26 minute read
Two Months in Leisure
Some of the industry headlines over recent months. Daily industry news can be read at www.ausleisure.com.au
Rising drowning toll prompts AUSTSWIM to emphasise importance of educating new swimming teachers
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Figures showing that Australia recorded its highest drowning toll in more than 25 years during the year from July 2021 to June 2022 has prompted AUSTSWIM to advise of the vital role its more than 33,000 licensed teachers play in teaching skills for life.
Among a range of concerning findings, the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022 shows that during the last year 32 drowning deaths occurred in children aged 0-14 years and 28% of drownings occurring in people over 65 years of age.
Swim schools across the country are operating at capacity and with not enough accredited and licensed teachers, many are being forced to turn away families.
Loss of confidence sees mass cancellation of F45 franchise sales
Australian-founded fitness franchise group F45 has advised that more than 300 franchise outlet sales in the USA have been cancelled following the company’s recent loss of external financing.
Having revealed in July, a more than 50% drop in projected income for the last financial year (which nonetheless still indicated US$120 to US$130 million in revenue), the company’s co-founder and Chief Executive Adam Gilchrist stepped down while 110 employees were laid off and expansion plans were slashed significantly.
The now Texas, USA-based company’s guidance assumed that US$250 million of growth capital provided by two previously announced franchise financing facilities, which F45 had arranged so that franchisees could open additional studios, would now not be available despite strong demand from franchisees.
Play Australia launches new campaign to promote value of children’s outside play
Play Australia has launched their new national campaign ‘Play Today’ which highlights the vital need for children to increase their access to freedom, time and space to play outside for improved mental health and wellbeing.
Barb Champion, Executive Director at Play Australia notes “we all have a responsibility to protect the rights of children to play and if you’re a parent or caregiver, that means providing your children with freedom, time and space to get outside and play freely every day.”
Play Today is supported by a number of launch partners including Imagination Play, Lark Industries, Forpark Australia and Playgroup Australia.
Metung Hot Springs to officially open on Melbourne Cup long weekend
Metung Hot Springs has opened, offering guests the opportunity to visit, bathe and stay in East Gippsland’s mineral rich waters.
The bathing experiences offers lush geothermal water bathing pools, massaging showers, architecturally designed sauna experiences, reflexology walk, bathing barrels with picturesque cliff top views of Lake King, nutritious all-day café service, comforting guest amenities and welcoming gift shop.
New Zealand Courts advance bankruptcy proceedings against Ticket Rocket owner Matt Davey
Matt Davey, the one-time owner of collapsed New Zealand ticketing company Fortress Information Systems, is reported to be embroiled in a contracted legal battle over his bankruptcy.
Davey, formerly based in Dunedin, owned Fortress Information Systems, which traded as Ticket Rocket and which was previously known as TicketDirect, before the businesses were placed under receivership and liquidated in 2020.
Affiliated companies - Dash Group and Dash Tickets New Zealand - were also placed under receivership.
TrailScapes to deliver new multi-day hiking experience in Southern Flinders Ranges
South Australian company, TrailScapes has been awarded the contract for the design and construction of the Gorges Walk Trail, a multi-day hiking experience through the spectacular Southern Flinders Ranges located less than three hours drive from Adelaide. The trail will connect gorges through the Wapma Thura Southern Flinders Ranges National Park including the three-day hike through the Telowie and Nelshaby gorges.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia finalises separation from Disability Sports Australia
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) has announced an historic sports governance change for the sport of wheelchair rugby, having successfully developed and transitioned Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA) organisation through the support of its pioneering Sports Incubator program to become a stand-alone organisation.
The DSA Sports Incubator was developed to support and provide expertise to national sporting organisations and recreation program providers to initiate, develop and grow new sport and social active recreation opportunities for people with a disability.
Looking to deliver ‘vibrant precincts connecting people’ VenuesWest launches five-year strategic plan
With the aim of being Australia’s leading provider of sport and entertainment venues and precincts, VenuesWest has released its ‘Strategic Plan 2022-2027: Vibrant precincts’ connecting people to world class sport and entertainment experiences.
