About the program
The Water and Snow Safety Program (WSSP) provides funding to specified leading water and snow safety organisations. The funding supports prevention and intervention measures that reduce water and snow-related injuries and deaths.
The Australian Government is providing $34.9 million over 2 years from 2024–25 for the WSSP.
Why is it important
The Australian Government is committed to improving opportunities for community participation in sport and recreation in safe environments. The WSSP contributes to this by addressing incidents of drowning and snow-related deaths through effective prevention and intervention.
Goals of the program
The aim of WSSP is to support select water and snow safety organisations to undertake activities that:
- reduce the incidence of water and snow related injuries and deaths in Australia
- enhance the safety of Australian water and snow environments
- improve the behaviour of people in, on and around water and snow in Australia
- address priority areas, guiding principles and goals for water safety outlined in the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030.
How it works
The organisations funded have a strong history of working together collaboratively towards achieving the program’s shared goals. We assessed these organisations to ensure they have:
- the capability to deliver the program activities
- existing infrastructure and relationships to support the program
- experience, knowledge and skills to deliver the project objectives and outcomes.
Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030
The Australian Water Safety Council developed the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 in partnership with Australia’s leading water safety organisations. Outcomes of the WSSP are closely tied to the strategy.
The strategy plays an essential role to promote:
- national, state and territory, and community approaches to prevent drowning
- safe use of the nation’s waterways and swimming pools.
It also outlines priority areas where Australia’s peak water safety bodies can work together to prevent drowning.
The strategy seeks to:
- raise awareness about non-fatal drowning incidents
- encourage communities to create local water safety plans
- promote access to swimming and water safety skills for all Australians including refugees, migrants and people living in regional areas.
Who we work with
We work with the following organisations who receive funding under the WSSP:
- Australian Ski Patrol Association
- AUSTSWIM
- Laurie Lawrence Swimming Enterprise
- Royal Life Saving Society – Australia
- Surf Life Saving Australia.
Reviews
Read the 2024 report on the review of the WSSP and the Surf Live Saving Australia Training Measure.
Review of the Water and Snow Safety Program and the Surf Life Saving Australia Training Measure – Final report
Contact
