Dates have been released!

Book in now for the Downs Little Lifeguards program in 2016.

Children of the Darling Downs are invited to take part in the Downs Little Lifeguards program being held at Pittsworth Civic Pool, Milne Bay Aquatic Centre Toowoomba and Crows Nest Pool. The program is run by Toowoomba Region with the support of Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

Downs Little Lifeguards is a fun and educational drowning prevention program for children aged 9-17 years and their parents/guardians. Our main focus is to educate of potential dangers and survival strategies to guide in an emergency, give confidence by hands on experience and provide knowledge so everyone can help to save a life.

In order to be involved, children must be competent in swimming 50m freestyle and there is a small cost per child.

This year children will experience a day trip to Leslie Dam and Caloundra City Life Saving Club (Bulcock Beach) where creek, ocean and dam activities such as identifying currents and rips will take place and knowledge they have learnt in the pool and on land will be applied.

The Program

Program consists of one 4 hour pool session, a half day Dam and full day Beach trip.

• North – 23 October 2016, 8.30am - 12.30pm Crows Nest Pool
• Central – 30 October, 8.30am - 12.30pm Milne Bay Aquatic Centre Toowoomba
• South – 6 November, 8.30am-12.30pm Pittsworth Civic Pool

Dam Trip – 13 November, 9am - 12 noon Leslie Dam – YMCA outdoor education facility
Beach Trip – 27 November, 9.30am - 3pm Ithaca - Caloundra City Life Saving Club (Bulcock Beach).

Cost $60 for the program.

The program will highlight four key areas over four sessions:

Survival swimming and water safety
Rescue and recovery techniques
Aquatic environments and dangers
Ocean and creek awareness
Want to join?

To enter the program children must be competent in swimming continual 50m Freestyle. Numbers will be limited to provide the best outcomes for the program.
Choose your location North, South or Central for the pool experience. Return the enrolment form with the payment to Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
Or email completed enrolment form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and pay over the phone.
This is junior lifeguard program and children must be competent in swimming the required distance. Children will be asked to stop the program if not competent and it may be advised to join swimming lessons to assist in strength and endurance before re-joining the program.

Numbers will are limited and will go quickly. If interested email or contact Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre on 07 4688 6330.

Downs Little Lifeguards brochure

Downs Little Lifeguards enrolment form

Increasing water safety - more information

Every year, Royal Life Saving produces a National Drowning Report, the Royal Lifesaving report. This report examines the factors that contribute to drowning deaths in Australia by examining who, where, when and how people have drowned in Australian waterways over the last year.

271 people drowned in Australia between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 that is an increase of 5 drowning deaths (or 1.9%) on the 266 drowning deaths recorded in 2013/2014.
• 26 (10%) drowning deaths occurred in children aged 0-4 years.
• 62 (23%) drowning deaths occurred in Queensland
• 99 (37%) drowning deaths occurred in Inland Waterway locations
• 32 (12%) drowning deaths occurred in Swimming Pools
• 135 (49%) drowning deaths occurred in Lakes, Dams, Lagoon, Rivers, Creeks and Streams
• 55 (20%) drowning deaths occurred at Beaches.

In Australia the Rivers, Creek, Stream category was the category
of aquatic location with the highest number of drowning deaths
in 2013/14, followed by Swimming Pools and Beaches. Royal Lifesaving report.