Published 23 June 2022
Fleeing conflict and persecution to forge a new life is a challenge most of us will never need to confront. But for refugees and asylum seekers who come to call Australia home, there is an additional challenge – learning how to be safe around our waterways.
Across Australia, Royal Life Saving is working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to share water safety knowledge and learn to swim classes.
Many of the participants have never swum in a pool or waterway and have no awareness of the hazards posed by currents, rips, submerged objects such as tree branches, and floodwaters.
Royal Life Saving delivers swimming and water safety programs across the country in partnership with community organisations and members that not only gives people the skills to help themselves and their families to safety enjoy the water, but provides opportunities for health, fitness and making friends in their new home.
For the staff of Royal Life Saving, one of joys of the programs offered across Australia is seeing the enjoyment of children and adults alike when they start learning to swim for the first time.
In Tasmania, a recent Royal Life Saving program involving children aged from six to 12 years old from Bhutan and Afghanistan was warmly received with the children delighting in their new-found skills. That program was supported by the Migrant Resource Centre and Scotch Oakburn College.
In South Australia, the team work closely with The Multicultural Communities Council of SA, a settlement agency who facilitate programs for new and emerging communities. Recently Royal Life Saving presented water safety lessons in a classroom setting to both the Tamil speaking and Ukraine communities.
In Western Australia, the Royal Life Saving team works with groups including the Ukrainian Association of WA and the Salsaal Association Australia providing water safety training. The need for support of Ukrainian refugees has grown significantly and further tailored programs are currently being developed.
In Queensland, the Aqua Safe Program is conducted in partnership with Brisbane City Council and Ethic Communities Council of Queensland. The Water Safety and Survival Skills works with community health workers so the core safety messages can then be shared widely. The training covers the dangers and hazards of a variety of Australian waterways, pool safety tips, boating and fishing water safety, CPR awareness and basic first aid.
There is also an adult learn-to-swim program offered in partnership with Ipswich City Council. The participants are taught the basics of safe entries into water, balance and buoyancy, kicking and paddling and floating and signalling for help.
These are just some of the ways Royal Life Saving works with refugee, asylum seeker and migrant communities across Australia.
Our goal is to help everyone enjoy the water safely. Royal Life Saving produces water safety information in a variety of languages. You can download free resources here: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/stay-safe-active/communities/multicultural-communities
