This month we have been busy with the SPASA Training sessions.  The training has been hugely popular with Basic Chemistry and Basic Hydraulics booking out for April & May.  If you missed this round of training, we will be holding another round later in the year.  If you wish to make a booking or have queries please contact Carolyn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For those who haven't yet seen our new Bulletin format, just a reminder about how it works... you can click on the 'read more' button at the bottom of the first article and you'll be taken to the member section of our website where you can then navigate through all Bulletin articles for the current month.

If you have suggestions for how we can improve our Bulletin, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your comments.

Happy reading!

2013 is ticking by and the SPASA Training sessions have commenced.  For those members based in Regional Victoria, we have confirmed the details of our annual Country Chapter Training and Meeting.

All SPASA members are warmly invited to attend our up-coming Country Chapter meeting and evening dinner hosted by Country Chapter Portfolio head, Callum Ross and supported by SPASA CEO Brendan Watkins.

Country Chapter Training: Chemistry Basic & Advanced
Date: Tuesday 28 May & Wednesday 29 May
Time: 9am - 5pm
Venue: Rich River Golf Club Resort Twenty Four Lane Moama Ph: 5481 3333
SPASA trainer: Paul Jacobson

While you're there, join us for the Country Chapter Meeting & Dinner.

Country Chapter Meeting
Date: Wednesday 29 May
Time: 6.00pm followed by dinner at the Rich River in-house restaurant at 8pm

Accommodation at the Rich River Resort is $120 for Deluxe Room which includes continental Breakfast.

Please RSVP to rose@spasavic.com.au at your earliest convenience.

You'll be surprised to hear the SPASA Awards of Excellence closing date has been extended... but not for long!  Entries now close at 5pm on Monday 29 April.

The SPASA Member logo is a well recognised addition to your marketing portfolio and the Awards of Excellence logo is an impressive feather in your cap. The SPASA annual Awards of Excellence is the most highly regarded pool and spa industry recognition program in Victoria so it’s vital you nominate your outstanding products, services, retail outlets, sales staff, spas, technicians, display centres and… swimming pools!

We have grown the awards by adding a number of new categories. This means there will be more exciting competition and more opportunities to win.

Remember to pencil in the Awards Gala Dinner at the NGV on Saturday 24 August 2013.

By law, under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, a person must successfully undertake construction induction training before working on any construction site in Victoria.

SPASA is hosting the necessary Construction Induction – White Card training on Thursday 13^th June to satisfy the requirements of these OH&S regulations.

The course will run 9:00am – 3:30pm at the SPASA training rooms and is offered at $150 for SPASA members and $190 for non-members.

Please send your booking request with attendee and company names to asher@spasavic.com.au.

The proposed Code of Practice for the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods is now available for public review and comment until close of business on Thursday 2 May, 2013.

The document can be accessed from the WorkSafe website via this link: http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/health-and-safety-topics/dangerous-goods.

Members are invited to make comments and submissions in response to the proposed Code of Practice. Comments should be received by WorkSafe no later than close of business on Thursday 2 May 2013.

Written submissions should be addressed to:

DG Code Public Comment
Manager, Information and Guidance Branch
WorkSafe Victoria
GPO Box 4306
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Submissions by e-mail should be forwarded by the same date to the following address: storageandhandling2012@worksafe.vic.gov.au

All submissions will be treated as public documents unless clearly identified as being confidential.

Members are strongly encouraged to contact Board Portfolio head Rob Anderson to discuss issues related to the topic, or possible submission content on 0419 755 112.

A Mt Martha property owner has been fined $30,000 in the Frankston Magistrates Court over a non-compliant swimming pool safety fence.

This is the third substantial fine imposed by the courts in Victoria this year in relation to swimming pool and spa safety fences – coming just weeks after two companies and their directors were fined $20,600 and $14,700 for failing to ensure the spas at their Hepburn Springs and Daylesford properties had approved safety barriers installed.

Read the full article on the Building Commission website. 

SPASA Membership logos need to be changed as some members continue to incorrectly use the association’s ‘SPASA’ logo in printed / web communications. 

No member may use the SPASA logo.

As per our Policy & Procedure 2.1: “No member may use the association logo - members may only use the appropriate SPASA member category logo”

If that’s you, please replace them now with your SPASA member category logo.

SPASA is promoting you, the members, by utilising the membership logos, we need you to fly the flag of the relevant member category in order to maximise our message to consumers.

The SPASA website contracts and publications, including the Pool and Spa Book, all reflect the member category branding.

Any members with queries on the process, needing additional logos, stickers or posters please contact Asher in the office via 9501 2040 or asher@spasavic.com.au to request the logos to be sent to you again.

We strongly encourage members to utilise their logos on their uniforms, premises, stationery, websites, vehicles & promotional materials.

Fly the member flag with pride.

After consultation with members, the Board have amended the SPASA Policy & Procedures Manual to better protect member investment in association activities.

The new Policy will be as follows:

14.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLE

All advertising by members whether or not using a SPASA member category logo, shall be in accordance with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable trade practices and/or fair trading laws, and shall not be misleading or deceptive.

