The Multicultural Community Water Safety Program is a national, evidence-informed initiative to reduce drowning risk, remove barriers to swimming and water safety education, and build belonging for refugees, recently arrived migrants and broader multicultural communities.
It responds to persistent inequities in water safety awareness, swimming capability and access to aquatic participation, especially during settlement and in high-growth multicultural communities.
The program combines national coordination with community-led delivery throughout 2026/27. It is designed to build skills, raise awareness of local hazards, strengthen links with aquatic facilities, swim schools, swimming and lifesaving clubs, and create pathways into participation, leadership and employment.
Delivery is organised through four program pillars:
- We connect - build stronger links between multicultural communities and local aquatic facilities, clubs and councils.
- We welcome - improve cultural safety, inclusion and workforce pathways in aquatic settings.
- We promote - deliver multilingual water safety messages through trusted voices and channels.
- We learn - remove barriers to participation in swimming and water safety education.
The project plan is structured around three connected components: national coordination, Multicultural Community Water Safety Partnerships, and administration, reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning. National systems provide leadership, communications, partner support and common standards, while local partnerships translate the program into practical action shaped by community context, language and culture.
Community investment is delivered through a three-tier model:
- Tier 1 place-based partnerships - larger multi-partner initiatives in high-need areas.
- Tier 2 community-level programs - targeted activity for specific cohorts, barriers or locations.
- Tier 3 pathfinder pilots - focused pilots to test and refine models with potential to scale.
Across these tiers, the program aims to reduce drowning risk, increase access and equity, strengthen social cohesion, grow a more diverse aquatic workforce and build sustainable local capability.
The plan directs the largest share of funding to community partnerships and pilot delivery, supported by national coordination, communications, safeguarding and evaluation. Taken together, it provides a clear and scalable roadmap for saving lives, removing barriers and building belonging through safer participation in Australia’s aquatic environments.
Community investment opportunities will open in August 2026.
