Sunshine Coast surf lifesaving and water safety groups will benefit from the Turnbull Government’s commitment to reducing drowning deaths.
Ted O’Brien said an extra $3 million would be delivered to lifesaving clubs and other water safety organisations around Australia, with a large part of the funding going to the Government’s beach equipment program.
The extra money will assist the nation’s 310 surf lifesaving clubs to buy new rescue equipment, as well as first aid and medical supplies. Some clubs may use it to invest in new technology such as drones to enable remote monitoring of unpatrolled beaches.
Lifesaving clubs in Ted’s Fairfax electorate will receive $5000 each.
The five-year Reduce Drownings initiative began in 2013-14 and provided a funding boost of $15 million to Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), surf lifesaving clubs across Australia, the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (RLSSA) and AUSTSWIM.
The additional $3million funding for 2018-19 will go towards the same programs. As well as the beach equipment program, it will boost:
- SLSA’s Beach Drowning Black Spot reduction program to tackle the incidence of drowning in identified high risk areas;
- RLSSA’s River Drowning Black Spot identification program and Swim and Survive lessons for children, especially Indigenous and disadvantaged children;
- AUSTSWIM’s program to provide accredited swimming and water safety teachers to targeted population groups, including remote, migrant and disadvantaged communities, and people with a disability.
The extension of Reduce Drownings will make our coastal and inland water less risky for all Australians, Mr O’Brien said.
This financial year, the Turnbull Government is also providing more than $15 million for ongoing water safety activities by SLSA, RLSSA, AUSTSWIM and Laurie Lawrence Swimming Enterprises.
These activities include awareness raising and education, policy advice, surf lifesaving activities, surf patrols, swimming lessons, and swim teachers’ training and education.