Setting out VenuesWest’s vision over the next five years, the strategy identifies the ambitions of the statutory authority, which owns and manages 13 sport and entertainment venues on behalf of the Western Australia Government, including Perth’s RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
200 franchisees attended Viva Leisure brand Plus Fitness’ annual conference at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in September.
Viva Leisure financial results show income exceeding previous guidance in last half year
Financial results for the 2021/22 financial year released by leading fitness club owner and operator Viva Leisure shows that its facilities have rebounded strongly as gyms opened again after COVID lockdowns, with revenue of $56.8 million for the last half year exceeding its previous guidance of $54 to $56 million.
Overall, the ASX-listed company recorded revenue of $90.8 million for the full year, up 8.5% from the 2020/21 year income of $83.7 million.
The company also reported a record monthly Revenue Run Rate (MRRR) of $10.2 million in June.
With the group continuing to expand, the Viva Leisure network of wholly-owned and franchised clubs, including the Club Lime, Plus Fitness and HIIT republic brands, increased to 334 locations as of 30th June 2022 with its own club locations increasing to 151 at the end of the financial year.
Memberships across the network saw a significant rise of 7.3% to reach 320,161 with corporate membership numbers standing at 159,546 as of 30th June 2022, up 26.6%.
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Sporting Club of Sydney’s new aquatic, fitness and wellbeing centre opened at Allianz Stadium
Rebuilt as part of the wider development of the new Allianz Stadium, the Sporting Club of Sydney has opened its new aquatic, fitness and wellbeing centre.
Located at Allianz Stadium’s Gate 8, on the venue’s south western corner, the new premium facility replaces the former UTS Stadium Club.
Already described as “the most exclusive in Sydney” with memberships having joining fees of as much as $22,000, the new facility is spread across three levels - featuring two squash courts, weights and cardio training floors, group training rooms for yoga and cycle classes, fitness assessment rooms, a virtual golf studio, an indoor heated 25 metre pool and an outdoor 50 metre heated pool with bookable cabanas on its deck. The Club also provides childminding services and a café with indoor and outdoor dining.
Featherdale Wildlife Park marks 50th anniversary
The Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park has marked its 50th year of operating since it first officially opened in 1972. Originally founded on the site of a family-owned poultry farm, in its 50-year history Featherdale has grown to proudly now care for the largest collection of Australian animals in the world, with over 2000 Australian native animals across 260 species.
The wildlife park has been a champion for Australian wildlife throughout its history, playing an important role in breeding and conserving many endangered Australian species from the koala, to brush tailed rock wallabies, the regent honey eater and many more vulnerable species.
Pollstar rankings show resurgence of Australian live entertainment in first half of 2022
US-based publication Pollstar’s latest industry ranking show that Australia’s live entertainment is rebounding with encouraging performance figures.
After a slow start to the year due to extended pandemic restrictions, Pollstar’s mid-year rankings show that promoter TEG and acts including Guy Sebastian and Midnight Oil have performed strongly in recent months.
Looking forward to an ongoing resurgence in the sector, with more international tours on their way in the next four months, Live Nation Australia President, Roger Field told Pollstar “we will be finishing on an extremely busy, and strong note.”
New ASM Global partnership looks to create ‘the most sustainable venues in the world’
Demonstrating its continuing recognition that sustainability has become a critical contributor to venue management and operations in the live event industry, international facility management company and event producer ASM Global has announced a partnership with leading sustainability consulting firm Honeycomb Strategies.
The partnership will see ASM Global facility owners and operators leverage Honeycomb Strategies’ extensive experience and comprehensive understanding of eventsrelated sustainability best practices to make fully informed strategic decisions on major sustainability investments while delivering sustainable solutions for its portfolio of venues in the live entertainment, trade show event, hospitality stadium and sports spaces.
Funds from new broadcast deal to boost community-level AFL
The announcement of the new television rights deal between the AFL with Foxtel and Seven West Media is to provide a massive input of funds for the grassroots game, with the AFL Commission agreeing to commit 10% of gross League revenue to the sport at community-level, with a heavy focus on growth in the female game.
