Sharing Aotearoa's Expertise at the 2026 Water Safety Summit
Earlier this month, a team from SLSNZ crossed the ditch to represent our organisation at the 2026 National Water Safety Summit. The united goal of the event was to turn the tide on drowning and accelerating the shared mission to halve drowning by 2030.
Held in Sydney, the Summit brought together over 220 leaders from government, research, education, lifesaving, health, and the aquatic industry. The sector focused on three National Imperatives during the two days, exploring swimming and water safety skills for all, localising water safety efforts, and aligning policies and partnerships for change.
Representing SLSNZ and showcasing the innovative work happening in Aotearoa were Coastal Safety Officer Juliana Albertoni de Miranda and National Wellbeing Lead Ari Peach. During the "Environmental data, exposure, and risk" session, Juliana presented on a vital project for our coastlines, discussing her work titled "From hazard science to operational safety: Implementing a national rip current forecast system in Aotearoa New Zealand". To support proactive coastal safety management, SLSNZ has partnered with the University of Plymouth in the UK to develop this national-scale forecast system. The system is based on environmental conditions associated with elevated rip hazards, providing a crucial tool for operational safety.
"It was great to attend the summit and connect with others working across research, policy and frontline water safety," Juliana shared. "The Summit was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, learn how different organisations are working toward improving water safety, and explore the many areas of crossover between Australia and New Zealand".
Our people are our greatest asset, and supporting their mental health and wellbeing is critical to the longevity of our lifesaving services. Ari took the stage to speak on "The Role of Leadership in supporting aquatic responders after drowning". Ari utilised a specific SLSNZ case study to demonstrate how our organisation supports its people following critical incidents. By sharing these insights, SLSNZ is helping to shape how the wider aquatic sector approaches mental health, ensuring responders receive the strong leadership and care they need after traumatic events.
The challenges of drowning prevention are complex, but the details of the event, highlight that progress is achievable when the sector works collectively. "We know what works to prevent drowning," noted Dr Justin Scarr, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia. "Now every level of government, every organisation and every community need to act together if we're going to turn the tide on drowning".
Adam Weir, Chief Executive Officer of Surf Life Saving Australia, echoed this sentiment, stating that collaboration across the sector has never been more important. "The Summit provides a vital forum for representatives from across the country to come together, to align on key priorities and to work collectively to drive real, meaningful change," Weir said.
For SLSNZ, participating in international forums like the National Water Safety Summit ensures our programmes, research, and support systems remain at the forefront of global best practice. We are incredibly proud of Juliana and Ari for sharing our knowledge on the world stage and helping to build a safer future for all beachgoers.