Australia is a nation shaped by water; its beaches, pools, rivers, lakes, creeks, and bays are woven into the rhythm of everyday life. But for many newly arrived migrants, refugees, and international students, this water-loving culture can feel unfamiliar, intimidating, or even unsafe.
Drowning data makes this painfully clear: people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are significantly overrepresented in water-related injuries and fatalities. As new communities arrive in Australia, they enter a landscape filled with opportunity—but one where water-related risks can be hidden and overwhelming.
This is not simply a safety issue. It is an inclusion issue. A belonging issue. A social cohesion issue.
Across Australia, organisations like SBS, the Aqua English Project, and UNSW are showing what’s possible when we approach water safety through connection, culture, language, and community.
Storytelling that saves lives: SBS’s ‘Head Above Water‘
SBS understands that learning about water safety isn’t just about rules and warnings—it’s about cultural confidence.
Their Head Above Water podcast takes an innovative, human-centred approach:
- A comedic duo exploring water culture
- Guests who share lived experience, from migrant lifesavers to Olympic swimmers
- Episodes covering rips, rock fishing, boating, pools, and inland waterways
- A strong focus on South Asian communities
The podcast models vulnerability (“I’m an adult and I can’t swim”), tackles shame and uses humour to break down barriers that often prevent adults from seeking help.
It meets people where they are—through relatable stories, not lectures.
Aqua English: When language, culture, and swimming combine
The Aqua English Project has transformed how Australia thinks about drowning prevention.
Their programs blend:
- functional English
- swimming skills
- cultural understanding
- workforce development
Using their 4E framework (Engagement, Empowerment, Essential English, Employment), Aqua English helps adults become confident swimmers who can supervise children, keep their families safe, and build intergenerational water literacy.
Their workforce model is groundbreaking in training bilingual community members are trained as water safety officers and swimming teachers, becoming visible leaders in the aquatic industry.
This is what inclusion looks like – representation, leadership, and community ownership.
UNSW: A university model for water safety and international student wellbeing
With one of Australia’s largest international student cohorts, UNSW has embraced water safety as a core wellbeing and inclusion priority.
Their health promotion team operates with a clear understanding: many international students live close to beaches, travel with friends to coastal areas, or join water-based social activities. Risk is high—but so is opportunity.
UNSW’s approach includes:
- Culturally tailored water safety campaigns during O-Week & Welcome Weeks
- Multilingual resources that acknowledge different levels of familiarity
- Strong partnerships with Surf Life Saving NSW, Royal Life Saving, councils, and surf clubs
- Free and subsidised beach safety days where students learn directly from lifesavers
- On-campus workshops addressing rips, surf conditions, sun safety, emergencies, and beach culture
- Data-driven evaluation to refine programs each year
Critically, UNSW frames these programs not as “warnings” but as pathways to belonging.
Students consistently report:
- greater confidence in water environments
- deeper understanding of local culture
- feeling more socially connected
- reduced fear and increased enjoyment
UNSW demonstrates that water safety is not peripheral to the student experience—it is central to it.
Why this matters for all of us
Water is a place of joy, culture, and community in Australia. It’s where families gather, students make memories, and newcomers experience a cherished part of Australian life.
But inclusion only happens when people feel safe, confident, and welcomed.
Drowning prevention and water literacy must therefore be:
- multilingual
- culturally informed
- affordable
- welcoming
- community-centred
- built on partnership
When organisations like SBS, Aqua English, and UNSW lead the way, the outcome is bigger than safety.
We create communities where:
- people can participate fully
- newcomers feel confident exploring their new home
- families are safer
- diversity is represented in aquatic spaces
- connection and belonging flourish
Water should be a source of joy for everyone, not just for those that grew up in Australia. The work being done across the sector shows what’s possible when we treat water safety as part of Australia’s broader commitment to welcome, inclusion, and social cohesion.
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