AUSTSWIM Chief Executive Officer Brad Low and AUSTSWIM Ambassador Brooke Hanson OLY OAM are urging Australians to be safer in, on and around water this summer.
339 people drowned in Australian waterways in 2021/2022. Drowning was the leading cause of death for children aged 15 or under in 2021, and it is feared many families may underestimate the risks posed in holiday areas over the coming months.
AUSTSWIM is committed to raising awareness around drowning prevention through the teaching of vital swimming and water safety skills.
Tips to be safer in, on and around water this Summer:
- Maintain constant supervision with children in the water
- Stay within reach of young children when in, on, and around water
- Remove distractions such as phones - watch your child not your phone
- Never swim alone
- Learn to swim - it is a skill for life
- Recognise and respond quickly in the event of potential risk
- Learn vital First Aid including CPR
- Check your pool fence
- For adults - avoid alcohol around water
- Swim at a patrolled beach and between the red and yellow flags
- Be sun smart
ROYAL LIFE SAVING NATIONAL DROWNING REPORT 2022
The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022 reveals a tragic spike in drowning deaths over the past 12 months with 339 drowning deaths occurring across Australia, the highest in 25 years.
In addition to the fatal drownings, there were 686 non-fatal drowning incidents.
The report shines light and concern on the importance of learning swimming and water safety skills at any age. These statistics are a reminder to the whole community and to over 33 000 AUSTSWIM teachers currently working back-to-back shifts that they are the lifeblood of Swimming and Water Safety programs across Australia, and they teach skills for life.
ABOUT AUSTSWIM
A not-for-profit body, AUSTSWIM is Australia’s pre-eminent provider of swimming and water safety teacher training. Its licensed teachers are accredited to the ISO17024 standard and provide an essential link in drowning prevention and safer aquatic participation.
AUSTSWIM has been Australia’s national organisation for the teaching of Swimming and Water Safety since 1979. In that time, we have trained over 388, 250 teachers of swimming and water safety and continue to train around 13,000 candidates annually.
AUSTSWIM has developed quality aquatic education programs for those wishing to enter the aquatic industry as a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety, together with a range of industry-leading specialist courses that will enable candidates to become well-regarded assets in their chosen fields.
The AUSTSWIM Licence is the industry standard for swimming and water safety teachers. It is delivered and recognised in each state and territory of Australia, as well as in many countries overseas.
The AUSTSWIM Teacher licence is the most well-known, widely recognised and regarded accreditation in the industry.
