TQ1 - Pool Lifeguards

Purpose of this Guideline

To provide guidance to owners or operators of aquatic facilities as to what initial training and entry qualifications are appropriate for supervisors of aquatic environments, such as Pool Lifeguards.

To provide guidance on the roles, responsibilities, and skill requirements of a Pool Lifeguard at an aquatic facility

Definition

A Pool Lifeguard is someone employed (voluntary or paid) by an owner or operator of an aquatic facility to prevent drowning and reduce the impact of injury at the venue.

A Pool Lifeguard may also be known as a ‘Pool Supervisor’, ‘Pool Attendant’ or ‘Swimming Pool Attendant’.

Responsibilities

The Pool Lifeguard’s primary role is to minimise risks within the aquatic environment and respond to actual or imminent threats to the safety of individuals within the aquatic facility.

In order to achieve the objective a Pool Lifeguard has a number of key responsibilities which include:

• Maintaining active supervision of aquatic users, activities and the aquatic environment in line with the facility supervision plan
• Understanding the legal aspects associated with their role
• Understanding the risks of the aquatic environment and their impact to aquatic users and the owner or manager of the aquatic facility
• Maintaining currency in their technical skills, health and fitness in accordance with the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations
• Engaging, communicating and fostering relationships with colleagues and patrons at the aquatic location
• Educating users of the dangers and safety measures at an aquatic facility
• Zoning or restricting activities at the aquatic location
• Enforcing rules of the aquatic location
• Undertaking search and rescue of persons in difficulty at an aquatic location
• Providing emergency care to persons with injuries sustained at an aquatic location
• Responding to emergencies and unlawful acts at the aquatic location until further assistance is available
• Maintaining a record of their activities at the aquatic location

Initial qualifications

To perform the duties of a Pool Lifeguard at an aquatic facility an individual should hold either:

1. The current nationally recognised Pool Lifeguard skill set, or most recent superseded version, or successive replacement(s), regardless of whether deemed equivalent or non-equivalent; or,
2. The below current nationally recognised units of competency that make up the Pool Lifeguard skill set, or most recent successive version of those units, or current replacements, regardless of whether deemed equivalent or non-equivalent;
   • HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid
   • SISCAQU019 – Supervise patron safety in aquatic locations
   • SISCAQU020 – Perform water rescues
   • SISCAQU021 – Perform complex water rescues
   • SISCAQU022 – Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment, and
3. A “Working with Children Check” or equivalent as required by relevant State or Territory legislation

To view nationally recognised qualifications, skill sets and/or units of competency, refer to the Australian Government - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations webpage: www.training.gov.au

Manager of Supervision and/or Lifeguard Services

The employee who is responsible for the planning and implementation of Lifeguard Services and the supervision of aquatic environments (Manager) should be provided with resources and training in:

• Identifying risks in the aquatic environment
• Developing Supervision plans
• Implementing Supervision requirements
• Managing emergency situations
• Reviewing and updating lifeguard operations

If not completed within these competencies, training should include information on the subject of persons at the facility with a disability and those from culturally and Linguistic Diverse (CALD) backgrounds applicable to the aquatic facility.

REFERENCES

• National Register on Vocational Education and Training, training.gov.au
• International Lifesaving Federation Pool Lifeguard
• Aquatic Facility Management, Fawcett P. 2005. Human Kinetics, Champaign.
• Guide to Ontario Public Pools Regulation, 2018 Edition, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Lifeguarding, 6th Edition 2022, The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, Sydney
• Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, 3rd Edition, 2003, Sport England Publications, Wetherby.
• Pool Operations Manual, 2nd Edition, 2003, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Swimming Pool Supervision Guidelines and Recommended Standard, 1993, Hillary Commission, Wellington
• Victorian Safer Public Pools Codes of Practice, 2021 (V2)
• Practice Note 15 Water Safety. NSW Office for Local Government

PREVIOUS VERSIONS

• Guideline SU7 Description of Lifeguard Duties, Issue 2, July 1996
• Guideline RS17 Description of Lifeguard Duties, Issue 1, August 1991
• Guideline SV9 - POOL LIFEGUARDS 20 January 2018
• Guideline SV8 – Management of Lifeguards, January 2018