WE SWIM: Multicultural Community Water Safety Program is a national, evidence-informed initiative to reduce drowning risk, remove barriers to swimming and water safety education, and build belonging for refugees, recently arrived migrants and broader multicultural communities.

WE SWIM is funded by the Australian Government and led by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. Royal Life Saving Australia brings national coordination, facilitation of WE SWIM community partnerships, and monitoring, evaluation and learning into one cohesive program.

Multicultural communities face higher drowning risk from layered vulnerabilities including lower swimming and water safety skills, limited familiarity with local hazards, and financial, language, cultural and access barriers to participation. These vulnerabilities and barriers are most pronounced for refugees and recently arrived migrants during settlement and the decade after and can persist across generations if unaddressed. WE SWIM exists to close that gap.

Every funded activity activates one or more of the WE SWIM pillars. They are WE CONNECT (linking multicultural communities to local aquatic facilities, swim schools and clubs); WE WELCOME (improving cultural safety and creating welcoming aquatic environments); WE PROMOTE (delivering multilingual water safety messages through trusted voices), and WE LEARN (removing barriers to participation and building swimming and water safety skills). Each stream's funding guidelines suggests fundable activities for each pillar.

Four beneficiary groups: refugees in humanitarian and settlement support programs; recently arrived migrants (in Australia less than 10 years); broader multicultural communities facing access and equity barriers around water; and, where appropriate, international students. Emphasis falls on school-aged children and young people, with a secondary focus on adults and caregivers, whose choices shape family participation and safety.

WE SWIM aligns to the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 and its target to reduce drowning by 50 per cent by 2030, the Commonwealth's Multicultural Access and Equity Policy, and the Multicultural Framework Review: Towards Fairness. It also reflects Royal Life Saving's strategic framework for eliminating drowning, empowering communities, strengthening safety and succeeding together, and every funded activity is expected to embody that same approach.

There are three streams.1/ Place-Based Partnerships funds larger, multi-partner coalitions shifting systems across a multi-LGA or regional footprint. 2/ Community Programs funds targeted, single-organisation-led delivery in one local government area. 3/ Pathfinders which include WE SWIM Pathfinder: Refugee Settlement which funds a small number of pilots integrating water safety into settlement pathways, and WE SWIM Pathfinder: Multicultural Community Ambassador Program funds trusted community voices to deliver communications and advocacy activity. Contact weswim@rlssa.org.au if you're unsure which stream fits your idea.

Yes. Each stream's funding guidelines set out how many applications a lead organisation can submit within that stream. If you're considering more than one stream. For example, leading a Community Programs application while joining another organisation's Place-Based Partnership as a partner. Talk to us early to avoid overlapping or duplicate proposals.

Most streams follow a similar rhythm: documentation released from 18 August 2026, applications closing 24 September 2026, outcomes notified 16 October 2026, and agreements executed shortly after. Delivery generally runs 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with final reporting due by 30 June 2027.

Most streams expect cash and/or in-kind co-investment including things like venue access, staff time, translation or transport support. Clearly describe any co-investment in your budget. Requirements vary by stream and scale, so check your stream's funding guidelines.

Through the Royal Life Saving Grant Hub. Which is an externally supported online platform, not email or paper. You'll set up an account, complete your application online, upload supporting documents, and submit directly through the platform. We'll provide the link and access instructions when each round opens.

Yes. The platform's 'collaborate' feature lets multiple people from your organisation and partnership contribute to the same application – drafting sections or reviewing the budget together. However, the lead organisation must create and submit the application; partners using collaborate cannot submit on its behalf.

Royal Life Saving's WE SWIM team at weswim@rlssa.org.au. Reach out before submitting – early conversations can confirm program fit, eligibility, partnership expectations and cultural safety considerations, and we can help with technical questions about the platform.

No. Several streams require a workplan, budget, risk assessment and letters of support, and Royal Life Saving has created templates for all of these – find them in the resources section of our website. Please complete and submit using only our templates, not your own formats, so every application can be assessed consistently.

Programs should be designed with intersectionality in mind, recognising that people often hold overlapping inclusion and access needs across factors including culture, disability, gender and neurodiversity. Programs should be genuinely strengths-based, non-tokenistic, and reflect the real, layered identities of the people they serve rather than treating each factor in isolation.

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) is the program's accountability framework; full participation is a funding condition, proportionate to your project's scale. Royal Life Saving provides common indicators, templates and guidance. Reporting generally covers activity delivery, participant data, access and inclusion outcomes, co-investment, risks and practical learning.

For any general question, or if you're unsure which funding stream fits, contact weswim@rlssa.org.au. More information and our resource templates are at royallifesaving.com.au.

