2 January 2026
Water Safety Talks hit the road in Katanning
In early December, Royal Life Saving WA Inclusion Coordinators Harry Luan and Lynette Farley hit the road for a regional visit to Katanning, delivering vital Water Safety Talks to students at Katanning TAFE and Katanning District High School.
Held across two days, the sessions reached approximately 80 students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, supporting practical and relevant water safety education for young people in the South West. The visit was supported through funding from the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, helping make water safety education more accessible for regional communities.
Throughout the sessions, students explored essential topics including how to identify and respond to rips, understanding common water hazards around the home, the Aqua Code and how to recognise Beach Emergency Number (BEN) signs at beaches. The talks were highly interactive, with TAFE students getting a chance to jump in the pool at Katanning Aquatic Centre to practise rescues, while high schoolers received hands-on instruction with lifejackets, rescue tubes, rope throw rescues and board throw rescues.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive. Many were eager to ask questions, and some even shared aspirations of becoming lifeguards or swim teachers in the future.
Just days after the visit, the importance of this educational work became clear. One of the Year 9 students who had attended the talk found himself in a real-life emergency while visiting Bremer Bay with his younger brother and cousin. When the three boys discovered themselves caught in a rip, the student was able to recall what he had recently learnt and help get them all back to safety. Serena from Katanning Aquatic Centre shared the story:
“He managed to get his younger brother clear and then helped his cousin out. I am so glad that we had only just had that incursion so that it was all clear in his mind. Him and his brother were at the pool today to swim some laps to make sure they are stronger next time they go out. The cousin decided that he just isn't going in the ocean again!”
Harry Luan said experiences like this highlight the value in delivering Water Safety Talks to regional communities that don’t always receive the same opportunities for swimming and water safety education.
“Our recent trip to Katanning was an opportunity to engage young people and a great reminder of how diverse and well connected the Katanning community truly is,” Harry said.
“It is important to us that all members of our community have access to swimming and water safety education, and we appreciate the ongoing support from the local community. This support is vital to ensuring that water safety education is delivered in a way that reflects where people live and addresses the risks they are most likely to face. It becomes something they can use to protect themselves and others around the water.”
Royal Life Saving WA extends a sincere thank you to the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport for their continued support in making regional water safety education possible. With the right knowledge and skills, young people can make safer choices around water, no matter where they live or visit.
