Published 17 July 2023

As Farm Safety Week 2023 commences, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia is urging the farming community to “Stay on the Safe Side” and take action to protect young children from accessing water bodies on their properties to prevent drowning.

Irrigation channels, dams, ponds, rivers, water tanks and even areas where water pools immediately after rain such as ditches, dips and postholes all pose a drowning risk for young children.

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Chief Executive Officer, Justin Scarr, said the large size of many farms and the relatively easy access to water raised the risk of drowning.

“Drowning risk peaks when children turn one and are starting to be more independent and mobile,” Mr Scarr said.

“We know it isn’t feasible for property owners to fence every water body on their farm. It’s not like a suburban home when you can install a fence around the swimming pool and that prevents access to water.

“For farms, we recommend setting up child safe play areas near the home so there is a barrier between children and all those water hazards.

“There is no replacement for direct supervision of children, but we know that every parent will have moments of distraction so a barrier between children and water is critical to provide that backup and keep children safe.”

In the 19 years between 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2021, 60 per cent of all drowning deaths in Australia occurred in regional and remote areas of Australia.

Farmsafe Australia’s campaign “Stay on the Safe Side” highlights the safety risks for farmers and farm workers and urges them to make safe choices.

Farmsafe Australia Chair, Felicity Richards said water safety was critically important on farms.

"Water bodies are the single greatest risk to children aged 0-4 on farms,” Ms Richards said.

“When the farm is not only a workplace but a home, we know children are going to be around water infrastructure such as dams, troughs, rivers, irrigation channels and other water bodies.

“It's critical that families choose to create a safe, secure play environment away from water, and actively supervise children when they are around water bodies. By following the expert advice of the Royal Life Saving Australia, farmers and their families can keep children safe on farm."

For more information about keeping children safe on farms, visit: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/stay-safe-active/locations/farm-water-safety