It depends. Every application needs at least one community-based organisation serving multicultural, refugee background or settlement communities, plus one water safety organisation or aquatic provider. In most cases schools (whether government, religious or private) are in fact not-for-profit organisations and are therefore eligible to be lead applicants. Schools with a multicultural stream/program, that can demonstrate strong community reach, trust and understanding, could demonstrate eligibility to apply as a partner community organisation, however it would need to be clear that the funding is for a targeted cohort to participate and that it wouldn’t be applied to just any students. The other way schools or businesses can get involved is to join a partnership, for example as the aquatic provider. See section 2.1 of the guidelines on the Community Programs page. If there is no eligible lead applicant in your area, email weswim@rlssa.org.au with your local context.

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria. This stream expects a strong theory of change and program logic, and a Local Community Coalition that meets at least monthly and is in place before a funding agreement is signed, so be confident you can carry that governance. Track record matters too, so be mindful that this can’t be a newly established not-for-profit with the sole aim of leveraging the WE SWIM program and no real track record of collaboration with and support for multicultural communities. See sections 2.1 and 5 of the guidelines on the Place-Based Partnerships page.

A further round is not currently planned and is not guaranteed. However, Government has signalled it is keen to see this trial expand, and strong programs, community reach and reporting will help build the case for continued investment, but there are no guarantees. This round delivers from 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with final reporting by 30 June 2027. See section 10.3 of your stream guidelines.

Not as the lead applicant, but you are eligible to be the aquatic provider in a partnership led by an incorporated community organisation or a council. Note that co-contribution is expected. See section 2.1 of the guidelines on the Community Programs page.

Yes. Name each partner and their lead contact in your work plan, then upload a signed letter of support from every partner using the Royal Life Saving template. A strong letter states who the partners are, what each will do and contribute, such as cash, lane space, staffing for delivery or administration time, and the timelines. Templates sit in the resources section of each grant opportunity page.

Yes. Training and accredited course costs are eligible where they build pathways into swim teaching, lifeguarding and aquatic leadership, and partnering with a registered training organisation works well. Your existing program and the investment in it can count as co-contribution. You likely do not need to request the full $50,000. See section 3.2 of the guidelines and questions 16 and 17 of the FAQ on the Community Programs page.

Applicants should review funding guidelines and apply for the most appropriate stream. If screening suggests another stream suits you better, we may contact you and, with your permission, move your application across. If you are unsure, start with Community Programs. Place-Based Partnerships is a systems level opportunity for applicants confident in place-based work, consortium governance and program logic. Section 2.3 of each set of guidelines explains the distinction, on the Community Programs and Place-Based Partnerships pages.

A lead applicant ideally shows a track record either as a multicultural community organisation or of working with multicultural communities, and referees verify that. If you are newly established, you will need to make a strong case for your capability, and often the better path is to partner with an organisation already trusted by the community. Circumstances vary, so email weswim@rlssa.org.au with your situation.

It could be if there was a gap in available resources, however, multilingual communication sits with Pathfinder – Ambassadors, which funds trusted organisations and individual ambassadors to share approved WE SWIM messages through the languages and channels their communities already use. Funded activity uses core WE SWIM messaging rather than new safety messaging, so communities hear one consistent message. Translated water safety resources are already freely available at Resources by Language. Eligible activities are in sections 1.5, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Ambassadors guidelines.

Yes. Universities, TAFEs and English language services are welcome partners, particularly where they build water safety education into English language teaching, connect learners and families to the local pool, or open workforce pathways. See question 9 of the FAQ on the Place-Based Partnerships page and section 2.1 of the guidelines on the Community Programs page.

Yes, in more than one way. Apply for separate Community Programs initiatives in different local areas, or apply for Place-Based Partnerships if you can form and manage a coalition, since that stream is designed for multi-LGA and regional corridor work. You can also join another organisation’s consortium. A lead organisation may submit up to three Community Programs applications and up to two Place-Based Partnerships applications. See question 4 of each stream FAQ.

In part. Coordination and administration are capped at 20% of the grant, so this is not a program for overheads and salaries, but a reasonable administration allocation that supports delivery is eligible, as are multilingual communications. The budget template flags what coordination thresholds are eligible as you enter figures. See sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the guidelines on the Community Programs page.

Yes. Every successful grantee will receive a partnership pack including communication materials, and all funded activity uses core WE SWIM messaging so communities hear one consistent message. Translated resources are freely available at Resources by Language.

Full participation is a funding condition, proportionate to your project, and Royal Life Saving provides the indicators, templates and tools to measure change before, during and after delivery. Two kinds of change matter most: change experienced by individuals and communities, such as feeling welcome at an aquatic venue or confidence sending children to the pool, and progress towards national benchmarks, such as floating for two minutes or swimming 50 metres unassisted. See question 16 of the frequently asked questions.

Cultural safety and cultural competence are minimum requirements for everyone delivering these programs, and there is more than one way to meet them. Suitable training your staff have already completed, such as a state funded anti-racism program or training from a multicultural community council, counts and need not be repeated. If you are unsure where to start, a free cultural diversity training, developed by SBS, is available through Royal Life Saving state and territory members. More information about that module can be found on the Cultural Diversity page on our website.

