AWSS identifies Technology as a key external factor impacting drowning prevention. In particular, it highlights the use of big data to drive efficiency and new technology to assist in identifying emergencies. The recent Beach Safety Technology Conference held by the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group and Smart Beaches showcased the range of technology being applied at beaches around the world and the strong potential for learning from each other.

Smart Beaches sees the most potential in technology that can digitise and automate data collection, reducing cognitive load for our lifeguards and improving risk-based decision making and research. Such technologies include:

·       A standardised Lifeguard Activity and Reporting Application allowing for the integration of available data sets and a common baseline for collaboration amongst land managers;

·       Automated visitation tracking particularly for unpatrolled and/or seasonal locations;

·       Lifeguard asset tracking for operational activity data, and

·       Improved wave modelling and ocean data integration.

BETTER – Beach Safety Research

The AWSS sees research as a key enabler for each of its priority focus areas and the beach is no exception. This has been a key driver for Smart Beaches and gets to the core of our relationship with the Beach Safety Research Group amongst others. Research really ties our three focus areas together. The AWSS supports the idea that research needs to be relevant to operational policy and practice and that; in turn, policy and practice must be evidence informed. Technology can feed improved data for researchers and research outcomes; in turn, can guide the application of technology to best effect.

Key research activities identified in the AWSS2030 include input to the development of beach-based wave models to identify the likelihood of rip currents, Evaluation of new and existing interventions (e.g. signage, media campaigns and education programs) and improving the usage data for unpatrolled and remote locations.

We are pleased to see the updated AWSS 2030 and applaud the efforts of all those involved in keeping this important initiative going. We are excited about the opportunities for Land Managers, technology and research to help with implementation of the strategy and to achieve the vision “towards a nation free from drowning”.