Worth $4.5 billion over seven years from 2025, the proportion of income from the television and digital rights deal will be committed across school-based programs, facilities and funded development officers.
Committing to “developing a new oval per week, every week for five years to cater for the game’s growth”, the sport also plans major investments in female-friendly changing rooms.
New Council-owned entity to run renamed Sutherland Entertainment Centre
Sutherland Shire Council has voted to have an independent not-for-profit company run its upgraded Sutherland Entertainment Centre - and that the venue will be renamed The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre as of its reopening in 2023.
The Council-owned company will also operate the boutique Sutherland Arts Theatre in the 1921 Sutherland Memorial School of Arts, which is also being upgraded.
Similar complexes with this structure in NSW include the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Art House Wyong and The Joan in Penrith.
Rising cost of public liability insurance now impacting entertainment venues
The rising cost of public liability insurance, which has already impacted other industry sectors, is currently seeing hundreds of music and entertainment venues across Australia facing steep increases in the cost of their premiums.
Still impacted by the legacy of lockdowns, the Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC) says venues across the country are at risk as a result of massive premium increases while some venues have been denied coverage all together.
Citing one venue as having been invoiced nearly 10 times by their previous insurance premium, ALMBC Chair, Stephen Wade explained “this isn’t just three or four venues - this is hundreds of venues around Australia.
“When they’ve gone to get their public liability insurance renewed, they’ve been faced with huge increases - sometimes up to 1,000% above what they would normally do, and there are some venues that just haven’t been able to get it at all.”
With extreme weather events, financial market conditions and scarce capital having created a ‘hard’ global market for insurers, with many shedding more risky prospects from their books, Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) General Manager of Public Affairs, Mathew Jones, said live music venues were an unfortunate casualty.
Jones stated “the activities we’re talking about are inherently riskier than other types of leisure activities.
“There’s alcohol involved, large numbers of people in tightly packed venues, activities taking place at night rather than the day.”
European Commission move to restrict microplastic use set to impact infill used in synthetic turf systems
The use of recycled rubber and plastic as an infill for artificial turf systems may well be impacted by recommendations from the European Commission (EC) to introduce restrictions for the placing of intentionally
added microplastics.
The EC’s recommendations for restrictions for the placing of intentionally added microplastics onto the European market (Annex XVII REACH1) recommend a ban on the future sale of microplastic infill (most commonly end of life tyre shred) for synthetic turf systems, as the most effective way to reduce microplastic emissions.
Music industry stakeholders unite to call for federal music development agency
18 industry bodies have united to call for the creation of a new national development agency to oversee strategic investment and policy development for the Australian music industry.
The call centrepiece of a music industry proposal has been put to the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy consultation by the Association of Artist Managers, Australian Festival Association, Australian Guild of Screen Composers, Australian Independent Record Labels Association, Australian Live Music Business Council, Australian Music Centre, Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), AMPAL, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, CrewCare, Live Music Office, Live Performance Australia, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Music Office, Sounds Australia, Support Act, The Push Inc.
A combined statement from the groups advises that “with the advent of the next digital revolution and as the global appetite for music continues to grow, the vision for the Australian contemporary music industry is to move from a music nation to a global music powerhouse that can fully realise the cultural, social and economic benefits of a vibrant, healthy and sustainable music industry accessible to all Australians.”
APOLA President Bruce Hopkins gains support for adoption of Float to Survive initiative
Committed to developing simple messages on safety in ocean water, Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, President of both Surf Educators International (SEI) and the Australian Pool and Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA), has been generating support for having SEI’s Float to Survive program adopted as a national drowning prevention message.
Developed by Hopkins, who has an international profile as a result of his appearing on television’s Bondi Rescue, and SEI co-founder and surf educator Craig Riddington (the former Ironman who has been described as “the greatest ocean swimmer of all time”), ‘Float to Survive’ calls for immediate change in how swimmers are advised to act when caught in an ocean rip by advocating floating, which minimises drowning risks by conserving energy and placing a person in a better position to breathe.
