Venus Bay, known for its stunning yet challenging beaches, is the location for a new trial of life-saving equipment that could save lives.
LSV's Research & Health Promotion team
Research & Advocacy
Building the Evidence Base for Aquatic Safety
Research, monitoring and evaluation are critical in ensuring an evidence base for drowning and injury prevention activities throughout the aquatic industry and wider community.
Our research and consultancy services include safety across all areas of aquatics. One of our many strengths is our enthusiasm and commitment to working collectively with other research organisations and experts, including industry, academic institutions and governments, both within Australia and internationally to expand the evidence base for aquatic injury prevention.
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Research library
All reports and papers listed below are available for public download. Browse by topic:
Boating and Fishing Research
Matthews, B. (2007). Boating safety for kids evaluation report (pp. 25). Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Campaign Evaluation
Birch, R., Morgan, D., Arch, J., & Matthews, B. Rock fisher behaviours and perceptions regarding drowning risk assessed by direct observation and self-report: A public awareness campaign evaluation. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(S1), 399-409.
Education
Kamstra, P., Cook, B. R., Lawes, J. C., & Calverley, H. (2023). Engaging beachgoers for drowning prevention: the spillover effects on non-participants. Environmental Hazards, 22(5), 437–455.
Kamstra, P., Cook, B. R., Lawes, J. C., & Calverley, H. (2023). Engaging beachgoers for drowning prevention: the spillover effects on non-participants. Environmental Hazards, 22(5), 437–455.
Kamstra, P., Cook, B,R., Lawes, J, C., Matthews, B., Calverley, H., Imperialee, H, J., Hooper, B. (2022). Awareness without learning: A preliminary study exploring the effects of beachgoer's experiences on risk taking behaviours. Heliyon, 8(12), e12186.
Duke, C., Calverley, H., Petrass, L., Peters, J., Moncrieff, K., Konjarski, L., & Matthews, B. (2023). A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence. Injury Epidemiology, 10(42).
Allana Santiago, A., Matthews, A., Sun Chen, W., Keane, T., & Kaufman, J. (2024). Immersive virtual reality for unintentional injury prevention training with children: A systematic review. Computers & Education: X Reality, 5, 100072.
Calverley, H., Birch, R., Strugnell, G., Santiago, A.C., Baker, S., & Matthews, B.L. (2021). Bush Nippers: Evaluating the effectiveness of the Nipper education program in regional inland Victoria, Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3), 852-860.
Araiza-Alba, P., Keane, T., Matthews, B., Simpson, K., Strugnell, G., Chen, W. S., & Kaufman, J. (2021). The potential of 360-degree virtual reality videos to teach water-safety skills to children. Computers & Education, 163, 104096.
Life Saving Victoria – Risk & Research Services. (2020). Bush Nippers: An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Nippers program in a regional setting. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Life Saving Victoria. (2019). Bush Nippers: An evaluation of the effectiveness of the current Nippers program and the potential for application in a regional (inland and pool) setting. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Life Saving Victoria – Risk & Research Services. (2018). Water Safety and Disaster Resilience Education – Virtual Excursions (A Pilot). Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne, Australia.
Life Saving Victoria – Risk & Research Services. (2018). Virtual reality water safety education through Google Expeditions. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Strugnell, G. (2017). Discover Open Water – Aquatic Safety Program: Evaluation of a pilot program targeting low socio-economic 6-9 year olds in Greater Melbourne. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Matthews, B. Birch, R., Andronaco, R., and Jayawardena, M. (2016). Surf Life Saving and Sporting Schools: Feasibility Study. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Birch, R., & Jayawardena, M. (2014). CPR and First Aid Blended Training Review. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Epidemiology
Andronaco, R., Matthews, B. L., Andrew, E., & Smith, K. (2018). Examining the geographical variation of discrete and aggregate drowning events using Ambulance Victoria attended cases. Poster presented at the 13th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2018), Bangkok, Thailand.
Matthews, B., Andrew, E., Andronaco, R., Cox, S., & Smith, K. (2016). Epidemiology of fatal and non-fatal drowning patients attended by paramedics in Victoria, Australia. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 24(3), 303-310.
Inland Waterways
Strugnell, G., Nimmo, L., Birch, R., Morgan, D., Ridge, A., & Matthews, B. (2018). Inland waterways drowning prevention project: A 12-month observational study of urban waterway users in two Australian states. Poster presented at the 13th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2018), Bangkok, Thailand.
International
Birch, R., Dharmaratne, S. D., Matthews, B., Wijayaratne, S., Nanayakkara, A., & Jayawardena, M. (2018). Review of a national water safety and drowning prevention model three years on: A Sri Lankan case study. Poster presented at the 13th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2018), Bangkok, Thailand.
Royal Life Saving Bahrain. (2017). Water Safety Strategy. Royal Life Saving Bahrain: Kingdom of Bahrain.
Matthews, B., Birch, R., Jayawardena, M., Mathew, D., Nanayakkara, A., Wijayaratne, S., & Dharmaratne, S. D. (2016). A cross country analysis of drowning in Sri Lanka: 2001 to 2006 and 2009. Poster presented at the 12th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2016), Tampere, Finland.
