Water Safety Strategy

New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

NEW SOUTH WALES

WATER SAFETY STRATEGY

2013-2015

Developed by the NSW Water Safety Advisory Council

Contents

Minister’s Foreword

Chair of the Water Safety Advisory Council’s Foreword

Introduction

Purpose

Vision

Governance

Reporting

Statistics and Research

Stakeholders

The strategies by which each priority will be targeted

Principles

Key priorities and strategies against the principles

Key Priority One

Key Priority Two

Key Priority Three

Key Priority Four

Key Priority Five

Key Priority Six

Key Priority Seven

Key Priority Eight

Key Priority Nine

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Glossary...... 27

Appendix 2 – Water Safety Advisory Council Members 2013...... 28

Appendix 3 – Water Safety Black Spots Fund (Year 1) projects...... 29

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

Minister’s Foreword

/ It is my pleasure to present the New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-2015 which outlines the direction we are taking with water safety. The Strategy also details the Government’s priorities in this area.
Our objective is to reduce the rate of drowning deaths in NSW. I will personally ensure this Strategy makes the necessary steps to achieve that goal.

Key water safety messages will be reinforced under the Strategy, such as:

• Swim between the flags;
• Supervise children around waterways, pools and baths;
• Wear a life jacket;
• Never enter the water alone; and
• If someone is in trouble, don’t jump in to help them, throw them a floatation device and seek help.

This Strategy was developed in consultation with the Water Safety Advisory Council and water safety experts. Under their guidance we have outlined not only what we want to do in NSW to reduce drowning but also what we can do.

I look forward to making a real difference to water safety in the future.

The Hon Michael Gallacher MLC

Minister for Police and Emergency Services

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

Chair of the Water Safety Advisory Council’s Foreword

This Strategy is the New South Wales Government’s next step in meeting our targets to reduce the rate of drowning deaths in New South Wales.

With the revitalisation of the Council and the establishment of the Water Safety Black Spots Fund we have made a good start on working together to achieve our goals.

I thank the Council members who have worked so hard to promote water safety in this state over many years and I look forward to the future with less deaths and injuries as a result of commitments made under this Strategy.

Les Tree AM

Chair of Water Safety Advisory Council 2011- April 2013

Introduction

The overall objective of the NSW Water Safety Strategy 2013-2015 (the Strategy) is to reduce the rate of drowning in NSW and contribute toward the aspirational goal under the Australian Water Safety Strategy of a national reduction in drowning deaths of 50% by 2020.

Improving water safety culture is first and foremost about education, skills improvement and increasing participation.

To do this the Strategy will provide the blueprint for water safety initiatives that focus on the key priority areas for action; drawing on the work already done by the NSW Water Safety Advisory Council (WSAC) and associated partners in previous years.

The Strategy has been developed by the WSAC with input from member organisations on the actions to be undertaken.

While the time frame of the Strategy is only until 2015, it is intended that it will be reviewed and continued from that date. With this premise, some actions under the Strategy will continue beyond 2015.

The draft Strategy was the subject of a broader targeted consultation with other water safety organisations or those who are affiliated with water safety, education or rescue activities.

Central to the Strategy is the partnerships and work of stakeholders with expertise in water safety, education and risk reduction.

The Strategy is consistent with the targets of the Australian Water Safety Strategy.

The governance of the Strategy rests firstly with the WSAC who will advise the Minister for Police and Emergency Services of the progress of actions under the Strategy.

The WSAC is also the peak body to develop consistent messages and management approaches for water safety and provide the Minister with advice on recommended directions for the NSW Government.

Ultimately the responsibility for the provision of both leadership and oversight of the Strategy as a NSW Government document is the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The WSAC’s terms of reference are to:

• Develop recommendations for the Minister for Police and Emergency Service’s consideration regarding the allocation of the $8 million Water Safety Black Spots Fund to; allow for direct intervention, such as fencing and signage at known high-risk drowning locations throughout NSW, as well as targeted education campaigns; and provide an opportunity to address priority or emerging water safety issues.
• Develop, and monitor implementation of, the Strategy with a focus on how NSW will be able to reduce the rate for drowning and contribute to the national target of reducing drowning deaths by 50% by 2020.
• Review and/or provide content for the renewed Water Safety website ( to provide a re-vitalised channel for communication with the public on water safety issues.
• Provide advice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on water safety issues.

Purpose

The Strategy guides the NSW Government and the community in working together to achieve an ongoing reduction in the rate of drowning deaths in NSW.

By developing clear and consistent messages, priorities and strategies, the Strategy seeks to focus the actions of the Government and key agencies on the most effective and efficient means of meeting our objectives.

The Strategy articulates actions that, in addressing the risk of drowning, will also influence the incidences of drowning related injuries.

