31 July 2026
Inclusive water safety education reaches more communities across WA in Term 2
Between April and June, 976 adults and children took part in Multicultural swimming lessons in communities across Western Australia. Even as the weather cooled down, participants kept turning up and giving it a go, building practical skills and becoming more confident in and around the water.
For some, it was their first time taking part in formal swimming lessons. For others, it was another step towards feeling more independent and enjoying time around the water with family and friends.
Lessons were held at aquatic centres in Wangara, Balga, Cannington, Riverton, Bunbury, Beechboro, Ballajura and Mandurah, with regional programs also delivered in Geraldton, South Hedland, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Newman and Karratha. Reaching more regional locations than ever before was a major milestone, bringing inclusive swimming lessons and water safety education to communities that often have fewer opportunities to access these programs.
A further 420 people also joined our Water Safety Talks and Heart Beat Club sessions where they learnt about staying safe in aquatic locations and basic first aid and CPR skills. These sessions were delivered in partnership with Ishar Multicultural Women's Health Services, ASeTTS, Thornlie Primary School, Culture Care, Gilmore College and the Muslim Women’s Support Centre of WA.
Royal Life Saving WA’s Multicultural swimming programs recognise that water safety education is not just for children. While many parents are quick to enrol their kids in swimming lessons, some adults have never had the same opportunity to learn.
Cost, language and cultural barriers can also make it harder to find the right support. Our Mixed Adults, Men’s Only and Women’s Only classes give participants the chance to develop their skills in a setting where they feel comfortable and supported by trained instructors.
This is particularly important because people born overseas continue to be overrepresented in drowning statistics. According to Royal Life Saving WA’s annual report, people born overseas accounted for more than a third of all drowning deaths in the 10 years between 2014/15 and 2023/24.
Royal Life Saving WA Manager of Inclusion Programs and Capacity, Achol Madong, said inclusive programs play an important role in ensuring more people can develop the skills they need to stay safe around water.
“Swimming and water safety education is vital to our way of life as Western Australians. We are proud that our inclusion programs remove barriers to participation, giving people the essential skills and knowledge to safely enjoy our waterways.”
“A massive thank you to our casual workforce, industry partners, community associations, and the various organisations that support our efforts.”
Building swimming and water safety skills can make a difference beyond the pool, helping adults keep their children safer and giving whole families the confidence to enjoy the water together.
We are grateful for the support of our partners in running these programs, including the Government of Western Australia, Mitsui E&P, Beach Energy, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and many others.
Term 3 multicultural swimming lessons are now underway across the state, with limited spaces still available for adults, teens and children.
