Published 13 February 2026
Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council, are pleased to announce the 2026 National Water Safety Summit, to be held in Sydney on 23–24 July 2026.
At the halfway point of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, the 2025 Midpoint Update reinforced a clear message: urgent, coordinated action is required to reverse rising drowning trends.
The 2026 Summit will focus on activating the Strategy’s priority actions, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating progress towards the goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030.
Bringing together leaders from government, lifesaving, public health, research, education and community sectors, the Summit will serve as a national platform to align efforts and drive measurable impact.
The event will also form part of Australia’s commemoration of World Drowning Prevention Day 2026.
