This year has seen strong growth in the Victorian pool and spa industry. SPASA currently has more than 300 pool and spa specialist members, with our member retention rate remaining at over 95% year-on-year.

Our industry is a vital part of the Victorian economy, employing up to 10,000 workers and generating $500 million in annual revenue. Pools and spas continue to add significant social value to our communities, and remain an iconic feature of the Australian way of life.

This year, we've significantly broadened our scope. We saw great regulatory change for constructors and installers, and our building contracts underwent major review. We revamped and simplified our Awards of Excellence program. We also expanded the offering in our training program, which is now bigger and more comprehensive than ever before - plus we introduced the first SPASA app.

SPASA Victoria Members benefitted from two extremely successful consumer events with both the Summer and Winter Pool & Spa Shows achieving excellent results. With great participation and attendance, these events strongly promote the benefits of pools and spas to the consumer market. There are two outstanding features of our consumer events program. One is the obvious direct benefit to Members from sales, the other is the opportunity to promote the great Australian dream of the backyard oasis - thanks to $300,000 invested annually to promote these events.

This year’s SPASA's ‘Awards of Excellence Gala’ was again held at the Regent Theatre’s prestigious Plaza Ballroom. It was a huge success, with 440 industry leaders in attendance. It was a terrific night with many members achieving recognition for their achievements in design, construction, innovation and professionalism across the pool and spa Industry. We're relocating our Gala next year, to somewhere bigger, and believe it or not, an even more iconic venue than the Plaza. More on this soon.

And just wait to see the evolution of our 2017 Pool & Spa Expo - our goal is to grow the consumer pie - we compete with caravans, travel and boats. Our offering to consumers will be more compelling than ever before in '17.

CURRENT POOL & SPA SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Most recently, we've embarked on a major 'Mandatory Barrier Inspection' advocacy campaign, lobbying the Victorian Government to legislate pool and spa barrier inspections to reduce pool drownings. The very obvious family tragedy of fatal and near-fatal drownings is apparent to all. We ask all members to actively support our campaign, as these often preventable incidents also cause our industry untold damage.

Our new Barrier Inspections webpage features data and research from the past ten years, including articles, Coroner's recommendations, statistics, quotes and endorsements of this initiative. View our Advocacy webpage HERE.

SPASA Victoria remains a highly successful organisation of which all members can be rightly proud. As we head into the holiday season, we thank all members for the contribution they make to our association community. At this near-frantic time of year it's important to reflect on our mantra that providing consumers with great experiences ensures not only the future of your business, but our industry.

I am available at any time to members seeking support, or just a chat. I can be contacted on 03 9501 2040 brendan@spasavic.com.au or 03 9501 2040. Wishing you all a safe and relaxing festive season.

Brendan Watkins, CEO

The SPASA Victoria office will be closed from midday on Friday 23 December 2016 until 9am Tuesday 3 January 2017.

BUILDERS NOTE: Please ensure you have enough contracts to last throughout our Christmas closure period.

For more contracts, please contact Rose rose@spasavic.com.au or 03 9501 2040

Our Huge Feature Garden is the first of it's kind at an Australian Pool & Spa Expo!

This super-exciting Out from the Blue (Pool of the Year Winner 2015) feature is 9m x 18m and will be a highlight of the February Expo. It will draw crowds from far and wide, hungry to see what's on offer as our committment strives to offer the complete 'Backdoor to Back Fence' solution.

The Feature Garden is being produced by a cast of select industry leaders - we'll announce these industry-champions very soon ...

You Know It. If You Want to be Seen, You've Got to Be There. 3 - 5 February 2017!

Don't miss the opportunity to exhibit to thousands of spend-ready consumers. Call IEC on 03 9596 9205. Go to the Expo site HERE

CHECK IT OUT: Watch the 3D walk-through of our amazing OFTB Feature Garden HERE.

We know that the lead-up to Xmas is at times frantic with employers and workers rushing to complete projects and meet deadlines, but it is a horrifying fact that Victorian workers are more likely to die in November and December than any other time of the year.

Almost 25 per cent of all workplace fatalities occur at this time.

No deadline is worth someone’s life, so we are asking everyone to think about safety. The safest workplace is the one where employers and workers stop and take the time to think about the work they will be doing, and plan to do it as safely as possible.

Don’t become a Christmas statistic. For the sake of your family and friends, make workplace safety your number one priority.

