Published 24 July 2025
Australia’s leading water safety experts are calling for urgent action to reduce drowning at the National Water Safety Summit 2025, held in Sydney to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.
The two-day Summit, presented by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council, brings together more than 230 delegates from across the water safety, health, education and community sectors.
The event aims to review national progress, strengthen alignment, and chart a clear path forward to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy’s target of halving drowning by 2030, with data in past years threatening to reverse long term downward trends.
“The National Water Safety Summit offers a critical reflection on where we’ve made progress and where more focus is urgently needed,” said Dr Justin Scarr, CEO, Royal Life Saving Australia.
“Every life lost to drowning is devastating and preventable. By uniting the expertise of communities, governments, and stakeholders under the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, we hope to boost the focus on swimming skills, addressing inequities and on collaboration.” Dr Scarr said.
“Our coastline, beaches, and water activities are part of what makes Australia special, but they also bring significant risk of drowning.” said Adam Weir, CEO, Surf Life Saving Australia.
“The National Water Safety Summit 2025 is a rallying point: to align efforts, invest in education and rescue services, and an opportunity to bring the sector together to ensure the right policies, programs and partnerships are in place to reduce drowning now and into the future.” Mr Weir said.
The National Water Safety Summit 2025 is marking the United Nations declared World Drowning Prevention Day, observed globally on Friday 25 July. Friday’s proceedings will be formally opened by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Drowning claims more than 300,000 lives each year, globally, with children and young people the most affected. In the Indo-pacific region drowning rates can reach 15-20 times, those in Australia.
Australia’s approach to water safety has been ranked highly in the Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, published by World Health Organization in 2024. WHO is calling for a global focus on coordination across sectors, improving children’s swimming and water safety skills, and on addressing flooding and ferry disaster.
The National Water Safety Summitt 2025 closes on Friday afternoon, with the expected release of a renewed version of the Australian Water Safety Strategy for consideration ahead of summer.
To learn more, visit:
https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/australian-water-safety/national-water-safety-summit-2025
www.who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day
