Belgravia Leisure’s excellence in water safety and the prevention of drowning deaths has been highlighted in two reports recently released by industry organisations as we head into the busy summer season.

Learn to swim programs run by Belgravia Leisure in 2019 contributed an economic benefit of $19.4 million in the area of preventing deaths by drowning, according to a report into social value by data organisation ActiveXchange.

Reports into pool safety awareness undertaken by the Life Saving Victoria and Royal Life Saving Society NSW, gave Belgravia Leisure’s sites a score of 96% in pool supervision (industry average 83.5%), and a mean safety score of 91% (industry average 84%) with all sites assessed, improving their performance year on year.

The economic benefit of learn to swim is part of the organisation’s overall social value performance which has saved Australian communities to the tune of almost $134m in 2019. Social value is the economic benefit healthy and engaged individuals contribute to society through improved mental wellbeing, education and engagement in health and leisure.

The importance of social value and its positive impact in learn to swim programs is timely given the highlights of the recent Royal Lifesaving Australia’s National Drowning Report for 2019 which showed an increase in overall drowning deaths across the nation.

The report found:

• Drowning deaths over the past year increased by 10%;
• 17% increase in summer drowning deaths compared with the 10-year average;
• Rivers accounted for 29% of all drowning deaths, more than any other location;
• There was a 39% increase in multiple fatality events, that is multiple people drowning in one incident, compared with the 10-year average;
• People aged 45 to 55 years accounted for 15% of the total number of drowning deaths, the most of any age group
• 41% of drowning deaths in children are of toddlers aged less than one.

Belgravia Leisure works with Swimming Australia through its GOSWIM learn to swim program in more than 50 centres under its management. Victoria and NSW made the biggest contribution to social value in preventing drowning deaths with Qld and SA also large contributors.

“These figures show how our learn to swim programs, commitment to water safety and connecting communities to leisure can directly impact with cost savings,” said Belgravia Leisure CEO Nick Cox.

“It’s important more Australians learn how to swim to prevent drowning deaths, and of even greater value to communities is getting people to exercise more. We know that people live happier and more productive lives when they exercise regularly.”

FACTBOX

BELGRAVIA LEISURE POOL SAFETY ASSESSMENT 2018/19

Key Summaries

• Mean safety score of 91% in Victoria and NSW (7.5% higher than industry average)
• In Victoria Belgravia Leisure averaged 11.3% higher on compliance score
• The compliance score is all items that the operator has practical control over
• Belgravia Leisure scored above 96% in relation to pool supervision in both states compared to industry average (84 – 86%)
• Both states have increased their average score over three years