Yes. Seasonal migrant workers are a strong fit in regions with an agricultural workforce and a history of drowning deaths, and water safety messaging, education or lessons for those groups is generally eligible. Priority is local need rather than a visa category, and the Community Prioritisation Dashboard helps you evidence need in your area. See section 2.2 of the guidelines and question 11 of the FAQ on the Community Programs page.

No. WE SWIM funds activities across the four pillars - WE CONNECT, WE WELCOME, WE PROMOTE and WE LEARN. National coordination by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia will focus on communications activities, building connections across projects, and providing a nationally coordinated approach to MEL. Successfully funded projects will prioritise:

• Removing barriers to accessing lessons, programs, recreation and employment faced by multicultural communities.
• Boosting community resilience by facilitating subsidised, culturally safe swimming and water safety education.
• Enhancing social cohesion by forging new links between multicultural communities and their local aquatic facilities, swim schools, and swimming and surf lifesaving clubs.

We are obligated to provide equitable opportunities for grant applicants. All enquiries should be submitted by email to weswim@rlssa.org.au or come along to a briefing and Q&A session to ask questions live.

If you are:

• a multicultural community organisation that requires support developing an application; or
• applying for Place-Based Partnership grant or Pathfinder - Refugee Settlement grant and need some guidance on suitable consortium arrangements or partners; then

Please contact weswim@rlssa.org.au and we can provide you with appropriate support.

WE SWIM is intended to reach groups that may be overrepresented in drowning incidents or who experience significant barriers to accessing swimming and water safety education opportunities, especially the following:

• migrants with low levels of English language proficiency
• refugee and humanitarian entrants
• visibly different migrants
• newly arrived communities and individuals with low levels of knowledge of the Australian system
• other migrants experiencing difficulties in accessing services based on age, gender, sexuality, disability, youth or coming from collectivist cultures

For the purposes of WE SWIM:

• Multicultural organisations are locally grounded, not-for-profit groups that work with multicultural communities to improve safety, access and belonging, and that are trusted by the communities they serve.
• Settlement organisations are those whose primary role is supporting refugees and recently arrived migrants through settlement pathways and access-and-equity services.
• Community organisations are broader multicultural, faith-based or local associations with strong community reach and relationships that can co-design and deliver culturally responsive water safety activities as funded partners.

Water safety organisations are not-for-profit groups recognised as such by governments and communities and whose primary role is to improve safety, access and/or belonging at aquatic venues and locations. Water safety organisations include Royal Life Saving, Surf Life Saving, and their members. It can also include swimming groups like Swimming Australia, and its members.

Aquatic providers are organisations or service providers that design, deliver or oversee swimming, water safety or aquatic programs. Aquatic providers include public pools, aquatic facilities, swim schools or other appropriate aquatic delivery partners including registered training organisations.

It matters but is not a pass/fail test. Cash and/or in-kind contributions are expected and should be quantified in your budget. Value for money and co-investment carry 20% of the total score. A modest co-investment will not rule you out, but we encourage all applicants to think of ways to extend the reach of the program by securing or making co-investments.

Cash and/or in-kind co-investment is expected for WE SWIM Community Programs. This may include venue access, lane space, staff time, outreach support, translation, transport, communications or other local contributions that strengthen delivery and community ownership. Applicants should clearly describe all co-investment in the project budget and distinguish between cash and in-kind contributions. WE SWIM will not duplicate funding for existing activity or where another source of funding has not been clearly declared and approved. Another core aim of WE SWIM is reducing barriers to entry for individuals and families who would otherwise miss out.

Any proposed participant fee model should be clearly described and in line with similar funded programs elsewhere (e.g. VACSWIM, VICSWIM)

Lessons do not need to be entirely free. WE SWIM funding is designed to subsidise the cost of swimming and water safety lessons, so participation is affordable, not necessarily at no cost. A modest participant co-contribution is acceptable where it does not create a barrier to the priority cohort taking part. Applicants should describe their proposed pricing or subsidy model in their application so assessors can see how it supports access. Full eligible activities are set out in section 3.1 of each stream's funding guidelines.

Every application needs a community-based multicultural or settlement partner, and a water safety or aquatic provider. Reach out to a local settlement service, migrant resource centre, faith groups, local schools, adult education centres, council community liaison officers, or email us and we can help point you toward likely partners.

Each WE SWIM stream sets its own limit on how many applications a lead organisation can run. These limits are set at an organisation level. When one organisation operates through several separately incorporated subsidiary entities (with individual ABN’s), the limits apply to the organisation as a whole. Funding will not be issued to both the umbrella organisation as well as to its subsidiaries. However, we encourage umbrella organisations to partner with their subsidiaries and others organisation to submit applications.

