Royal Life Saving Society Australia

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The Royal Life Saving Society Australia is the leading water safety educator in Australia and is dedicated to the teaching of lifesaving and the prevention of drowning. RLSSA is a not-for-profit community based organisation with branches in each state and territory of Australia. RLSSA through its extensive network of volunteers and cadre of professional staff provides courses in water safety, lifesaving and resuscitation.

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[edit] History

Lifesaving in Australia owes its origins to the creation in the UK of the Royal Life Saving Society UK in 1891. Starting in New South Wales in 1894 the movement soon spread to the other Australian colonies. The demarcation between Surf Life Saving and the activities of RLSSA was established in December 1924 when RLSSA was given responsibility for all other waterways.

The society has focused its activities on water safety education [1] and developed public education campaigns such as "Keep Watch".

[edit] Modern developments

In the 1970s, benefitting from the work of a group of Victorian educationalists, a national water safety programme was created. In 1982 the "Swim and Survive" programme was started.

Over 5 million Australians have now undertaken the Bronze Medallion programme after it became a part of secondary school physical education and over 10 million have learnt essential water safety skills through "Swim and Survive"[2].

RLSSA also provides an internationally regarded Pool Lifeguard Programme [3].

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