Australian Water Safety Council
The Australian Water Safety Council (AWSC) comprises Australia’s leading water safety organisations working in partnership to prevent drowning.

The Australian Water Safety Council (AWSC) is deeply committed to drowning prevention in Australia and is a collective voice for Australia’s leading water safety organisations.

The AWSC was officially formed in February 1998 as a result of strong industry consultation and Federal Government support.

The Council acts as a consultative forum comprising the major water safety and related government agencies and focuses on the presentation of key water safety issues to governments, industry and the community.

The Australian Water Safety Council does not represent an additional layer of organisational bureaucracy and does not receive funding directly. The Council provides a collective voice for its member organisations. It liaises closely with kindred bodies at State, National & International levels.

The AWSC is committed to improving water safety in Australia as demonstrated through the production and implementation of National Water Safety Plans. These plans have generated bipartisan support for water safety in Australia and have seen the improvement of water safety throughout the country. The AWSC member bodies continue to demonstrate their commitment to water safety by directing resources of their respective organisations towards the development and implementation of the Australian Water Safety Strategy.

Australian Water Safety Council Members

  • Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (RLSSA)
  • Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)
  • Australasian Council for the Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety (AUSTSWIM)
  • Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA)
  • Australian National Sports Fishing Association (ANSFA)
  • Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG)
  • Australian Swimming Coaches & Teachers Association (ASCTA)
  • Australasian Diving Safety Foundation (ADSF)
  • Farmsafe Australia
  • Surfing Australia
  • Swimming Australia
  • The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (Kidsafe)
  • Government Observers: Department of Health and Bureau of Meteorology
Every year, Royal Life Saving produces a National Drowning Report. The report examines the factors that contribute to drowning deaths in Australia.
National Drowing Reports