According to a recent Australian study, children who participate in swim lessons at an early age reach significant developmental milestones earlier than their non-swimming peers. They score higher in tests and are generally better coordinated.

The research was conducted over the course of three years to validate or refute the popular belief in the aquatics industry that young, competent swimmers appear to be more confident, articulate and intellectual. Now data is available to back up those claims.

In the first international study of its kind, researchers at Australia’s Griffith University surveyed the parents of nearly 7,000 learning swimmers under the age of 5 — including samples from the United States — to determine when their kids were reaching major physical, cognitive and emotional milestones.

That information was compared against common developmental indicators (counting, walking, talking, playing make-believe and the like) of nonswimming populations. Knowing that parents have a tendency to exaggerate, researchers put nearly 200 children through a series of tests to validate the results.

The study yielded some surprising findings: Not only did child swimmers achieve physical feats faster, but they were more cognitively advanced. Test results found that these kids are months, even years, ahead intellectually. They’re able to read, write, count and use building blocks better than those without aquatics education.

One test group, with an average age of 3, was ahead of the curve by more than 15 months in understanding directions. Children around the age of 4 were seven months ahead in grasping, and 3.5 months ahead in locomotion. Kids just over the age of 4 were particularly strong in language (10 months ahead), oral expression (11 months) and math (6.5 months).

Lead researcher, Professor Robyn Jorgensen, theorizes that swim classes are stimulating environments where kids are exposed to detailed instructions, visual cues and rhyming songs, among other experiences that they can connect to the world outside the pool.

“Many of these differences will be of advantage to children as they transition into school or preschool settings,” Jorgensen concluded. You can read the online article in Aquatics International HERE.

Building offices, construction and demolition sites in the Bendigo area were the first to come under the scrutiny of a new multi-regulator approach to ensuring Victorian builders and trades people working in the construction sector are complying with the law.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA), WorkSafe Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) and Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) launched the Build Aware program on 17 October 2016. Build Aware aims to increase awareness among practitioners and consumers about the importance of being compliant with building, construction, environment, plumbing and OH&S laws and regulations.

Inspectors from all agencies targeted sites in the Bendigo area during the week commencing Monday 17 October. The agencies will visit other regional centres throughout the coming year and will work with building practitioners to provide lessons learned from the program.

To learn more about the Build Aware program visit vba.vic.gov.au

SPASA was abuzz when Industry leaders gathered with the Department of the Environment and Energy to discuss feedback on the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for swimming pool pumps. The RIS examines ways to improve the energy efficiency of swimming pool pumps sold in Australia. Measures proposed include Energy Rating Labels and Minimum Energy Performance Standards for pumps.

The Department invites interested parties to provide comments on the proposals contained in the Consultation RIS.

The RIS and information about how to make a submission can be found here.

The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 21 December 2016. If you would like further information, please email the Department of the Environment and Energy at poolpumps@environment.gov.au 

Victorians planning to build or renovate now have a handy addition to their tool kits.

On 24 October 2016, the Victorian Government launched the Building Tool, a new online domestic building tool which streamlines access to building and renovating information to help people make informed decisions, understand their legal rights and obligations, and resolve issues such as defects or delays.

Members having consumers seeking "official" clarification on advice provided may consider referring your clients to this site.

Users will answer questions about their building needs, which the tool will use to direct them to appropriate information on the Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) websites.

Topics include builder registration, contracts, insurance, plans and permits, information for owner-builders and advice on resolving problems.

VBA CEO Prue Digby said the tool would help people find a wealth of information available across the CAV, VBA and VMIA websites. "The VBA, CAV and VMIA worked closely to create the new online tool which will help consumers navigate insurance, dispute resolution and the regulatory framework," she said. "Consumers must have access to the information they need to give them confidence in their building projects."

The online tool is a Victorian Government initiative designed to make the building process easier to understand. The Building Tool can be found at building.vic.gov.au

The SPASA office now holds DL cards & in-store posters for Kidsafe Victoria's 'Safe Gates Save Lives' campaign (sorry for the delay on these materials!).  

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to receive stock, don't be shy - we've got thousands!

We ask all SPASA Pool Shops & Spa Retailers, as well as Suppliers & Builders with consumer access, to support this important campaign.

