Published 26 November 2025
Royal Life Saving Australia is launching its national multicultural water safety campaign for the fifth consecutive year, to ensure that everyone has the knowledge to enjoy Australia’s beautiful waterways safely.
Australia’s population is growing - and so is the richness of our cultural diversity. Whether people are new to Australia or have lived here for many years, Royal Life Saving wants everyone to feel confident and safe when swimming, fishing and boating.
New data from the National Drowning Report 2025 shows that people born overseas account for 34% of all drowning deaths in Australia. Of these, 36% were new arrivals, living in Australia for five years or less. Many of these deaths involved men unfamiliar with local water conditions and risks.
Drowning among multicultural communities most commonly occurs when swimming, fishing and boating at:
- Beaches (29%)
- Rivers and creeks (22%)
- Oceans and harbours (13%)
The highest-risk age groups were:
- 25–34 years (20%)
- 35–44 years (14%)
- 65–74 years (14%)
Royal Life Saving’s National Manager – Research and Policy, Stacey Pidgeon, said the continuation of the campaign reflects a long-term commitment to reducing drowning among multicultural communities, being a priority area in the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030.
“This campaign has grown and strengthened each year because the need is clear,” Ms Pidgeon said. “People born overseas make up a significant proportion of drowning deaths in Australia, and we know that unfamiliarity with local conditions, limited swimming ability and barriers to accessing water safety information increase this risk.
“Our goal - and the goal of our community partners - is to ensure every person, no matter their background or experience, can enjoy the water safely with their families, friends and communities. These messages were shaped in consultation with multicultural communities to make sure they are clear, respectful and easy to follow. The campaign promotes five key behaviours:
- Don’t go alone
- Wear a lifejacket when boating, fishing or paddling
- Avoid alcohol around water
- Always supervise children closely around the water
- Learn to swim and learn how to stay safe in and around the water
Royal Life Saving has again partnered with The LOTE Agency to deliver in-language content across multicultural community networks, ensuring safety messages reach communities through trusted voices in culturally meaningful ways.
The campaign also directs people to Royal Life Saving’s online hub of translated and community-informed water safety resources, including videos, checklists, guides and information available in multiple languages.
“Community organisations and leaders continue to play a vital role in shaping and supporting this campaign,” Ms Pidgeon said. “One drowning is one too many. By working together, we can help every community feel welcome, confident and safe around the water.”
The multilingual campaign video features diverse community voices and reinforces a shared message:
“Make Safe Decisions to Save Lives.”
The Multicultural Water Safety Campaign will run nationally across social media, community networks, settlement agencies, aquatic facilities, ethnic media outlets and LOTE Agency channels throughout summer.
Resources by Language | Royal Life Saving Society - Australia