$20 million funding takes Queensland Music Trails to outback regions
The Queensland Government 2022/23 Budget allocates $20 million in Queensland Music Trails over three years.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe advised “our investment in Music Trails is designed to put Outback Queensland on the world map as a music festival destination.
“Since the launch of the Queensland Music Trails program local Mayors have been calling in to nominate their region for a place on the trail map.”
Genesis Health and Fitness celebrates 25 years
Having opened its first site in Ringwood Victoria in 1997, Genesis Health and Fitness is this month celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Genesis Chief Executive Ian Jensen-Muir notes that it is a significant milestone that encapsulates many memories and achievements, both at an organisational level and an individual level, for members and staff.
Jensen-Muir advises “a quarter of a century helping people achieve their wellness goals – we are proud and very honoured to reach this milestone. Wrapped up in these 25 years are countless stories of members building confidence, overcoming health challenges, regaining their strength and finding happiness and we are so lucky to have been part of those journeys.”
Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong has been certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) as a Certified Autism CenterTM (CAC).
The certification sees Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong become Asia’s first Autism-Certified Water Park – offering an inclusive, accessible, and sensory-friendly facility for adventurers with autism or other sensory sensitivities.
The Park had partnered with non-governmental organisations to invite over 200 guests, including autistic individuals and their caregivers, to enjoy Water World last month to share this exceptional achievement.
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ICC Sydney acknowledge innovation and communication as driving increased event attendance
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by ASM Global has acknowledged strong leadership, a culture of innovation and a focus on sustainability as contributors in driving increased event attendance and economic returns to the community during the 2022 financial year, with the venue projecting a sooner than expected return to FY 2019 figures.
ICC Sydney has reported that its event visitor attendance and visitor spend in the community have doubled since the previous financial year following the release of its 2021/22 Annual Performance Review.
Fitstop continues expansion with opening of additional New Zealand locations
Fitstop, one of the fastest-growing functional fitness franchises, is expanding with two additional locations opening in New Zealand.
Fitstop Riccarton, Christchurch opened on 10th September and Fitstop New Plymouth opened 24th September.
Having boosted membership growth by over 70% through the evidence-based Fitstop Formula, the brand has inspired and educated over 19,000 members and continues to grow.
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The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has released their 2022-2026 Corporate Plan which outlines their strategic pillars and objectives for the next four years.
Each year the ASC produces a rolling four-year Corporate Plan that details the key activities, targets and measures upon which they are held accountable.
The ASC is committed to increasing participation in organised sport and helping the sector achieve international sporting success.
ASC Chair Josephine Sukkar recognised this is a pivotal time for the ASC to lead, support and grow Australian sport at all levels and notes “on behalf of the Australian Government, we aim to ensure that every single person involved in sport, regardless of their role, has the best possible experience.
“The decade ahead holds incredible opportunity. We are now embarking on a green and gold runway of major events towards the Brisbane 2032 Games and it is our chance to showcase the value and benefits of sport to all Australians.”
Concerns as cost estimate for new Bundaberg Aquatic Centre rises to more than $80 million
Bundaberg Regional Council has advised that the cost of its planned new Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre has risen from an originally estimated $45 million to more than $83 million with Council having to borrow another $30 million to cover those costs.
National parks in Far North returned to Traditional Owners
The Queensland Government has handed back more than 362,000 hectares of land on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula to the Gudang/ Yadhaykenu, Atambaya and Angkamuthi (Seven Rivers) peoples. Made up of 319,300 hectares of national park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land) (CYPAL) and 42,799 hectares of Aboriginal freehold land – equivalent to 676,000 football fields - it included land formerly known as Jardine River National Park, Denham Group National Park, part of Heathlands Reserve and Jardine River Reserve; and two offshore islands.
Queensland’s new Apudthama National Park (CYPAL) area represents the largest continuous area of heathlands on Cape York Peninsula and includes other diverse landscapes such as grasslands, perched lakes, open woodlands, cloud forests, wetlands and mangroves that connect with islands within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.
