Australia’s leading water safety experts gathered in Sydney for the National Water Safety Summit 2025, held to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day on Friday 25 July.
The two-day Summit, presented by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council, brought together more than 230 delegates from across the water safety, health, education and community sectors.
The event provided a platform to reflect on national progress, strengthen alignment, and shape the next phase of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030. With recent data threatening to reverse long-term downward trends, the Summit highlighted the urgency of coordinated, evidence-based action.
“The National Water Safety Summit offered a critical reflection on where we’ve made progress and where more focus is urgently needed,” said Dr Justin Scarr, CEO, Royal Life Saving Australia.
“Every life lost to drowning is devastating and preventable. By uniting the expertise of communities, governments and stakeholders under the Strategy, we can drive greater focus on swimming skills, equity, and collaboration.”
The Summit was held in recognition of World Drowning Prevention Day, as declared by the United Nations in 2021. Friday’s proceedings were formally opened by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Assistant Minister for Immigration.
Globally, drowning claims more than 300,000 lives each year, with children and young people most affected. In parts of the Indo-Pacific, drowning rates are 15–20 times higher than in Australia.
Australia’s approach to water safety continues to be recognised internationally, with the World Health Organization’s 2024 Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention ranking it among global leaders. However, WHO is calling for renewed global efforts — including cross-sector collaboration, better swimming education for children, and improved systems for managing flood and ferry disasters.
The Summit concluded with the release of the draft midpoint update of the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, now open for consultation ahead of its final release in Summer 2025–2026.
PROGRAM
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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
