Last Friday, 21 November, LIWA Aquatics was delighted to bring two De-escalation of Conflict and Aggression Workshops to Port Hedland, nearly 50 staff from Gratwick Aquatic Centre, South Hedland Aquatic Centre, Wanangkura Stadium, and the Royal Life Saving WA Talent Pool program.

As part of LIWA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the aquatic and recreation workforce, these workshops focus on equipping teams with the confidence, practical tools, and situational awareness needed to manage challenging, agitated, or aggressive behaviours safely and effectively.

Adding cultural depth and relevance to the day, Kariyarra Elder Raylene Gordon joined the workshops as cultural consultant, engaged by Royal Life Saving WA, providing First Nations perspectives that were both insightful and highly relevant for participants working in the Pilbara.

The delivery of these sessions was made possible thanks to the support and collaboration of Claire MacIntire, the Town of Port Hedland, and Tim Turner—a fantastic example of local partnership in action. A special acknowledgment goes to Dr Christian Mauri, who travelled to the Pilbara to facilitate the full-day workshop, bringing his trademark clarity, empathy, and practical insight.

Participant feedback captured the spirit of the day:

“Was a great session. Dr Christian Mauri was an amazing facilitator. It was also valuable to talk about the different issues teams are facing and work together to proactively problem-solve through conversation and shared experience.”

Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed to such an open, collaborative learning environment. LIWA Aquatics remains committed to supporting safer facilities and confident teams across WA—one workshop, one conversation, and one community at a time.