Just yesterday, Australia was again reminded how quickly lives can be lost around water after the body of a missing baby was recovered, following the earlier discovery of the bodies of a 36-year-old mother and a toddler in South Australia.
It is the kind of tragedy that water safety advocates hope can become less common through education, awareness and community action.
On Saturday, Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer brought together more than 60 representatives from local councils, leisure centres, emergency services, multicultural organisations and water safety agencies to mark World Drowning Prevention Day, with a particular focus on helping culturally diverse communities stay safe around water.
The event, held under this year’s global theme “Unite to Turn the Tide,” drew three mayors, Victorian Legislative Council member Michael Galea and representatives from Royal Life Saving Society Australia, Life Saving Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police. Discussions centred on how collaboration between government agencies and community organisations can reduce drowning deaths.
For Harpreet Singh Kandra, founder of the Safely Engaging with Water Program, the statistics are deeply concerning.
Over the past decade, 34 per cent of drowning victims in Australia were born overseas. People from multicultural backgrounds and those aged 65 and over each accounted for around one-third of all drownings.
“This isn’t just about swimming; it’s about saving lives,” said Kandra, who is also a Senior Lecturer in Water Engineering at Federation University.
“Every person we teach is a potential lifesaver.”
Kandra started the pilot program in July 2024 after recognising that many migrants arrive from countries where swimming is not part of everyday life.
“Countries like India, Africa and China are water-stressed and don’t have the same experience with swimming,” he said.
“But here in Australia, with our abundant beaches, learning to swim is vital for enjoying life and staying safe.”
The program has already exceeded expectations.
“In the last two years we have had about 320 people learn basic swimming and understand water safety,” Kandra said.
According to the presentation shared during the event, the initiative has expanded across Cardinia, Casey, Manningham, Noble Park and Dandenong, with interest also emerging from Whitehorse, Wyndham, Baw Baw and other regions. Women have become some of the program’s strongest participants and role models.
The program follows a shared-cost “1:1:1” model, where participants, swim centres and councils or community partners each contribute a third of the cost, making lessons more accessible while encouraging community ownership.
Kandra said the initiative is now expanding beyond swimming lessons. The event also marked the launch of AquaSafe 2026, another initiative designed to improve water confidence and safety within multicultural communities.
“We are also launching an aqua aerobics program very soon for people who don’t necessarily want to learn swimming but want to become comfortable in the water. When they connect with water, we can also connect them with water safety.”
The 10-week program will follow the same shared-cost model.
Saturday’s gathering was about much more than presentations. Participants discussed ways to strengthen multicultural engagement, including multilingual social media campaigns featuring real stories from people who have survived water-related incidents. Organisers also proposed making World Drowning Prevention Day an annual statewide event, with some suggesting a central gathering at Victoria’s Parliament to bring community organisations together each year.
Another theme that emerged was Australia’s potential to share its expertise internationally. “People also understood that Australia can play a big role in countries like India and China, where many lives are lost through drowning.”
“The overwhelming message from the day was that we need to collaborate, which is exactly in line with this year’s theme, Unite to Turn the Tide.”
The latest national drowning figures are expected to be released next month. The most recent annual toll stood at 357 drowning deaths, a reminder that while Australia’s coastline is one of its greatest assets, it can also become one of its greatest dangers for those who have never been taught how to navigate it safely.
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