Wyndham city’s AquaPulse facility has added to its stable of safety awards with Life Saving Victoria’s highest safety accreditation, the prized Platinum Pool award.
In doing so, the facility joins an exclusive club of just 22 Victorian aquatic centres currently holding the accreditation - Platinum Pool status being awarded to aquatic facilities providing outstanding levels of safety.
Advising that the award is a way of recognising those facilities that have attained the highest level of safety requirements and standards, Life Saving Victoria (LSV) General Manager - Public Training and Pool Safety, Andy Dennis stated “the award is similar to accrediting a lifesaver, and therefore facilities must undergo a thorough assessment of their skills and performance and attain a high standard throughout.”
To achieve the award AquaPulse had to undertake a rigorous series of assessments to ensure it met all of LSV’s criteria for the accreditation.
Before AquaPulse opened in 2015, safety was established as one of the core values guiding the partnership between Wyndham City Council and Western Leisure Services (WLS) in the management of the facility. Working hard to innovate in the areas of water safety and communications, AquaPulse was recognised first in 2017, and then again in 2018 with the title of ‘Watch Around Water - Facility of the Year’ at the Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) Industry Awards.
Further recognition of the successful safety communications strategies which have been developed and executed by WLS was provided when AquaPulse featured in the Royal Life Saving Society Australia 2017 National Aquatic Industry Safety Awards, receiving the ‘Best Solution to an Identified Aquatic Health and Safety Issue’ award.
Following the award, Craig Roberts, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia’s National Manager Aquatic Industry, stated “AquaPulse were recognised for their innovation of multilingual communications and water safety initiatives inclusive of their diverse community.”
Alarming Rise in Drownings AquaPulse’s new status comes off the back of an alarming rise in Australia’s drowning toll with 102 drowning deaths reported in over the summer period to 18th February 2019 by comparison with the same period last year when there were 71 drowning deaths recorded (as reported by Royal Life Saving).
This rise reinforces the importance of teaching water safety to all Australians, a challenge that is embraced wholeheartedly on a local scale by WLS Operations Group Manager Alek Olszewski, who drove the push to see AquaPulse achieve LSV’s Platinum Pool status.
Olszewski advises “the Platinum Pool accreditation enhances Wyndham’s reputation as a region where the challenge of creating a culture of water safety amongst a fast-growing, culturally and linguistically diverse community has been met with innovative communications and operational strategies which are tailored to the specific needs of the local community.”
Applauded this important accreditation for AquaPulse and the benefits it brings to the growing community, Wyndham Councillor Peter Maynard, whom head the City’s Sports Development Portfoli, added “it’s important that our growing and diverse community have access to a fantastic facility like AquaPulse where water safety is not only of a platinum standard, it’s also well understood by all who swim or play there”
Article Courteousy of Australasian Leisure
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