WSNZ annual funding round open for water safety education and research

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is looking to broaden the reach of Water Skills for Life and fund research to fill knowledge gaps on New Zealand’s drowning problem.

WSNZ’s Investment Programme is now open to applications and the priorities for 2018/19 are:

• The ongoing implementation of Water Skills for Life (WSFL) for 5 to 13 year olds including greater national coverage.
• The establishment of a separate, ring-fenced, competitive research fund for water safety sector researchers.

CEO Jonty Mills is excited about establishing strong drowning prevention partnerships that meet the objectives of the Water Safety Sector Strategy 2020.

“Getting as many young New Zealanders as possible learning fundamental water safety skills is critical to bringing down our drowning toll. We also need new insights into how we can keep New Zealander’s safe in, on and around our waterways” says Mills.

The 2018/19 Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) Investment Prospectus differs from previous years in that it contains details on two separate funds:

i. The Drowning Prevention Fund which supports projects that deliver drowning prevention interventions that make a difference to New Zealand’s drowning toll; and
ii. The Water Safety Research Fund which supports research projects that make a contribution to meeting the water safety sector’s unmet knowledge needs.

Water safety continues to be a critical issue for New Zealand society with drowning the number one cause of recreational death and the third highest cause of accidental death. In 2017 there were 88 preventable drowning fatalities and drowning related hospitalisations have been increasing year on year for over a decade. Over that period the cost of drowning deaths and injuries to New Zealand is almost $5 billion.

“There is also the massive personal and social cost to families and communities” says Jonty Mills.

In 2017/18 $1,664,260 was available for distribution by WSNZ - a 8.4% increase primarily due to a $400,000 increase in New Zealand Lotteries Grant Board funding.

Applications are due by 21 May 2018. To view the prospectus click here

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