11 September 2026
Royal Life Saving WA celebrates excellence across WA’s aquatic and recreation industry
Royal Life Saving WA was proud to once again be an Event Partner of the 2026 WA Aquatic & Recreation Industry Awards, joining the industry in celebrating the people, programs and facilities helping make aquatic and recreation experiences across Western Australia safer, stronger and more inclusive.
Held at the conclusion of the annual WA Aquatic & Recreation Conference, the Awards recognise excellence across the breadth of the industry – from frontline staff and emerging leaders to facility operations, community programs and long-standing industry contribution.
For Royal Life Saving WA, the evening was also an opportunity to celebrate an industry we work alongside every day. Aquatic facilities and their people are essential partners in drowning prevention, providing safe places to swim and recreate while delivering swimming and water safety education, lifeguarding, community programs and opportunities for people across WA to be active and connected.
Royal Life Saving WA was particularly proud to sponsor the 2026 Swim Teacher of the Year Award, recognising the people responsible for giving Western Australians the skills and confidence to enjoy the water safely.
Tamzen Yates named Swim Teacher of the Year
This year’s award was presented to Tamzen Yates from Telethon Superfins, recognising her commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed in the water.
Tamzen’s teaching is grounded in inclusion and an understanding that there is no single approach that works for every swimmer. Through ongoing professional development, creativity and adapting lessons to individual needs, she has created opportunities for students who may otherwise face barriers to participating in swimming and water safety education.
Her contribution extends beyond individual lessons, with a strong commitment to advocacy and creating greater opportunities for Deaf students to develop swimming and water safety skills.
It is an approach that strongly reflects Royal Life Saving WA’s belief that everyone should have access to the skills they need to be safe around water.
Congratulations Tamzen on being named the 2026 Swim Teacher of the Year.
Celebrating an industry committed to safer communities
Royal Life Saving WA was also delighted to see excellence in aquatic safety recognised throughout the evening, including awards celebrating lifeguards, technical operators, Watch Around Water facilities and outstanding facility safety.
These awards highlight something we see throughout our work with the sector: behind every safe aquatic facility is a team of people continually training, improving systems, educating patrons and looking for ways to make their communities safer.
We congratulate all of the 2026 WA Aquatic & Recreation Industry Award winners, highly commended recipients and nominees, and thank LIWA Aquatics for once again bringing the industry together to recognise their contribution.