Member entities of a federation are not subsidiaries, noting they are governed and operated independently of the national or parent entity.

Depends on scale and geography. Community Programs suits a single local government area. Place-Based Partnerships suits multi-LGA or regional-corridor work. Pathfinder suits targeted roles: ambassadors, emerging leaders and refugee settlement. Best to refer to each stream’s guidelines and determine the best fit for your proposal. Still unsure? Come to a briefing and Q&A session or send us an email to weswim@rlssa.org.au with a general outline and we can help you select a stream that would best fit your proposal.

Yes, there is a strong preference that applicants use the provided templates for their applications. This provides consistency for assessing applications against grant criteria.

We have a tool called the Community Prioritisation Dashboard.

This dashboard is intended to help applicants prepare a WE SWIM grant application. The dashboard shows data from the 2021 Census and from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database and it based on Local Government Areas (LGA). The dashboard displays information such as total residents born overseas, total residents with other languages at home, as well as the fatal drowning statistics for the LGA. You can select one or more LGAs when looking at regional corridors.

For tips and recommendations on how to use the Community Prioritisation Dashboard, there is a Tips for using the dashboard section on the website as well as a link to a short tutorial.

We strongly recommend that you view this webpage on a desktop computer as the dashboard is not optimised for mobile viewing.

If you have further questions, please contact WESWIM@rlssa.org.au.

Yes, ensuring the safety of participants is critical. Please refer to the WE SWIM Code of Conduct for appropriate aquatic venue safety (excerpt below).

Aquatic facilities

Where in-water programs are delivered at an aquatic facility (including swim schools and public pools), they must demonstrate sufficient levels of safety assurance and adherence to best practice. They can do this by:

• Providing evidence of a current subscription to the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO).
• Providing evidence that they have recently undertaken a Royal Life Saving-approved Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment (AFSA). The preferred cadence is: – Metropolitan facilities (including seasonal): every 12 months. – Year-round facilities in regional cities: every 12 months. – Regional seasonal pools: every 3 years.
• Providing suitably qualified staff for program instruction and supervision, in line with the GSPO (refer to the Training and Qualifications Guideline).

Facilities that do not demonstrate sufficient adherence to the GSPO through an AFSA and suitably qualified staff are not eligible for WE SWIM delivery or funding.

Open water

Delivery at Beach venues must engage a lifeguard or volunteer lifesaving service recognised by Surf Life Saving Australia or Council for risk management.

Applications must demonstrate partnership with one or more of: a Surf Life Saving club, a state/territory Surf Life Saving Australia member organisation, or a council lifeguard service.

Royal Life Saving discourages delivery at inland waterways given their higher, more variable risk profile. Where a case can be made, delivery must adhere to the Guidelines for Inland Waterway Safety.

A lead organisation applies on behalf of a consortium – not alone. It must be incorporated and able to govern a partnership including at least one council, two multicultural or community partners, and one water safety or aquatic provider. Multiple people can contribute via the platform's 'collaborate' feature, but only the lead submits. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Smaller, grassroots groups are welcomed – they bring essential community trust. They don't need to be the lead applicant; joining as a named community partner still shapes the partnership's design and delivery. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

At least one council, two multicultural or community partners serving priority communities, and one water safety or aquatic provider. Add schools, universities, employment providers or settlement services as relevant to your corridor. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Up to two, provided each is a genuinely distinct consortium with its own region or community focus. Talk to us early if you're weighing up more than one idea.

Probably not – WE SWIM Community Programs suits single-community or catchment-scale proposals better. Place-Based Partnerships is for larger, systems-level change across multiple LGAs. Talk to us first. See section 2.3 of the funding guidelines.

Multicultural communities shape your partnership's priorities, activities and governance from the start – not just review a finished plan. We'll give practical guidance and support you to strengthen this practice over time. See section 8.3 of the funding guidelines.

A Local Community Coalition that guides co-design and plans for sustainability, with councils, providers and community organisations meeting at least monthly. It must be in place before you sign a funding agreement. See section 5 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Where we're aware of multiple groups in the same area, we'll help connect them rather than leave you competing for the same partners. Reach out early for introductions before applications close. See section 10.1 of the funding guidelines.

Yes – particularly where they build workforce pathways into swim teaching, lifeguarding and aquatic leadership, or build swimming vocabulary into English-language teaching. Including them can strengthen your application against the partnership design and workforce criteria.

Refugees, recently arrived migrants and broader multicultural communities facing ongoing access and equity barriers, plus international students where relevant. Priority life stages are school-aged children and young people aged 13–24, with a secondary emphasis on adults and caregivers – parent education alongside children's lessons is encouraged. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

All are welcome – refugees, recently arrived migrants, longer-settled communities and international students. The priority is need, not a visa checklist; talk to us if you're unsure whether your community fits. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

One where multicultural participants and families feel safe, welcomed and respected in language, gender norms, dress and trust – not just physically safe. In practice: trauma-informed delivery, community-led design, gender-sensitive options such as women-only sessions, and bilingual or interpreter support. See section 6 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Everyone delivering the program must complete approved cultural safety training before activities begin. Royal Life Saving can help you access suitable training. Don’t stress, building cultural safety is a journey, so entry level training counts as a step forward.

