Published 15 January 2026
New Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 released to drive down drowning
Calls for boost to children’s swimming skills, local water safety plans and stronger coordination
This summer has been devasting around the water, with more than 33 people losing their lives to drowning since 1 December. This comes as annual drowning deaths exceeded 300 in both 2023/24, and 2024/25.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, drowning has been trending upwards. Declining swimming and water safety skills, changing recreational behaviours, population growth - particularly among people from countries with limited water safety awareness, and a hotter, more volatile climate are all contributing factors.
In response to this rising toll, the Australian Water Safety Council has released a refreshed Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, strengthening national efforts to reduce drowning deaths by 50 per cent by the end of the decade. The target, first set in 2020, followed two decades of steady downward progress.
The Strategy sets out three National Imperatives to reverse the current trend: boosting swimming and water safety skills for all, localising water safety efforts, and strengthening coordination across sectors and jurisdictions.
Australian Water Safety Council Convenor and Royal Life Saving Australia CEO, Dr Justin Scarr, said the Strategy marked a critical moment for water safety in Australia.
“Drowning remains unacceptably high, particularly during summer,” Dr Scarr said.
“This Strategy recognises that water safety starts with being able to swim, and that many of the most effective solutions are driven by local communities.”
“It calls on governments to double down on what we know works – improving swimming and water safety skills, developing local water safety plans, and working better together,” Dr Scarr said.
Developed through extensive consultation, the Strategy provides a sharper, evidence-informed roadmap to guide all levels of government, water safety organisations and community partners.
Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir welcomed the Strategy, highlighting the importance of place-based solutions.
“The Strategy has highlighted that beaches remain a high-risk drowning location. This summer, all coastal drowning fatalities have occurred outside of patrolled areas, highlighting the huge risk associated with swimming at unpatrolled beaches.
By working together with governments and the water safety sector, we can expand our community reach, strengthen water safety skills, and implement targeted strategies to protect visitors to our coastline, particularly at remote locations and unpatrolled beaches.”
The Strategy has been welcomed by the Hon Anika Wells MP, Minister for Communications, and Minister for Sport.
“Australians are no strangers to spending time in the water, but with a significant increase in drowning deaths in the past year alone it is more important than ever to make water safety a priority.”
“I welcome the updated Australian Water Safety Strategy which reaffirms the goal of halving the number of drowning deaths by 2030. It is a bold and essential national target that our government completely supports.”
“Water safety is a shared responsibility, and I encourage everyone to take steps to ensure we can all enjoy our beautiful beaches and waterways safely,” said Minister Wells.
The Strategy was informed by extensive consultation, including the 2025 National Water Safety Summit, and sets clear priorities.
It highlights that:
- Children aged 0–4 years continue to drown at unacceptably high rates, averaging 14 deaths each year, underscoring the importance of pool fencing, active supervision and early intervention.
- Young males aged 15–29 years remain over-represented in drowning deaths, with alcohol, risk-taking and peer influence identified as key factors requiring targeted education and communication.
- Older adults aged 65 years and over are experiencing increasing fatal drowning rates, linked to medical conditions, changing physical ability and higher participation in aquatic recreation.
- Beaches, rivers and lakes account for a large proportion of drowning deaths, reinforcing the need for coordinated lifesaving systems and improved risk management.
The Strategy renews commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, multicultural communities, people in regional and remote areas, people with disability, and those experiencing social and economic disadvantage.
The Australian Water Safety Council is calling on governments, industry, community organisations and the public to unite behind the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030. Coordinated action over the next five years will be critical to achieving the goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030.
To view the new Australian Water Safety Strategy visit: https://www.watersafety.com.au/awss2030-midpoint
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