Industry Shorts

Managing Extreme Heat
 
With summer nearly here it is extremely important that every facility has developed a heatwave plan. To assist the industry with this issue Julie Hoy, Manager, Community Health Risk, Environmental Health Unit, Public Health Branch, Department of Human Services and Dimity Gannon, Community Programs Coordinator – SunSmart, Cancer Council Victoria attended the last Facility Management Standing Committee.
 
To assist with the development of your plan please visit the following websites:
 
Smart Water Project
 
The Smart Water Project that ARV is currently completing, titled ‘Water Usage and Savings for Aquatic Facilities’ is coming to an end. The final report is nearing completion and once approved by Smart Water this resource will be available to the industry.
 
  
  Water Safety Week, a key initiative of the Victorian Government’s ‘Play it Safe by the Water’ Campaign will run from the Saturday 28 November – Sunday 6 December 2009.
 
Throughout this week a range of educational water safety activities will be delivered by the aquatic and recreation industry. The activities are aimed at all sections of the community however many facilities specifically target parents of toddlers, school aged children and local CALD communities.
 
Water Safety Week plays a major part in the education of the wider community in delivering the water safety message. Activities run by the aquatic and recreation industry reiterate the importance of water safety awareness and provides the community with unique educational opportunities.
 
 
New Awards to be Announced
 
Additional award categories for the 2010 Aquatic & Recreation Awards will be announced shortly. A review of the current categories has recently been completed and these new awards will ensure the achievement and contribution of industry personnel, programs and facilities continues to be recognised appropriately.
 
For more on the 2010 Aquatic & Recreation Awards please continue to visit our website.
 
 
Aquatic Facility Database
 
Aquatics & Recreation Victoria, with the support of the Victorian Government is developing a central database of information on aquatic and recreation facilities.
 
Changes are taking place within the industry at a rapid rate and this survey gathered information to measure the size, distribution, financial investment and economic impact of the aquatic and recreation industry.
 
The results from this survey are currently being compiled and will allow the industry to access key facility data for future planning and development. ARV would like to thank all the facilities and councils for their cooperation by completing this comprehensive survey.
 
 
ARV's Executive Lunch Series, proudly supported by Lander & Rogers, commences on Tuesday 15 December 2009 at The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne 
 
The first speaker in this series is Dr Helen Szoke, the Commissioner and Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, who will present on the topic of 'Health, Recreation and Inclusiveness Opportunities for Local Government'.  Book now - places are limited.  For more information and to register, visit our Executive Lunch Series web page.
 

Infrastructure Funding

A second round of Commonwealth funding through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) has opened. An allocation of $120m for larger strategic projects closes on 15 January 2010. This funding is in addition to the previous $800m funding that has been made available. Further details can be obtained from www.infrastucture.gov.au/local/cip/cip220.aspx

 
Sportspeople Workplace Survey

ARV has partnered with Sportspeople and Southern Cross University in the annual workplace survey which maps employment and salary trends for people working in the sport, fitness and aquatic sector in Australia and New Zealand. The results of the survey are due to be published in early 2010.

Proposed Associations Incorporation Amendment (Fees and Other Matters) Regulation 2009

Consumer Affairs Victoria has released the Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed amendments and comment is invited by 11 December 2009.  Further information is available at www.consumer.vic.gov.au

Community Support Fund - Website Launch

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) has launched a new web site for the Community Support Fund to provide a better understanding of the Fund’s operations. Further information can be obtained by visiting www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/communitysupportfund
 
 
Help Shape the Future Sport and Recreation Workforce
 
Service Skills Australia (SSA) has published a scoping report outlining its vision for a nationwide workforce development strategy for the sport and recreation sector, and is calling for industry feedback.
 
Specifically, it is asking for the sector to review and ratify the recommendations, identify how they can be implemented and establish the criteria for implementation. This may require consideration of matters such as priority, delivery timeframes, and the complexity and capacity of the sector to deliver. This feedback will enable Service Skills Australia to again work with the industry to develop a nationally-agreed workforce development strategy.
 
The scoping report is available to read at www.serviceskills.com.au/srworkforce
 
Feedback can be submitted via an online form. Alternatively, written submissions can be sent to the Project Manager, Alastair Wilson, via email - awilson@serviceskills.com.au - or in hard copy to Service Skills Australia, Level 10, 171 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.