No – WE SWIM is an aspiration, not an eligibility test. Removing that exact barrier is the point of the funding.

Staffing and coordination tied to delivery, venue and lane hire, instructor, lifeguard, bilingual worker and interpreter costs, multilingual communications, and barrier-removal supports like transport and modest swimwear assistance. Training, accredited courses and MEL costs are also eligible, with coordination capped at 20% of the grant. See section 3.2 of the funding guidelines.

We won’t fund things like business-as-usual overheads, capital works or major equipment, pre-agreement costs, or anything unrelated to drowning reduction, water safety, access or inclusion. Unapproved cash incentives and duplicate funding are also out of scope. Ask us in writing if you are unsure. See section 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

Yes – matched or higher co-investment is expected across your consortium, cash or in-kind (free pool entries, lane space, staff time, transport, communications support). Quantify it in your budget against each contributing partner. See section 4 of the funding guidelines.

Current funding covers one year, with delivery expected between November 2026 and May 2027. Strong outcomes may open scope to extend, but only this first year is certain. See section 10.3 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Training and accredited course costs sit within eligible workforce development, particularly where they build pathways for multicultural people into swim teaching or lifeguarding – including partnering directly with training providers. See section 3.2 of the funding guidelines.

Documentation opens 18 August 2026, applications close 24 September 2026, and applicants are notified by 16 October 2026. Delivery runs 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with acquittal due 30 June 2027. See section 10.3 of the funding guidelines.

All applications are assessed against a five common and weighted assessment criteria as follows 1) Community need and local fit (20%), 2) Partnership strength, delivery capability and sustainability (30%), 3) Alignment to WE SWIM pillars and outcome pathways (20%), 4) Value for money and co-investment (20%), and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) readiness (10%). See sections 8 and 9 of the funding guidelines.

We provide tools, templates and direct coaching. Limited grant-writing experience shouldn't stop you applying. See sections 8 and 9 of the funding guidelines.

A lead organisation applies on behalf of a partnership – not alone. It must be incorporated, with the governance and financial capability to manage the grant, and its partnership must include at least one community-based organisation serving multicultural, refugee-background or settlement communities, plus one water safety or aquatic provider. Multiple people can contribute via the platform's 'collaborate' feature, but only the lead submits. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Smaller, grassroots groups bring the trust that makes locally anchored programs work. A grassroots group doesn't need to be the lead applicant – joining as the community-based partner still shapes the program's design and delivery.

At least one community-based organisation serving multicultural, refugee-background, settlement or other priority communities, and one water safety or aquatic provider. You're welcome to add schools, councils or other local partners. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Up to three, provided each is a genuinely distinct program with its own community or focus. Talk to us early if you're weighing up several ideas.

Community Programs is generally for a single local government area or tightly focused catchment, not a broad regional footprint. If your idea is genuinely regional, WE SWIM Place-Based Partnerships is the better fit; reach out to weswim@rlssa.org.au first. See section 2.3 of the funding guidelines.

The community you're working with helps shape your priorities and activities from the start – not just reviews a finished plan. Describe this process and how local input informed or will inform your design. See section 8.2 of the funding guidelines.

No. Describe how your partners will make decisions together, how community input will shape delivery, and how you'll manage risks – proportionate to your program's scale. See section 5 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Schools, councils, settlement services or ethno-specific associations, alongside your required partners. A broader local partnership can strengthen your application against the partnership strength criteria.

A signed letter of support from each partner organisation, using our template and confirming their role and commitment. Space is provided to upload each additional letter beyond the minimum.

Communities facing heightened drowning risk and access barriers. This includes refugees, recently arrived migrants, broader multicultural communities and international students. Priority life stages are school-aged children and young people, with a secondary emphasis on adults and caregivers. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

All are welcome. This includes refugees, migrants arrived under 10 years ago, established communities still facing barriers, and international students where relevant. If there are people who are seeking asylum in Australia in your community, they should be welcome too. The priority is local need, not a checklist; talk to us if unsure. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

One where multicultural participants and families feel safe, welcomed and respected in language, gender norms, dress and trust – not just physically safe. In practice: trauma-informed delivery, community-led design, gender-sensitive options like women-only sessions, and bilingual or interpreter support. See section 6 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Everyone delivering the program must complete approved cultural safety training before activities begin. Royal Life Saving can help you access suitable training. Don’t stress, building cultural safety is a journey, so entry level training counts as a step forward.