Vision

Reduce the rate of drowning deathsin New South Wales.

In 2008 the Australian Water Safety Council established an aspirational goal of achieving a national 50% reduction in drowning deaths by the year 2020.

New South Wales supports this goal and recognises that any reduction in drowning deaths (adjusted for population increase) will be an achievement.

Governance

The Minister for Police and Emergency Services retains responsibility for water safety policy in New South Wales. This Strategy falls under the Minister’s remit via the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services (MPES) and the WSAC. See appendix 2 for WSAC members.

The Minister for Roads and Ports retains the lead role in relation to boating safety.

The Minister for Local Government retains the lead role in relation to the regulation of swimming pools.

Reporting

This Strategy will be reported against annually to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services at the end of each calendar year commencing in 2013.

Statistics and Research

Research and data are taken from publically available information sources developed by WSAC member organisations. Other data and research, especially that which does not use the total NSW population to produce rates of drowning is also available. See for example:

Or ABS data on accidental drowning:

In 2011-12, 105 people died in NSW from drowning of which 88 were men and 17 women[2].

This is an average of 1.48 per 100,000 of population which is slightly higher than the five year average of 104 deaths or 1.47 per 100,000 of population.

Older men were the category of greatest increase.

Despite the drop of two deaths from 2010-11 (107 people drowned in NSW), the overall trend for NSW is steady or slightly increasing. 2007-08 was the only year with a significant decrease.

An average of 8 deaths per year are attributed to rock fishing with this trend remaining stable over the last 20 years[3].

A number of organisations who have contributed to the Strategy provide sound and up-to-date statistics. These inform the WSAC when required and may be found at:

2011 National Coastal Safety Report

2012 National Drowning Report

2011 NSW Drowning Report

Australian Water Safety Strategy

Research Review of Rock Fishing in NSW

Boating Incidents in NSW

Statistical report for the 10-year period ended 30 June 2012

Other publications

As well as statistical information, an array of publications on specific issues are available online, examples of which are included below.

New Zealand’s “circumstances surrounding drowning in those under 25 in New Zealand”

NSW Child Death Review Team “Child deaths: drowning deaths in privateswimming pools in NSW”

Stakeholders

A large number of organisations have assisted with the development of the Strategy and will have an interest in the progress of water safety initiatives in NSW.

The Water Safety Advisory Council includes a mixture of Government and non-Government agencies:

• Ministry for Police and Emergency Services (Chair and secretariat)
• Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA)
• AUSTSWIM NSW
• Department of Education and Communities
• Department of Premier and Cabinet, Local Government Division
• Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries NSW
• Local Government NSW
• Marine Rescue NSW
• NSW Police Force, Marine Area Command
• Office of Communities, Sport and Recreation
• Office of Boating Safety and Maritime Affairs, Transport for NSW
• Royal Life Saving Society Australia (NSW)
• Sport and Recreation
• Surf Educators International
• Surf Life Saving NSW
• Surfing NSW

Affiliates of the WSAC include:

• Australian Land Based Anglers Association
• Australian National Sportsfishing Association
• Echelon Australia
• Recreational Fishing Alliance
• Samuel Morris Foundation
• Yachting NSW

Other interest groups include those with an interest in: drowning prevention specifically, water safety signage and infrastructure, Coronial reviews, working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, working with specific age-related groups, fishing groups, swimming teaching and coaching groups, higher education institutions and research groups.

The Strategy seeks to include all organisations that are working towards reducing the rate of drowning, in a collegiate approach to achieving that goal.

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

The strategies by which each priority will be targeted

Principles

1. Adopt a partnership approach
   
2. Address identified black spots
   
3. Meet key drowning challenges

Each Principle has a Key Priority against it, to guide and direct the work of the NSW Government and the WSAC. Some key priorities have strategies for action or case studies, developed by the WSAC utilising the experiences of experts in the field of water safety, to provide for performance measurement.

Key priorities and strategies against the principles

The oversight of the implementation of each priority ultimately rests with the WSAC.

The majority of actions under each strategy, however, are to be implemented by the non-government agencies. These water safety experts are the major contributors to delivering the NSW Government’s water safety policy and have the skills to ensure the actions can be completed.

However, to assist the Council in its oversight responsibilities, each strategy nominates one of the Council’s Government members as liaison. The role of the liaison agency is to communicate with the agencies implementing the actions.

The liaison agency will also be responsible for reporting progress to the Council as required, in conjunction with the agencies involved.

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

Principle 1: Adopt a Partnership Approach

Key Priority One

Continue the NSW Water Safety Advisory Council; maintain the NSW Government water safety website; and encourage cooperation among water safety organisations.