Safe Work Australia has published two new research reports that present the latest findings on the prevalence of workplace bullying and harassment; and the impact of management commitment to psychological health and safety and poor mental health in the workplace on organisational productivity.

The Psychosocial Safety Climate and Better Productivity in Australian Workplaces: Cost, Productivity, Presenteeism, Absenteesim report presents an estimate that productivity losses associated with low levels of management commitment to psychological health and safety in the workplace comes at a cost to employers of $6 billion per annum.

The Bullying & Harassment in Australian Workplaces: Results from the Australian Workplace Barometer project 2014/2015 report provides information on the prevalence of bullying and harassment in Australian workplaces. It reports an increase in the estimated prevalence of bullying in Australian workplaces, from 7% in 2009-10 to 9.7% in 2014-15.

It is not clear why there has been an increase in the estimated prevalence of bullying, however it is worth noting that findings are based on self-reported bullying and it is possible that growing awareness and recognition of mental health in the workplace (including bullying) has contributed to the increase.

These two reports use data collected from the Australia Workplace Barometer (AWB) project, a longitudinal study operating since 2009 that observes workplace trends in psychological health.

“This information is important to the development of national policy and guidance to promote improved psychological health in Australian workplaces” said Safe Work Australia Director of Research and Evaluation, Dr Fleur de Crespigny. “This research is also important because it represents the first ever national collection of information on bullying and harassment in Australian workplaces.”

The reports can be viewed on the Safe Work Australia website. You can read the article online HERE.

The VBA has launched a new registration and licensing initiative for plumbing and building practitioners. From 1 November, new VBA branded stickers will be available to registered or licenced plumbing and building practitioners. The new stickers will help practitioners clearly show consumers and the industry that they are accredited with the VBA.

The VBA will be providing stickers to eligible practitioners as part of the registration and licensing process. The stickers will be available large (11cm x 28cm) or small (6.8cm x 17.5cm) sizes for convenient application on cars, clipboards and other work materials, and are UV coated for durability.

While the stickers are not compulsory to use, the VBA strongly encourages practitioners to clearly display them as part of their work practice and to replace any stickers showing the logo of the Building Practitioners Board (BPB), which transferred powers to the VBA on 1 September, with the up-to-date VBA stickers.

How do I get a practitioner sticker?

• You must be currently registered or licensed as a building or plumbing practitioner.
• Practitioners will receive a sticker in the mail when they first register or when they next renew their registration or licence.
• Practitioners can pick-up a registration sticker from the VBA office upon presentation of an ID card.

The Herald Sun's New Build Advertising Feature on Saturday 12th November advised readers that 'Research is the key to choosing the right company to install your pool' (p 44).

Read the Herald Sun article 'In Safe Waters' HERE.

New studies suggest water immersion and exercise may help stroke patients regain mobility more easily than land exercise.

A roundup of several recent studies, courtesy of the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), found that water exercise may offer unique benefits for stroke rehabilitation. These include improved balance, gains in muscular strength, and cardiovascular benefits.

Read the article from Aquatics International HERE.

This week, Peter Wallace announced he is stepping down as leader of AstralPool Australia.

From modest beginnings, as a trainee cadet in the Victorian Police force, to founder of Hurlcon and Managing Director of AstralPool Australia, Peter Wallace's illustrious career and expertise in the Pool & Spa industry knew no bounds.

Peter's own pool pump design grew into Hurlcon - which became AstralPool Australia - now one of Australia's leading suppliers of quality swimming pool and spa products. Peter has been integral to the pool and spa industry for over 25 years. He was instrumental in making SPASA Victoria the highly reputable, profitable and viable entity that it is today.

Peter served on the SPASA Victoria Board for a number of years, including as Association President between 2002 - 2004, and was made a Lifetime member in 2005. He is greatly respected within our industry and is owed a significant debt of gratitude for his support of our industry throughout his career, which has spanned more than two and a half decades.

Matt Adlam has taken over as head of AstralPool Australia, however Peter will continue to assist in the expansion of AstralPool's North American business.

SPASA would like to acknowledge Peter's enormous contribution to the industry. He steps down with our very best wishes.

Pool contractors don’t necessarily have to know the ins and outs of water fitness to jump on the health bandwagon. A good partnership might do just as well.

