20 October 2026
Strong winter participation sets swimmers up for summer
Reflecting on Term 3, our Multicultural Swim and Survive Programs saw great participation numbers across Perth and Bunbury despite the winter weather.
A total of 579 participants took part in multicultural swimming lessons across metropolitan locations such as Cannington, Riverton, Balga and Wangara, as well as Bunbury. Programs catered to women, men, mixed adult groups and children, with instructors reporting high engagement and encouraging progress among swimmers.
The strong turnout suggests more families are recognising the value of year-round swimming education rather than waiting for summer. Continuing lessons throughout winter helps prevent skill regression, builds confidence and ensures families enter summer with stronger swimming abilities, helping reduce their risk of drowning.
Reaching multicultural communities remains an important part of drowning prevention, with the recently released National Drowning Report finding that 39% of people who drowned nationally in 2025/26 were born overseas. Making swimming education accessible and welcoming to families from different backgrounds is an important part of addressing this.
Behind the consistent attendance are families who value having somewhere they feel comfortable learning. For some, it's their first opportunity to access formal swimming and water safety lessons. For others, it's the chance to continue improving their skills in a familiar, culturally inclusive environment with instructors they know and trust.
Royal Life Saving WA Inclusion Programs and Capacity Manager Achol Madong praised participants for their commitment throughout the colder months.
"The cooler months are a great opportunity to strengthen swimming and water safety skills. It’s great to see such strong uptake across all programs," she said.
These opportunities are made possible with support from the WA Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, helping more multicultural families access swimming and water safety education.