Latest club opening part of Planet Fitness’ goal to ‘democratise’ fitness
Having recently opened its latest club in the outer Sydney suburb of Campbelltown, Planet Fitness has now grown to 10 locations in Australia.
Covering 2,000 metre2, the group-owned club offers low cost memberships - with memberships costing as little as $5 a week with no locked in contracts - aimed at reaching new demographics who are likely to have not previously been members of a fitness club. Planet Fitness offers a Black Card membership at $9.95 per week which includes free spray tanning and red light therapy booths, the ability to bring your guest with each visit and use of any Planet Fitness globally.
Work commences on transformation of Melbourne Arts Precinct
Work has officially commenced on transforming the Melbourne Arts Precinct - considered to become Australia’s largest arts and culture infrastructure project.
With the Victorian Government investing $1.7 billion, the project includes the new art and design gallery The Fox: NGV Contemporary (concept pictured), an extensive refurbishment of Victoria’s heritage State Theatre, and 18,000 metres2 of new public parklands in the heart of Melbourne.
Sport fans want their teams to lead on environment, sustainability and inclusion issues
A new survey from YouGov has revealed that sport fans in 2022 have a concern about environmental, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues with 47% of fans around the world considering whether brands are socially and environmentally responsible when making purchases.
The study, ‘Global Sports 2022: Uncovering the Socially Responsible Sports Fan’, from YouGov Sport, reveals that sport fans also believe there should be more DEI in sport (68%) and that DEI should be considered when putting on events (65%).
Aiming to improve understanding of sport fans and what they want from sporting brands, teams, leagues and organisations, and aid rights holders and how their sponsors engage with them, the study advises that 76% of the adult population follow sport.
Artesian Hospitality and Major Events Gold Coast announce inaugural festival partnership
Artesian Hospitality - a Gold Coast hospitality group behind Cali Beach Club, Surfers Pavilion and Bedroom Nightclub - is continuing its expansion into strategic markets by making its move on the city’s evolving festival space.
Artesian Hospitality has announced its partnership with Major Events Gold Coast’s (MEGC) new free music festival, SPRINGTIME, in what it says will be the first of many experiential activations.
Artesian has been progressively diversifying its business model to include off-premise partnerships that bring the venue brands to life collaboratively with key events across music, lifestyle and brand activations.
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Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance to stage first conference in November
The Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance (AMPSEA) has announced that its inaugural conference will be held in Sydney on 22nd November.
With the mass participation sector starting to recover after events were halted during the pandemic, AMPSEA is looking for its conference to address the biggest challenges facing the industry. For details see the advertisement on page 53.
Telstra unveils Australian-first 5G innovation for visually impaired AFL fans at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium
Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium has joined with commercial partner Telstra and the AFL to trial new technology which aims to enhance the game-day experience for fans who are visually impaired.
An Australian first, the 5G Touch and Track prototype was developed working in partnership with Field of Vision, a technology start-up dedicated to transforming the way in which people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy sports.
The 5G-enabled tablet device translates live sports into a haptic (touch-based) experience, allowing fans who are visually impaired to track the on-field action by using their fingertips on a physical tablet device. Using a magnet that moves inside the body of the device, as the ball is kicked and handballed around the pitch, a steel ring on the surface moves precisely to show the location of the ball.
New Snow Play and Activity Hub for Mount Hotham
Mount Hotham will receive a new Snow Play and Activity Hub secured through a $4.5 million investment from the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund with the hub aiming to attract more visitors to Mount Hotham and benefit businesses across the region. The Hub features a day centre and amphitheatre that will serve as an ideal meeting spot for visitors and create a versatile space to host events and live entertainment. Melbourne’s AAMI Park will receive more than $25 million in upgrades ahead of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Hospitality firm The Comiskey Group has revealed plans for a new $35 million music venue, capable of holding up to 2,500 people, as a focal point of the master planned green-star rated Stockland Aura estate on the Sunshine Coast.