Public relations activity, promotion or advertising undertaken by any member shall not be detrimental to the best interests of the SPASA membership or to the industry as a whole. Public relations activity, promotion or advertising must not detract from, or interfere with, SPASA sanctioned exhibitions or events.

The Board of SPASA warmly welcomes new members to the Association.

Featuring profiles on new members to the association. 

The English-born and raised Matt Scrase from Liquidamber Garden Design brought his love for European gardens to Australia in 2006.  Since then, he has been translating his clients dreams into stylish and functional outdoor spaces.  Matt's skill in creating unique gardens that are specific both to site and lifestyle are inspirational as he ultimately aims to create gardens which are timeless, flourishing and a joy to their owners.

In this edition we catch up with Matt to learn more about his design techniques and why he's so keen on getting to a Carribean island.

What does your business offer?

LGD offers homeowners, Pool Builders and Landscapers in the Greater Melbourne area a complete landscape design service. Drawing on 10 year’s experience and having undertaken projects in the UK, mainland Europe and now Australia I am able to give my clients a detailed preview of what can be achieved in their outdoor space before a tradesman or excavator has arrived on site.

By using up to date CAD software I’m able to provide my clients with an enormous amount of not only visual but technical detail in order to help them better understand their project.  Visual aspects of the project are delivered via not only scaled 2D but 3D views and also photorealistic snapshots through the yard. The technical information is delivered through a detailed specification list covering everything from materials to construction methods.

What are the most exciting & challenging parts of your business?

I would have to say the initial site visit where you’re introduced to both the client and the site for the first time. These two aspects alone can vary drastically from project to project so even after 10 years I still get a kick out of it.

The challenging aspects of the business can be the balance between designing a scheme that not only exceeds the client’s aspirations but also has a realistic budget.  Surveying large overgrown yards can sometimes prompt a whinge when you’re up to your neck in foliage trying to find a clear line of sight, and finding inventive ways of hiding trampolines can sometimes prove tricky too!

What’s something you have always wanted to do?

Not everyone’s cup of tea but I would love to watch a test match in the Caribbean. Any island will do!

Who’s been your greatest inspiration?

I’ve always been interested in architecture and one professionals work in particular always catches my eye. The works of John Lautner are an amazing example in how you can harmoniously blend a home’s indoor and outdoor spaces whilst being sympathetic to the landscape. He challenged not only people’s perceptions of materials like concrete and glass but also the way we used them.

Boardies or budgies?

Boardies everytime!

View Matt's work at liquidambergardendesign.com.au.

The ACCC has released a free online education program for small businesses to help them learn about their rights and obligations under Australian competition and consumer laws.

The program is a simple, interactive learning resource which provides a broad overview of the key provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. It includes 10 modules covering topics such as pricing, advertising, consumer rights, selling safe products, unlawful competition and scams.

Each module should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. Users can work through the entire set of modules, or select only those topics most relevant to their business operations. At the end of most modules, users can do a short self-assessment quiz to test their understanding of the topic.

The free online education program for small business is available at www.ccaeducationprograms.org.  We encourage you to make use of this free resource – visit the site and work through the modules.

When launching the new resource, ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said: ‘The ACCC is committed to helping businesses understand their rights and obligations under the CCA. We recognise that small business operators are busy running their business, and need simple, clear information which can be accessed at any time, at their own pace.’ You can read the full media release on the ACCC website.

The highly informative SPASA Industry Training courses being held May 2013, focus on Water Chemistry. By attending, your staff will gain a greater understanding of pool and spa water chemistry as well as the ability to effectively identify and solve pool problems. 

Ideal content for Pool Service, Pool Shop and Supplier/Manufacturer Members.  The course is presented by SPASA Trainer, Paul Jacobson. 

Book fast or risk missing out!  Registrations to carolyn@spasavic.com.au.  Remember, other training courses will be held later in the year, check out the details in the members area of our website.

Upcoming training dates for May

Tuesday 7 - Chemistry, Basic (Booked out)
Thursday 9 & Friday 10 - Chemistry, Advanced

The Australian Consumer Law self-assessment checklist for small businesses has been released.  To coincide with World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March, the Australian Consumer Law regulators have launched the Small business self assessment checklist to help businesses become more aware of their rights and obligations when dealing with consumers.

The checklist will enable small businesses to self assess their business and identify which of their activities are regulated under the Australian Consumer Law.

You can download the checklist online via the Queensland Office of Fair Trading website or through your local state and territory consumer protection agency’s website.

With summer behind us and the pool covers going on, pool and spa safety is still top of mind for pool owners.

So often consumers think their pool fence is doing all that needs to be done in the way of pool safety, however as Gary Kilworth of Out from the Blue discovered, constant supervision is the key.

Gary's 10 year old son, Jackson was recently awarded a Certificate of Commendation by Life Saving Victoria for his bravery.  Family friends were visiting and enjoying a swim when their 2 year old daughter moved away from the edge of the pool.  Suddenly she was under water and with no hesitation, Jackson dived in and pushed her to the surface.

The scenario could have easily played out quite differently and this is a timely reminder to ensure pool owners are fully aware of the need for constant adult supervision in and around swimming pools and spas.