14 October 2026
Community voices help shape multicultural water safety in WA
Royal Life Saving WA's Multicultural Steering Committee met on 1 October to discuss strategies for improving swimming and water safety outcomes for Western Australia's diverse communities, ahead of the upcoming summer season.
Held at the Mount Claremont Aquatic Hub, the meeting brought together representatives from local government, aquatic providers and community organisations, with a focus on current programs, barriers to participation and future priorities.
Among the key developments was a new multicultural water safety campaign being developed by Royal Life Saving WA, with funding from the Department of Health.
Royal Life Saving WA General Manager, Advocacy and Research Lauren Nimmo outlined plans to focus on the benefits of swimming, building confidence around water and creating a sense of belonging, rather than relying on fear-based messages.
Reaching newly arrived migrants, established multicultural communities and international students will require different approaches, given their varied experiences of swimming and Australian waterways. Committee members offered insights into these groups, emphasising the value of multilingual resources and clear, practical advice.
Their recommendations will contribute to the campaign's next stages of development, ahead of a proposed launch in 2027.
The meeting also highlighted the reach of Royal Life Saving WA's multicultural swimming programs, with 4,286 people participating across metropolitan and regional WA during 2025/26.
Community engagement has played an important role in promoting these programs and encouraging participation. Through activities at major cultural events such as Holi, Diwali and Chinese New Year, our program promotion and safety messaging reached more than 100,000 people. This was in addition to the more than 2000 children and adults who participated in Water Safety Talks or Heart Beat Club sessions (basic first aid training).
Members raised concerns about how swimming skills learned in pools translate to beaches and other open-water environments. While pools provide a controlled setting for learning, waves, currents and changing conditions present different risks. The Committee explored opportunities to give participants more practical experience in these environments, particularly those unfamiliar with Australian beaches.
Zainab Hummed, Community Development Officer from ASeTTS (Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors), acknowledged the value of bringing these organisations together.
"Thank you to Royal Life Saving Society WA for creating the Multicultural Steering Committee and providing a space where we can share information, learn from each other, and listen to advice and feedback from our communities."
Western Australia has one of the highest proportions of overseas-born residents in the country, making it increasingly important for aquatic programs to adapt as the state's population changes.
The latest National Drowning Report also highlights the importance of this work, with people born overseas accounting for 39% of drowning deaths nationally in 2025/26.
Royal Life Saving WA Inclusion Manager Achol Madong highlighted the importance of the Committee's advice in shaping programs and safety messaging ahead of summer.
"It is essential that our water safety messaging and programs reach the right people during this period," she said.
Together, members and partners will continue working to address participation barriers, support aquatic providers and help more Western Australians develop the skills and confidence to enjoy the water safely.
Special thanks to the WA Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport for ongoing support for programs like these.
To learn more about Royal Life Saving WA’s Access and Equity or to get involved with the Multicultural Steering Committee, visit the link below.
LEARN MORE
