Aquatic Facility Safety Endorsement

The Royal Life Saving South Australia - Aquatic Facility Safety Endorsement program highlights South Australian aquatic facilities achieving the highest standards in aquatic safety and risk management. Each tier of endorsement from Royal life Saving South Australia is recognised as a sign of excellence within the Australian Aquatic Industry.

An Aquatic Facility Safety Endorsement displays an ongoing commitment to exemplary safety standards which can be clearly identified by key stakeholders, patrons, employees and partners. Each endorsement tier demonstrates a progressive emphasis and commitment to community safety.

The program is evaluated using a combination of high level industry specific safety assessments and eligibility criteria.

Endorsement Principles

  • Provide expert and industry specific leadership on drowning and injury prevention

  • Create informed policy, advocacy and practice through research, evidence and data collection

  • Empower communities through awareness, education and collaboration

  • Champion swimming and water safety skills

  • Advocate, advise and provide safer aquatic facilities  

  • Foster aquatic industry cohesion, growth and connection

  • Maximise the social impact of aquatic facilities

Endorsement Benefits

For over 125 years, Royal Life Saving has been working with the aquatic industry to provide a range of expert services and programs. These services and programs are proven to increase a facilities level of safety and compliance, empowering operators to implement appropriate risk management practices.


Significant and ongoing risk management is needed to ensure design, scope and facility operations adhere with evolving state and federal legislation, Australian Standards, industry guidelines and community expectations.


We have developed the Aquatic Facility Safety Endorsement program and methodology based on our experience in creating nationwide industry initiatives, driving safety outcomes across the Australian aquatic industry.

People

  • Qualified and accredited auditors

  • Nationally licensed to deliver Industry Specific audits and assessments

  • Supported by a national network of committed aquatic and safety experts

Risk Management

  • Consultation with Australia’s peak body for drowning prevention and water safety

  • Public liability and Professional indemnity insurance benefits

  • Guidelines to Safe Pool Operations (GSPO) best practice

Program Delivery

  • Designed, developed and supported by Royal Life Saving Australia and the Australian aquatic industry

  • Constantly reviewed by leading experts in aquatic facility design, operations and risk

  • Based on an proven framework delivered nationally

  • National assessment benchmarking available

Rewards

  • Employee discounts on select training packages

  • Displayable Endorsement Merchandise

  • Tier Based Awards

  • Platinum

  • Gold

  • Silver

  • Bronze

Eligibility Criteria

Facilities must complete each of the below assessment criteria to be eligible for an endorsement. Following criteria completion, each result is categorised into an Endorsement Tier.

  • Royal Life Saving South Australia - Pool Safety Assessment

  • Royal Life Saving South Australia - Risk Treatment Plan

  • Practice of recognised Child Supervision Strategy

  • Two Mystery Guest Visits

Once an endorsement is achieved, facilities require periodical reassessments to maintain their Endorsement Tier.

  • Facilities with over 100,00 visits per-annum require annual reassessment

  • Facilities with under 100,000 visits per-annum require bi-annual reassessment

Platinum Endorsement

  • Facilities maintain a score of 95% in the Safety section of the Pool Safety Assessment for 3 consecutive years.

  • Facilities maintain a score of 100% in the Compliance section of the Pool Safety Assessment for 3 consecutive years.

  • Facilities maintain a score of 95% in the overall Performance score from the two Mystery Guest Visits for 3 consecutive years.

Gold Endorsement

  • Facilities must score 95% in the Safety section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 95% in the Compliance section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 95% in the overall Performance score from the two Mystery Guest Visits.

Silver Endorsement

  • Facilities must score 90% in the Safety section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 90% in the Compliance section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 90% in the overall Performance score from the two Mystery Guest Visits.

Bronze Endorsement

  • Facilities must score 80% in the Safety section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 80% in the Compliance section of the Pool Safety Assessment.

  • Facilities must score 80% in the overall Performance score from the two Mystery Guest Visits.

Following the Pool Safety Assessment and Mystery Guest Visits, facilities are provided with Compliance, Safety and Performance Scores. These scores are presented as a percentile of the maximum assessment points achievable. Each percentile is used as a minimum to achieve the Endorsement Tier.

Facility Endorsements

  • Platinum

  • Gold

  • Silver

  • Bronze

The Aquatic Facility Safety Endorsement framework was released in September 2023. Facilities with previous Pool Safety Assessments have been contacted to join the Endorsement Program