Published 8 September 2025
Water Safety in the Media
Our recently published National Drowning Report 2025 confirmed 357 drowning deaths last year — the highest since records began, and 27% above the 10-year average.
At the same time, Royal Life Saving Australia’s research shows:
- 1 in 2 Year 6 students cannot meet the national swimming and water safety benchmark
- 1 in 4 Australians face disadvantaged access to a community pool
- 1 in 4 community pools are reaching the end of their functional lifespan
- 1 in 10 children (5–14 years) have never attended swimming lessons — disproportionately true for low socio-economic and regional backgrounds
These challenges increase risk — and the Sydney Morning Herald has recently highlighted them in two powerful stories based on RLSSA research and insights:
📖 Here’s a Sydney Harbour pool that has reopened on time and on budget
💬 RJ Houston, RLSSA’s GM – Capability & Industry: “Every dollar invested in a community pool is an investment in health, wellbeing, safety and connection… But it is increasingly becoming a story of haves and have-nots… We need a national plan to ensure every Australian, no matter where they live, has access to a safe, sustainable community pool.”
📖 ‘A fundamental part of growing up’: Why Aussie kids can’t swim any more
💬 Penny Larsen, RLSSA’s National Education Manager: “Kids who do not learn to swim in primary school are difficult to coax back to lessons in high school… We need more funding to ensure children reach national benchmarks.”
RLSSA CEO Dr Justin Scarr has called these findings a “wake-up call”, reinforcing the urgent need to ensure no child or adult misses out on learning to swim and survive, and that every community can access a safe, sustainable aquatic facility.