Cricket in NSW has a new home following the official opening of Cricket Central, Cricket NSW’s new state-of-the-art $60 million Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has revealed that the new aquatic and recreation facility planned to replace the ageing Adelaide Aquatic Centre will be built immediately to the south of the existing complex on park lands at North Adelaide.
A $20 million investment from the Victorian Government has seen upgrades at Melbourne’s IKON Park to support Carlton Football Club and its AFLW team.
The new $10 million Oatlands Aquatic Centre in the Tasmanian Midlands has opened, featuring a 25m x 12m six lane pool, a 12m x 5m indoor children’s pool and community activities. It replaces an outdoor pool that had only opened during the summer months.
Perth’s Outback Splash has announced that work is currently underway on a large resort style pool, called ‘The Lagoon’, which will be the newest addition to the waterpark.
New entertainment precinct unveiled at Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre
Chadstone - The Fashion Capital, the largest shopping centre in Australia, has unveiled concepts for a new entertainment and dining precinct that it will open this summer.
Featuring six new dining retailers and four new entertainment brands, The Social Quarter at Chadstone will offer a collection of 18 attraction and F&B experiences.
Entertainment offerings to complement Chadstone’s existing Legoland Discovery Centre and Hoyts cinema complex, include Funlab brands Archie Brothers Cirque Electrique, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley, alongside a new iteration of Hijinx Hotel - Funlab’s vibrant ‘challenge room hotel’ concept, which debuted in Sydney earlier this year.
A newly agreed Major Events Partnership between the City of Newcastle and Venues NSW will see international music star Elton John, perform at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium early next year.
With the two organisations ready to work together to attract major and international events to McDonald Jones Stadium and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, this first event will see the British star perform on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour itinerary in January.
Initially scheduled to play a single concert at the Broadmeadow venue on 10th January, “overwhelming demand in pre-sales” has seen Frontier Touring promoter Michael Chugg add a second show on 8th January.
Sport Minister Anika Wells: ‘sport will help achieve many objectives of the Australian Government’
Addressing the recent National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) in Melbourne, Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells set out her thoughts on the new Federal Government’s agenda for the next decade and the focus of major events and local participation. Minister Wells explained that “sport will help achieve many objectives of the Australian Government”, stating “this is a unique period for sport in Australia, and we want to make the most of it.
“Our priorities in government will include improving the physical health and wellbeing for Australians through increased physical activity.”
With Australia set to host a mass of sporting events over the next decade, Minister Wells advised “we know that before and after these major sporting events, there will be increased sports participation, so we’ll support sustainable infrastructure investments to support this growth.”
The organisers of the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) have advised that, together with support from the Melbourne Convention Bureau, it has secured the rights to host the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Southern Hemisphere Congress in 2024.
The Congress will be the first time the Association has held a Congress scale event outside of Europe.
The leading international non-profit organisation for the design and operation of aquatic, recreation and sport facilities, for nearly six decades, IAKS has enabled international networking for the exchange of planning, design and operational management for over 120 countries and across all continents of the world.
Sleeman Sports Complex renews swim school partnership agreement with Aquatic Achievers
The Brisbane Aquatic Centre at Sleeman Sports Complex (SSC) has renewed its agreement with Aquatic Achievers, resulting in one of the longest running partnerships for a learnto-swim program across Australia.
Perhaps best known as a training facility for Olympic swimmers, SSC is also a location where many young Queenslanders get their first start in the pool.
The Aquatic Achievers program, which delivers more than 17,000 lessons per week nationally and has been teaching children from three months old to 12 years old to swim at SSC for more than 30 years, has a strong focus on safety, progress and confidence around the water.
Specialist whale stranding training conducted by Sea World team
Coinciding with the annual Humpback Whale migration period, the Gold Coast theme park Sea World team conducted whale stranding exercises as part of ongoing specialist rescue training.
The training simulated a beach stranding with the team covering various training techniques on a purpose-built training whale including conducting health and wellbeing checks, correct use of equipment and how to attach a specially designed towing harness.
Sea World Head of Marine Sciences, Wayne Phillips said these training exercises are vital to ensure rescue teams are equipped and prepared for whale strandings and entanglements.
