Water and Snow Safety Program

The Water and Snow Safety Program (WSSP), opens in a new tab provides funding to specified leading water and snow safety organisations. The funding supports prevention and intervention measures that reduce water and snow-related injuries and deaths. Through the Office for Sport, the Australian Government is providing $34.9 million over 2 years from 2024–25 for the WSSP.

• Review of the Water and Snow Safety Program and the Surf Life Saving Australia Training Measure – Final repor, opens in a new tabt, ARTD Consultants for the Australian Government, (November 2024). The review investigated the appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the WSSP and SLSA training measure from 2020–21 to 2023–24. Key findings:
  • There is an ongoing role for Commonwealth funding of key organisations responsible for national water safety strategy, national research, and national campaigns for consistency, equity and economies of scale in water safety.
  • The water safety strategy and grants programs are a practical arrangement to address an issue of national significance.
  • Water safety is associated with recreation, primary prevention, education and emergency management.
  • The overlapping and complex nature of the issue means it is not possible to neatly delineate funding responsibilities across departments or jurisdictions. It is a public safety issue that concerns all levels of government.