No. WE SWIM is an aspiration, not an eligibility test. Removing that exact barrier is the point of the funding.

Up to $50,000 (excl. GST) per program, from a total pool of roughly $1.2 million funding. Cash and/or in-kind co-investment is expected, which can include venue access, staff time or translation support, should be clearly quantified in your budget. See section 4 and Appendix A of the funding guidelines.

No. We'd rather fund a range of program sizes, from around $5,000 up to the $50,000 cap. Tailor your request to your activity's scale; a smaller, tightly scoped program is just as competitive as a larger one.

Short-term staffing, venue hire, instructor and interpreter costs, multilingual communications, transport, lessons, and training, with coordination capped at 20% of the grant. See section 3.2 of the funding guidelines.

We will not fund things including business-as-usual overheads, capital works or major equipment, pre-agreement costs, or anything not clearly linked to swimming, water safety or cultural safety. Cash prizes, unapproved travel and duplicate funding are also out of scope. Ask us in writing if unsure. See section 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

Current funding covers delivery from 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027 – a one-year commitment, with some potential for extension if the program shows strong results. Consider how your program can build lasting local capability beyond that period. See section 10.3 of the funding guidelines.

Applications open 18 August 2026 and close 24 September 2026, with outcomes notified 16 October 2026; delivery runs to 31 May 2027, with acquittal due 30 June 2027. See section 8 of the funding guidelines.

All applications are assessed against a five common and weighted assessment criteria as follows 1) Community need and local fit (20%), 2) Partnership strength, delivery capability and sustainability (30%), 3) Alignment to WE SWIM pillars and outcome pathways (20%), 4) Value for money and co-investment (20%), and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) readiness (10%). See section 8 and 9 of the funding guidelines.

It tests whether subsidised, culturally safe water safety activity can become a routine part of early settlement rather than a one-off add-on. It funds 2–4 pilots attaching swimming and water safety to settlement pathways, referral from case managers, schools and settlement services, to learn what works and how to scale it. See section 1.3 of the funding guidelines.

A lead organisation applies on behalf of a consortium of at least three partner types: a settlement or humanitarian service provider, migrant resource centre or community English provider; a water safety or aquatic provider; and a council or council representative. The lead must be incorporated with the capability to manage a multi-partner pilot; other local partners are welcome in addition. Multiple people can contribute via the platform's 'collaborate' feature, but only the lead submits. See section 2.3 of the funding guidelines.

A targeted expression of interest to consortia and not a broad open round. If your community and pathway are a strong fit, contact weswim@rlssa.org.au to talk through fit and readiness. See section 9.1 of the funding guidelines.

One application per lead organisation, reflecting this stream's small scale of only 2–3 pilots nationally. Talk to us early if your idea might suit more than one stream.

Yes. Smaller settlement agencies and community organisations bring exactly the trust this pilot model depends on. You don't need to be the lead applicant. Joining as the settlement or cultural partner still shapes the pilot's design and delivery.

Yes. A Regional or Local Steering Group is mandatory, established within the first two months of your funding agreement, overseeing delivery, safety and decisions across partners. See section 9.4 of the funding guidelines.

Refugee and migrant representatives help shape practical decisions – timing, session types, gender settings and family communication – not just review a finalised plan. Your expression of interest must describe this process alongside a short co-design and engagement plan. See section 5.2 of the funding guidelines.

Letters of support from consortium partners, a project plan covering sites, delivery model and roles, a budget including co-investment, evidence of incorporation and insurance, and a co-design plan. Pilots involving under-18s must also upload a Child Safeguarding Policy and a completed Risk Assessment. See section 9.3 of the funding guidelines.

The lead organisation and any partner with direct contact with children needs a current Child Safeguarding Policy, and staff working with children need current Working With Children Certificates and safeguarding training before or shortly after the pilot begins. Your application must describe how safety, consent and incident reporting will be shared across partners.

Refugees and humanitarian entrants in settlement programs, and emphasising school-aged children, young people aged 15–24, and parents or caregivers. Pilots are expected to reach several thousand participants across 2–4 high-need settlement regions. See sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

As many participants will be newly arrived refugees, your application must describe how staff will work sensitively with families who may have experienced trauma, and how sessions will feel safe – including gender-sensitive options and bilingual support. Delivery must occur only at GSPO-compliant venues with qualified supervision and shared safety arrangements across partners. See section 5.1 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. Everyone delivering the program must complete approved cultural safety training before activities begin. Royal Life Saving can help you access suitable training. Don’t stress, building cultural safety is a journey, so entry level training counts as a step forward.

It funds focused pilots that clearly link water safety to referral points within settlement pathways – not broad community delivery unanchored to those pathways. If your idea is closer to community-wide delivery, WE SWIM Community Programs is the better fit. See section 2.4 of the funding guidelines.