Jayawardena, M., Wijayaratne, S., Matthews, B., Birch, R., & Nanayakkara, A. (2015). Sri Lanka Life Saving National Water Safety Plan.
Lifesavers and Lifeguards
Calverley, H., Strugnell, G., Santiago, A., & Matthews, B. (2025). Evaluating the impact of the beach lifeguard service: a case study of beachgoers in Victoria, Australia
Multicultural
Kiss, B., Calverley, H., Duke, C., Baker, S., & Matthews, B. (2024). Swimming and water safety delivery for newly arrived Australians. Health Promotion International, 39(3).
Matthews, B., & Grace, S. (2012). Drowning prevention in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Injury Prevention, 18(Suppl. 1), A135-A136.
Birch, R., Grace, S., & Matthews, B. (2012). VicHealth – State Sporting Association Participation Program: Evaluation Report Year 1. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Life Saving Victoria. (2019). 5-Lesson Survival Swimming Program Pilot. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Life Saving Victoria. (2013). Multicultural Water Safety Projects: Evaluation Report 2012/2013. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Life Saving Victoria. (2012). VicHealth – State Sporting Association Participation Program: Evaluation Report Year 4. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Non-Fatal Drowning
Calverley, H., Berecki-Gisolf, J., Peden, A.E., & Matthews, B. (2025). Understanding non-fatal drowning in Victoria, Australia: a 20-year analysis of hospital admission data. Injury Prevention, 31, 94-100.
Berecki-Gisolf, J., Matthews, B., Calverley, H., Abrahams, J., & Peden., A.E. (2025). Hospital-admitted drowning in Victoria, Australia, before and after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Injury Prevention, 31, 40-44.
Older Adults
Birch, R., Strugnell, G., & Matthews, B. (2017). Evaluation of the Open Water Grey Medallion program: A beach safety education program for older adults. Oral presentation at the 13th Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference (Safety 2017), Ballarat, Australia.
Birch, R., & Matthews, B. (2014). Helping Older Adults to Become Everyday Lifesavers: A social inclusion and health project for over 60’s. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Public Swimming Pools
Araiza-Alba, P., Matthews, B., Foster, V., & Kaufman, J. (2023). What is the optimal pool lifeguard to patron ratio to prevent drowning? A virtual reality eye-tracking study. Safety Science, 168, 106319.
Life Saving Victoria – Risk & Research Services. (2019). SwimSafe in the Pool: Communication with vulnerable swimmers at public pools – Stage 3. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Matthews, B. L., & Franklin, R. C. (2018). Examination of a pilot intervention programme to change parent supervision behaviour at Australian public swimming pools. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 0(0), 1–7.
Life Saving Victoria – Risk & Research Services. (2017). Communication with vulnerable swimmers at public pools: Follow-up study 2017. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Strugnell, G., Birch, R., & Matthews, B. (2016). Communication with vulnerable swimmers at public pools: Pilot Study 1 Report. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Matthews, B. L., Thom, A., & Franklin, R. C. (2008). Injuries in Public Swimming Pools in Victoria: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Aquatic Research & Education, 2(2), 8.
Signage
Matthews, B., Andronaco, R., & Adams, A. (2014). Warning signs at beaches: Do they work? Safety Science, 62, 312-318.
Matthews, B. (2013). Water Quality Forecast Signage Project Evaluation. (pp.27). Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Andronaco, R., Matthews, B., & Arrowsmith, C. (2012). Drowning risk assessment and communication using spatial analysis. Injury Prevention, 18(Suppl 1), A70.
Andronaco, R., Matthews, B., Grace, S., Adams, A., & Arrowsmith, C. (2012). Aquatic safety signage recognition and comprehension. Injury Prevention, 18(Suppl 1), A136.
Volunteers
Birch, R., Juric, L. and Matthews, B. (2015). Exploring Gender Equality in Volunteer Leadership Roles within Life Saving Victoria. (pp.18). Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Water Competency
Ekanayaka, J., Geok, C. K., Matthews, B., & Dharmaratne, S. D. (2021). Influence of a Survival Swimming Training Programme on Water Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial among Young Adults in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11428.
Calverley, H., Petrass, L., & Konjarski, L. (2025). Negative prior aquatic experiences and children's aquatic competency: Do parent perceptions differ from reality? Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36(1), e907.
Petrass, L. A., Simpson, K., Blitvich, J., Birch, R., & Matthews, B. (2021). Exploring the impact of a student-centred survival swimming programme for primary school students in Australia: the perceptions of parents, children and teachers. European Physical Education Review, 27(3), 684-702.
Birch, R., Matthews, B., Petrass, L., & Blitvich, J. (2015). A pilot study evaluating a Before School Survival Swimming Program. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Birch, R., Matthews, B., Petrass, L., & Blitvich, J. (2015). The Before School Swimming and Water Safety Pilot Program: An innovative approach to provide Victorian primary school children with swimming and water safety education. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Birch, R. & Matthews, B. (2013). Sink or swim: The state of Victorian primary school children’s swimming ability. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
Water Safety Planning and Guidance
Life Saving Victoria. (2025). Bass Coast and Mornington Peninsula Cross Council Working Group Water Safety Framework. Life Saving Victoria: Melbourne.
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