The WSAC provides advice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services regarding the allocation of the $8 million Water Safety Black Spots Fund ($2 million per annum from 2011-12 until 2014-15). The assessment of applications to the Fund is undertaken only by Council members who are not eligible to apply. Assessment, therefore, is only done by the Government agencies on the Council.

The WSAC will assist the NSW Government to implement actions under the Strategy that aim to achieve the target of reducing the rate of drowning in NSW.

The WSAC has responsibility to consider a broad range of issues, including regulation of swimming pools, beach safety, fishing, boating safety and teaching kids to swim.

The NSW Water Safety website was established in 2011 to provide a re-vitalised channel for communication on water safety issues between Government and the community.

This website ‘ provides an information resource centre on the NSW Water Safety Strategy and the work of the WSAC.

It also supports partnerships in water safety by creating links to other sites with important water safety information.

Water safety organisations are encouraged to:

• ensureconsistency of messages, signage and symbols;
• meet Australian Standards for signage, equipment, and personal gear, fencing and lifejackets;
• develop cooperative plansfor addressing water safety; and
• identify, monitor and action their own responsibilities with regard to water safety.

Strategy for
Key Priority One / WSAC Liaison / Agencies, Actions and Timelines
Water Safety Advisory Council / Ministry for Police and Emergency Services (MPES) / Meetings three to four times a year.
Advise the Minister on the Water Safety Black Spots Fund.
Development of the NSW Water Safety Strategy to 2015.
Development of consistent messages and signage among water safety organisations / MPES / Consistent messages and signage are developed with contribution from all agencies and published on all websites and media.
NSW Boating Safety Day / Maritime (RMS) / Office of Boating Safety & Maritime Affairs (OBSMA) to lead in partnership with RMS, MAC, MRNSW, BIA, Yachting NSW, Paddle NSW etc., an annual event at the start of the boating season in October to promote safety awareness among the boating community.
Staged state-wide across popular waterways and at high-traffic boat ramps to reach optimal number of boaters.
Consider options to expand to “NSW water safety day”.
Maintenance of / MPES. All WSAC members to contribute / Established in Dec 2011. Ongoing maintenance and update links with all relevant water safety websites.
Encourage use of consistent, effective water safety signage and public rescue equipment / Division of Local Government / Reinforce Water Safety Practice Note for Local Councils.
Work with stakeholders to consider recommendations from Aquatic Risk Assessment project (WSBSF year 1).
Work with stakeholders,advocating for a consistent position in relation to water safety signage (location, style, content) to be considered by 2016.
Work with stakeholders to advocate Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) and Australian Water Safety Signage Standard.
Work with stakeholders to review suitability of, and if necessary update,the Aquatic and Recreational Signage Style Manual to ensure compliant Australian Standards are included.
Promote all internet and social media based information via the website / MPES / Promote and link websites as portals for information on water safety, including but not limited to:






Include all government sites relevant to water safety.
Disseminate all water safety messages through social media sites, for example NSWPF eyewatch pages.

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

Key Priority Two

Develop or amend appropriate legislation to address water safety laws, regulations, rules and orders.

The development or amendment of legislation is an ongoing process that will extend beyond and outside of this Strategy as issues evolve.

Legislation and other statutory instruments will be amended as required, even if not included in this Strategy.

Strategy for
Key Priority Two / WSAC Liaison / Agencies, Actions and Timelines
Amendments to the Swimming Pools Act / Division of Local Government / Work with stakeholders to implement legislation to strengthen compliance with pool barrier standards.
Work with stakeholders to promote public awareness about pool barrier requirements in NSW.
Monitor and review legislative amendments by 2018.
Marine Safety Act / Office of Boating Safety & Maritime Affairs (OBSMA) / Monitor, review and amend as required to ensure legislation reflects support for a culture of safe and responsible boating.

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

Principle 2: Address Identified Black Spots

Key Priority Three

Create and administer the$8 million Water Safety Black Spots Fund

The establishment of the ‘Black Spots’ Fund is to allow for direct intervention for known high-risk drowning locations, populations or activities throughout NSW, as well as targeted education campaigns.

The funding commitment also represents an opportunity to address priority or emerging water safety issues.

Examples of projects funded in the first year are included at appendix three.

Strategy for
Key Priority Three / WSAC Liaison / Agencies, Actions and Timelines
Maintain the Water Safety Black Spots Fund /
MPES /
The fund involves $8 million over four years until 2014-15.
The WSAC makes recommendations to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services based on criteria to address black spots.
Funding is allocated on a year to year basis.
Projects funded under the WSBSF are published on the watersafety website /
MPES /
Projects funded under the WSBSF are summarised and published on the website, including any ultimate actions that may arise.
Stakeholders are consulted about the outcome of projects.

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New South Wales Water Safety Strategy 2013-15

KEY PRIORITY FOUR

Work towards meeting the targets under the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2012-15 and participation in national projects.