Up to $100,000 (excl. GST) per pilot, from a total pool of roughly $300,000 funding 2–4 pilots nationally. Local co-investment e.g. lane space, staff time, venue access or bilingual assistance, is expected, matched or higher, and quantified in your budget. See sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the funding guidelines.

Short-term staffing, pool entry, lane and venue hire, interpreter and cultural support costs, lesson subsidies, multilingual communications, transport and swimwear assistance, staff briefings and MEL costs, all clearly connected to your settlement-pathway model. See section 3.2 of the funding guidelines.

We won’t fund things like business-as-usual overheads, capital works or major equipment, and pre-agreement costs. Or Broad community delivery untied to a settlement pathway, unapproved incentives or travel, and duplicate funding are also out of scope. Ask us in writing if unsure. See section 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

Delivery must be completed by 31 May 2027 – a one-year commitment, with potential extension if a pilot shows strong learning and funding continues. Tell us how your pilot could sustain or scale beyond the funded period.

Documentation is released from 18 August 2026, applications close 24 September 2026, and outcomes are notified 16 October 2026. Agreements are executed by 20 October 2026; your Steering Group must be established within two months of that, and delivery must be completed by 31 May 2027, with final reporting due 30 June 2027. See section 7 of the funding guidelines.

All applications are assessed against a five common and weighted assessment criteria as follows 1) Community need and local fit (20%), 2) Partnership strength, delivery capability and sustainability (30%), 3) Alignment to WE SWIM pillars and outcome pathways (20%), 4) Value for money and co-investment (20%), and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) readiness (10%). See section 7 and 8 of the funding guidelines.

Place-Based Partnerships is for large, diverse LGA, multi-LGA coalitions working with broadly defined multicultural communities. Refugee Settlement is funding only 2–4 pilots, focused on embedding water safety into refugee settlement pathways.

It supports trusted community organisations and individual ambassadors to share approved WE SWIM messages through channels and languages communities already trust. It's a communications and advocacy stream aligned to WE PROMOTE. See section 1.3 of the funding guidelines.

Trusted Voice – Community Organisations, for incorporated multicultural, refugee, community or faith-based organisations, up to $10,000; and Trusted Voice – Individual Ambassadors, for trusted community leaders applying individually, up to $3,000. Contact weswim@rlssa.org.au first if unsure which fits. See section 3.2 of the funding guidelines.

One per organisation or individual. We expect to fund around 20-30 trusted voices nationally across both categories.

Yes. This opportunity builds new trusted voices as well as supporting experienced ones – prior experience isn't required. What matters most is genuine, trusted relationships with the community you propose to reach.

Communications, outreach, engagement or advocacy that share approved WE SWIM messages in culturally responsive ways. For example, multilingual messaging through events, faith settings and local networks; information sessions; social media or community radio; digital storytelling; and advocacy workshops. See section 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

Modest costs directly linked to your communications activity including, short-term staff time, venue hire, translation and printing, basic equipment for digital or radio outreach, approved training travel, and for individual ambassadors, modest stipends and low-cost content production. See section 3.4 of the funding guidelines.

Capital expenditure, ongoing overheads like core salaries or rent, political or fundraising activity, high-cost media buys, or costs that pre-date the program. Ask us if unsure. See section 3.5 of the funding guidelines.

Yes. If not incorporated, apply under Individual Ambassadors, or ask an incorporated organisation to auspice you – contact weswim@rlssa.org.au for help. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Priority communities include refugees, recently arrived migrants, broader multicultural communities and international students, who are identified groups where trusted communication can improve safety and belonging. Any life stage can be targeted, depending on where your trusted reach sits. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

Some activity involves direct contact with children. For example, school talks or youth sessions. While other activity, like public social media content, does not. Where direct contact applies, everyone must hold a current Working With Children Check and follow Royal Life Saving's safeguarding standards.

Describe how you'll keep messages respectful and responsive to the community's cultural background; if successful, you may need a short briefing or message training first. See section 2.3 of the funding guidelines.

Tell us who trusts you and why, including your history with the community, and the networks or roles that mean people listen to you. Specific examples matter more than general statements; if successful, we'll follow up with a simple reference check. See section 2.3 of the funding guidelines.

All funded activity must use core WE SWIM messaging. We'll give you the message packs and the guidance you need. Your role is trusted reach through the right languages and channels, not developing safety messaging from scratch. See section 1.5 of the funding guidelines.

Networking, advocacy and ambassador development opportunities – online workshops, peer learning sessions, message training, and facilitated sessions with venues or councils to improve referral pathways. Approved travel for in-person sessions is covered; participation is encouraged but not required. See section 4 of the funding guidelines.

Current funding covers delivery within one year, completed by 31 May 2027, with continuation depending on program-wide results. Reporting is proportionate and practical – a short activity report with reach numbers and reflections, using a template we'll provide. See section 6 of the funding guidelines.

