1 November 2025

On-Country paddle promotes water safety at Sandy Creek

It was a day of great fun, learning and connection with Country when Royal Life Saving WA’s Talent Pool team visited Sandy Creek in the Pilbara earlier this month.

The visit on 9 October was part of the Inland Communities Water Safety Program and brought together around 20 local young people from The Y and the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) for a Paddle On-Country session focused on creek and river safety.

The day’s golden rule was simple: no lifejacket, no kayak. With the water too cloudy to see beneath the surface, participants quickly realised the importance of wearing their safety gear, identifying safe entry methods and paddling together. Once everyone was confident and ready, the group enjoyed exploring the water and taking in the beauty of their surroundings.

Opportunities to learn on-Country bring water safety education to life, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, by connecting practical skills with cultural knowledge of the land and waterways to build confidence, wellbeing and belonging.

Newman’s Regional Talent Pool Coordinator, Genevieve Masa, led the session with her team of eight Talent Pool participants, alongside Sammi Ryder, EEAI Coordinator from The Y WA, and Jake Bastick from PAMS.

“It was an incredible day out on-Country — connecting, learning and enjoying the beauty of Sandy Creek together,” Sammi said. “Experiences like this remind us how powerful it is when organisations come together to create opportunities for young people to get out, explore and build confidence.”

The program was delivered by Royal Life Saving WA as part of the Inland Communities Water Safety Program, supported by Royal Life Saving Society Australia and the Australian Government. The initiative aims to reduce drowning in regional and remote areas through localised water safety programs.

With drowning deaths in Australia’s inland waterways rising by 23% above the 10-year average in 2024/25, community-based programs are more important than ever. Royal Life Saving WA looks forward to continuing collaborations that give young people the skills and confidence to stay safe around water.

Thank you to our principal partners at BHP for their ongoing support of regional programs that make this work possible.