Access and Equity
Royal Life Saving WA is committed to making swimming and water safety education accessible and inclusive to all.
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Swimming and water safety skills are central to enjoying the water-based lifestyle of Western Australia. Our climate combined with the diversity of waterways promote a range of social, recreational, and sporting activities that offer great health and social benefits. While enjoying this lifestyle unfortunately it is our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) and Aboriginal people who experience some of the highest rates of drowning in Australia.

Tragically, 40% of fatal drownings recorded in our state involve people who were born overseas, and Aboriginal children aged 5-14 are 8.6 times more likely to fatally drown than non-Aboriginal children in WA.

Migration trends indicate that emerging communities in WA face greater disadvantages in the settlement process in Australia, which includes missing out on learning essential swimming and water safety skills. While migration offers a range of increased opportunities for economic growth, social and cultural innovation presents unique challenges including an increased risk of fatal and non-fatal drowning.

We also recognise that participation in sport and recreation makes an important contribution to the health and wellbeing of all people, particularly those with disabilities. However, due to physical and attitudinal barriers, people with disabilities often face challenges when trying to learn to swim and in turn adopting water-based activities as a part of their everyday life.

Royal Life Saving WA has successfully delivered targeted and effective health promotion, injury prevention and research programs to at-risk communities for the past 20 years and is ideally positioned to take a leadership role in promoting the adoption of inclusive practices throughout Western Australia.

Through the Access and Equity Portfolio, Royal Life Saving

  • Develops community role models
  • Strengthens the capacity of culturally diverse communities
  • Facilitates full participation by CaLD and Aboriginal communities
  • Develops intercultural understanding
Multicultural Participation
Royal Life Saving WA is working with various cultural groups to deliver vital training programs and increase participation in swimming and water safety education.
Indigenous Participation
With many years' experience working in remote Indigenous communities, specific programs are run by Royal Life Saving WA with various community and settlement agencies throughout the state to encourage participation in swimming lessons and water safety activities.
Specialised Access and Inclusion Lessons
Royal Life Saving WA is committed to providing innovative and targeted swimming lessons to support individuals and families affected by disability.
WA Swim and Survive Fund
The WA Swim and Survive Fund is focused on ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills by providing support to specific community groups.
Heart Beat Club
The Heart Beat Club is designed to provide parents, grandparents and carers of children with the skills to provide first aid and CPR to babies and toddlers.
Water Safety Talks
Royal Life Saving WA offers interactive workshops on water safety and safe rescue techniques.
Cultural Awareness Training
Our cultural awareness training service can help professionals in their interactions with multicultural communities.
Success Stories
One of the key aims of the Royal Life Saving Society WA is to increase access to swimming and water safety education for all Western Australians. These are the success stories.