Co-investment such as volunteer time or a donated venue is welcome but not required. Tell us who's contributing and what they're providing; no dollar value needed.

All applications are assessed against a five common and weighted assessment criteria as follows 1) Community need and local fit (20%), 2) Partnership strength, delivery capability and sustainability (30%), 3) Alignment to WE SWIM pillars and outcome pathways (20%), 4) Value for money and co-investment (20%), and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) readiness (10%). See section 7 of the funding guidelines.

It funds event organisers to offer scholarship places at sector conferences, symposia, forums, workshops, working groups and advisory committees, so early-career multicultural professionals under 30 can attend, network with and influence senior sector leadership. See section 1.2 of the funding guidelines.

Only event organisers – typically incorporated associations, not-for-profits, peak bodies or other established sector conveners with a genuine track record of bringing the sector together. The event must be open to groups across the sector, held between now and 30 June 2027, and not an internal company conference or committee. See sections 2.1 and 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

It's an open, publicly advertised grant Any eligible organiser can apply directly, no invitation needed. See sections 1.3 and 9 of the funding guidelines.

One per lead organisation, reflecting this stream's modest scale of up to $10,000 per event from a total pool of approximately $100,000. Contact weswim@rlssa.org.au if you convene more than one eligible event.

Yes. What matters most is a genuine, demonstrated track record of convening the sector, not prior experience with Royal Life Saving or WE SWIM. Tell us about your event's history and reach. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Emerging leader scholarships only, including things like the ticket, registration or attendance costs for the multicultural scholars selected for your event, at a value-for-money rate agreed with Royal Life Saving. See section 3.1 of the funding guidelines.

Travel, accommodation, meals, bursaries or per diems of any kind, and tickets to a business's own internal conferences or committees. Ask us if unsure. See section 3.3 of the funding guidelines.

Up to $10,000 per event, with the majority going to scholar tickets and only a minor share to recruitment and coordination. Organisers must also offer value for money. For example, a discount and/or co-contribution against the ticket price. See sections 3.1 and 7 of the funding guidelines.

Stage 1: organisers apply to Royal Life Saving for an event approval and scholarship allocation of up to $10,000. Stage 2: once approved, organisers and Royal Life Saving advertise the scholarships, scholars apply directly through the online portal, and shortlisting and selection are done jointly. See section 1.3 of the funding guidelines.

Early-career professionals under 30 from multicultural backgrounds who work, volunteer, or are building a career in community aquatics, swimming or lifesaving. See section 2.1 of the funding guidelines.

Directly to Royal Life Saving, through the online scholarship portal. Organisers advertise the opportunity and direct interested scholars there but don't collect applications themselves; Royal Life Saving then shortlists jointly with the organiser. See sections 2.2 and 9.1 of the funding guidelines.

Royal Life Saving and the organiser shortlist and select jointly against intersectional eligibility criteria, recognising that people often hold overlapping inclusion and access needs across culture, disability, gender and neurodiversity. See sections 2.1 and 7 of the funding guidelines.

Organisers must deliver the event in a culturally aware and safe way. For example, organisers and/or masters of ceremony completing cultural awareness training and comply with WE SWIM Code of Conduct protocols, including working-with-children requirements wherever children are involved. See section 5 of the funding guidelines.

Promote and refer scholars to the portal, select them jointly with Royal Life Saving, meaningfully involve them in the event program, support them before, during and after, deliver the event culturally safely, collaborate on the agreed workplan, attribute the scholarship, take part in MEL. See section 2.2 of the funding guidelines.

A genuine role, not simply attending. For example, speaking on a panel, presenting or contributing to a working session. Using the WE SWIM Workplan Template, your workplan should set out how value-add activities, such as networking events and scholar panels, will actively engage scholars with each other, senior sector leadership and Royal Life Saving. See sections 2.2 and 9.1 of the funding guidelines.

Attribution happens at three points – advertising, appointment of scholars, and public communications, including at least one attribution post and one publication per scholar about their participation. See sections 4.1 of the funding guidelines.

All applications are assessed against a five common and weighted assessment criteria as follows 1) Community need and local fit (20%), 2) Partnership strength, delivery capability and sustainability (30%), 3) Alignment to WE SWIM pillars and outcome pathways (20%), 4) Value for money and co-investment (20%), and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) readiness (10%). See sections 7 and 8 of the funding guidelines.

Documentation is released from 18 August 2026, applications close 24 September 2026, outcomes are notified 16 October 2026, and funding agreements are executed 20 October 2026. Delivery runs 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with final reporting due 30 June 2027. See section 9.2 of the funding guidelines.

A final report covering activity delivery, participant data, access and inclusion outcomes, co-investment, learnings and financial acquittal, plus participation in reasonable MEL activities such as surveys, interviews or case studies. Scholar contact details are captured through the Royal Life Saving portal at application. See sections 6 and 11 of the funding guidelines.