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LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY
NSW Aquatic Industry Strategy
Bringing the NSW and ACT aquatic industry together to set shared priorities, guide investment and build a safe, sustainable and inclusive future.
OUR POSITION
Developed with industry.
For industry.
The aquatic industry delivers essential water-safety, health, sport, recreation and community outcomes. Its future depends on coordinated responses to infrastructure pressures, workforce needs, participation barriers and changing community expectations.
Royal Life Saving will lead the development process, support collaboration and help measure progress—but the strategy will be shaped and owned by the broader industry.
THE OPPORTUNITY
One industry. One shared direction.
A common plan will give the sector a stronger voice, clearer priorities and a practical foundation for coordinated advocacy and investment.
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Infrastructure
Plan for ageing assets, growth, sustainability and equitable access to water space.
Workforce
Strengthen recruitment, capability, leadership and career pathways across the sector.
Participation
Grow inclusive swimming, water-safety, sport, health and recreation opportunities.
Evidence
Build shared data and measures that show the industry’s value and inform decisions.
STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
From understanding the industry to coordinated action.
The plan will be evidence-led, shaped by the people responsible for delivery and designed to translate shared priorities into practical action.
01
Understand
Define the industry context, current pressures, emerging needs and opportunities for the future.
02
Analyse
Use infrastructure, workforce, participation, safety and community data to identify key issues.
03
Collaborate
Invite the broader industry to share experiences, priorities and ideas through an online survey.
04
Thematic workshops
Explore the evidence and key themes with people who work across different parts of the industry.
05
Prioritise
Bring industry together face to face to agree the priorities and actions that will matter most.
06
Action
Develop the plan, assign ownership, test the draft and establish measures for implementation.
01 SCOPE AND CONTEXT
Build the plan on a shared evidence base.
Before asking the industry to set priorities, we will establish a clear picture of the sector—its purpose, scale, operating environment, current pressures and future opportunities.
The analysis will bring together available information on aquatic infrastructure, workforce capability, participation, safety, community need and industry performance. It will also define the scope of the Strategic Plan and the questions that consultation needs to answer.
PROJECT SCOPE
Aquatic Industry
Strategic Plan Scope
A consolidated analysis of the industry and the proposed boundaries, themes and purpose of the Strategic Plan.
02 HAVE YOUR SAY
Tell us what the industry needs next.
The online survey will give people across the aquatic industry an opportunity to identify current pressures, emerging opportunities and the priorities that should shape the Strategic Plan.
03 Thematic workshops
Explore the issues in depth.
Focused online workshops will bring together people with relevant experience to examine the evidence, test emerging ideas and identify practical actions.
01
Ageing Infrastructure
The conversation will explore
Future planning and design, ageing assets, renewal, accessibility, climate resilience, funding and procurement.
02
Workforce Development
The conversation will explore
Attraction and retention, qualifications, training quality, professional development, career pathways and worker wellbeing.
03
Aquatic Participation
The conversation will explore
Affordability, access, cultural inclusion, regional equity, growth and lifelong aquatic participation.
04
Aquatic Industry Cohesion
The conversation will explore
Leadership, governance, advocacy, investment, collaboration, data, research and demonstrating community value.
05
Pool Plant Operations
The conversation will explore
Plant performance, water quality, resource efficiency, technical compliance, automation, data and emerging technology.
06
Aquatic Facility Safety
The conversation will explore
Strengthening the systems and standards that protect participants, workers and communities.
04 aquatic industry forum
Come together to prioritise.
The face-to-face forum will bring regional and metropolitan voices together to consider the consultation findings, agree the most important priorities and shape the actions that will form the Strategic Plan.
DRAFT CONSULTATION PLAN
Review the draft plan.
Following the workshops and Industry Forum, the draft Aquatic Industry Strategic Plan will be published here for online feedback. Industry participants will be invited to test the proposed priorities, actions, ownership and measures before the plan is finalised.