Life Saving Victoria

Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) purpose is to save lives and empower communities to safely enjoy water. We envision a future where all Victorians learn water safety, swimming and resuscitation and are provided with safe aquatic environments and venues.  LSV has over 600 staff (110 full time/part time and 500 seasonal and casual), 43,000 members and 3,500 partners, representing lifesaving clubs and affiliated pools or aquatic facilities), LSV provides a range of services from prevention, first response and recovery activities. As a support agency, LSV works closely with communities, educational institutions, government agencies, businesses and the broader aquatic industry, to achieve its water safety mission. 

Mitigation

Activity Critical task alignment / activity source

Provide safety inspection services for swimming pools, urban, coastal and inland waterways using approved risk management tools and maintain the Victorian public pools register 

1.3

Provide water safety expert advice and evidence via data analysis including the Victorian drowning report to support the emergency management planning framework 

1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5

Provide aquatic risk management services including design and critical incident review services to designers, developers, owners and land managers of swimming pools and waterways 

1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 4.5

Set and support safety standards for the development, operation and use of a range of waterways including beaches, public swimming pools, home pools and spas, and urban waterways 

2.1, 2.2

Provide information and education displays at tradeshows and community events

2.1, 4.5

Provide technical and reference manuals, texts, resources, and newsletters on water safety, lifesaving, life guarding, CPR and first aid

2.1, 4.5

Provide subject matter expertise and evidence to inform water safety campaigns and public awareness communication 

2.1, 2.2, 4.5

Provide expert advice on aquatic risk management systems and water safety signage 

2.1, 4.5, 6.2

Provide vocational education and training programs for a rescue ready workforce such as lifeguard, swim teacher, first aid, oxygen equipment, and specialist areas such as spinal injury, risk awareness and aquatic technical operations 

4.5

Develop and provide education in water safety and associated messaging, first aid, CPR, swimming and lifesaving programs at swimming pools, open water locations, schools and lifesaving clubs including training for personal watercraft and inflatable rescue boats 

2.1, 6.1, 6.4

Response (including Relief)

Activity Critical task alignment / activity source

Provide air, water and land-based search and rescue services to locate lost persons and vessels at sea and at inland waterways, supporting VicPol through rescue powercraft (rescue boats and rescue watercraft): Inshore search and rescue (up to 2 nautical miles) as well as offshore search and rescue (greater than 2 nautical miles); remote piloted aircraft systems (drones); helicopter services capable of winching persons over land and water; and all-terrain vehicles capable of driving on beaches 

3.1, 3.2, 10.1, 12.1, 12.3

Provide both paid and volunteer water-based patrolling and observation services, including inshore, rescue and response services provided from LSV supported locations across Port Phillip Bay, the Victorian coastline and inland waterways

3.1, 3.2, 12.1, 12.3

Provide air and sea marine animal detection services in support of the VFA

3.2, 16.2

Provide water safety first responder services for aquatic based events

2.1, 3.2

Provide radio equipment and resources support to other agencies

3.4, 3.5

Maintain and operate the State Lifesaving Operations Centre (SLOC) for the purpose of:

  • dispatching and tracking of LSV emergency response assets in line with control agency requirements
  • self-tasking to aquatic related incidents within agreed and declared area of operations
  • self-managing incidents in relation to agreed and declared area of operations including the escalation of incidents/emergencies to the appropriate control agency as required

3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.6

Provide timely, coordinated information and warnings around open waterways and water safety as well as bay water quality to communities

2.1, 2.3

Provide emergency evacuation/relief centres at the lifesaving clubs

3.3, 15.1

Provide first aid and other medical response support services to AV (as co-responder / emergency medical responder)

3.2, 14.1, 14.2

Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to provide support to lead agencies for health and medical relief (first aid) assistance measures

3.2, 14.2, 14.7

Table 12: Relief coordination

Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to provide support to lead agencies for pre-hospital care for people affected by emergencies

3.2, 14.1, 14.2

Table 12: Relief coordination

Recovery

For recovery activities, refer directly to the agency for further information.

Assurance and Learning

For assurance and learning activities, refer directly to the agency for further information.