Charline Kopansky, president and founder of The Canadian Aquafitness Leaders Alliance (CALA), based in Toronto, Ontario Canada, suggests pairing fitness instructors, such as herself, with members of the industry. Water exercise forms a social network and doesn’t have to take place in a large aquatics facility, she adds. It can be done on a small scale in neighborhood private pools.

Some builders have been known to work with local swim schools to host classes in their display pools. This comes in the name of promoting safety on a local level. Why not try the same thing to encourage the use of pools and spas for fitness?

AB Phillips - SPASA’s Risk Management, Insurance & Financial Services Provider

SPASA Victoria together with AB Phillips have negotiated exclusive SPASA Member rates and policy conditions on a range of industry insurance products - packages specifically tailored to the specialised needs of the pool and spa industry.

If you’re uncertain whether your current insurance is adequate, want to compare rates or package all policies into a common anniversary, contact Sarah Gardiner-Smith or Mark Van Der Haar on 1300 242 136 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit abphillips.com.au.

Jeremy Johnson & Associates - Free Expert Legal Advice

SPASA members can call for ONE HOUR OF FREE LEGAL ADVICE from specialist construction lawyer, Jeremy Johnson. Jeremy is a recognised building industry expert with over 25 years in construction law who is very experienced with the challenges confronting those in the pool and spa industry in today’s marketplace.  He recently revised the SPASA Construction / Installation / Renovation contracts. Call Jeremy on 0418 132 917 to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

Expert OHS Advice - Jim Pashalidis, Australian OHS

With over 18 years’ experience, a Masters Degree in OHS and a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Education and Training, Jim is your one-stop Occupational Health & Safety Shop.  For all of your OHS queries – call Jim for ONE HOUR’S FREE ADVICE on 0410 603 609. Australian OHS, see: www.australianohs.com.au

Career Dressing – Preferred Workwear & Corporate Clothing Supplier

Career Dressing & Hip Pocket Workwear provide a huge range of work gear and boots with the option of co-branding with your company, supplier and SPASA Member logos.  SPASA Members receive a MINIMUM 10% DISCOUNT from Career Dressing & Hip Pocket Workwear. Please contact Ian White on 9499 1301, email uniforms@careerdressing.com.au. Career Dressing www.careerdressing.com.au

HR Central – Your People Management Professionals

When it comes to the management of your people, don’t try to fumble through on your own.  HR Central provide on-site and remote HR support to small and medium businesses and offer discounted rates to SPASA members. Contact HR Central on 1300 717 721 or email info@hrcentral.com.au or visit www.hrcentral.com.au

Online White Card Training with Aveling

SPASA members can now complete their White Card Construction training at a SPASA Victoria Group Booking discounted rate of $50 (instead of $65) via www.aveling.com.au.  Do the course at your leisure anytime and anywhere - 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Check out the White Card Vic Construction Course details and contact Marita at SPASA for Group Booking discount instructions.

Houzz and SPASA – Free Profile-Building Website

SPASA have partnered with Houzz, the world’s largest online community of home design.  Houzz is a free tool, where professionals can showcase their work to a large and targeted audience looking for inspiration, or providers who can help them with their projects.  SPASA Member Benefits include priority access to the Houzz support team - if you would like any help setting up a profile, or you have a profile and would like some extra tips, schedule in a time for a phone consultation here. For further information, please contact Olivia at olivia@houzz.com or visit www.houzz.com.au

Aquatics Information – NSPF ® CPO ® Certification Technical Pool Operator Course

Certified Pool Operator NSPF ® courses are available through Aquatics Information at a discounted rate to SPASA Members ($399 instead of $455).  Aquatics Information has been providing pool operator training for over ten years and offers flexible methods (both classroom and online) to obtain the certification.  There are no prerequisites and once enrolled you receive the pool operators bible – the NSPF ® CPO ® manual.  Find out more about the course here or  by visiting www.aquaticsinformation.com.au or email shane.ince@aquaticsinformation.com.au or call Shane Ince on 0402 409 495.

SPASA Victoria has a new Human Resources website page exclusively for the benefit of our Members!

This page features important HR information such as:

• Pre-Employment Police Checks for Employers
• Event Safety Resources
• Event Safety Guidelines
• Event safety checklist
• Email templates

When it comes to the management of your staff, help is available! HR Central provide on-site and remote HR support to small and medium businesses and offer discounted rates to SPASA members. Contact HR Central on 1300 717 721 or email info@hrcentral.com.au or visit www.hrcentral.com.au