Royal Life Saving Society of WA: Building Water Safety Skills in CaLD and Aboriginal Communities

Opportunity

CaLD and Aboriginal people continue to face much higher drowning risk than the broader population. Many families experience barriers such as cost, limited access to pools, cultural safety concerns, and a lack of available instructors. These barriers increased after COVID‑19, when the aquatic industry experienced staff shortages that reduced lesson availability across WA.

Demand for programs continues to grow, shown through waiting lists and population settlement data. Without targeted programs, many people (particularly children) miss out on developing basic swimming and water safety skills.

CaLD Communities and Migrants

Western Australia is home to people from more than 200 countries, speaking around 270 languages and practising over 130 faiths. Perth has one of the highest proportions of overseas‑born residents of any Australian capital. Many new arrivals have little or no swimming experience, and in 2021, 40% of drowning deaths in Western Australia involved people born overseas, despite this group making up 32.2% of the state’s population [1].

Data also shows that CaLD children are less likely to meet minimum water safety skills. RLSSWA identified three growing CaLD communities with low participation in water safety programs: South Sudanese, Afghan, and Burmese (Myanmar) communities.

Aboriginal Communities

RLSSWA research shows Aboriginal children aged 5–14 are 6.8 times more likely to fatally drown than non-Aboriginal children in WA. In regional and remote communities, swimming pools are often the centre of community life, especially where there is limited social infrastructure. Evidence shows that remote pools support:

• Stronger community connection
• Improved school attendance and behaviour
• Better health outcomes, including ear, nose and skin conditions

The remote communities of Kalumburu and Balgo had recently built public swimming pools, which were being managed by RLSSWA. These new community pools offered a great place to deliver water safety education to Aboriginal young people.

Approach

The project delivered culturally tailored water education programs across metropolitan Perth and the Kimberley. Programs were codesigned with communities, schools, and health workers to ensure they met local needs. Key features included:

• Affordable swimming and water safety lessons
• Water safety education sessions
• Infant aquatics and parent programs
• First aid and lifesaving training
• Role-model development
• Gender-specific programs (where needed)
• Cultural awareness training for instructors
• Inclusive lesson plans and teaching guides

The focus was on creating safe and welcoming learning environments and building trust with communities.

Metro CaLD Program

The metropolitan program focused on high-risk CaLD communities in areas with growing multicultural populations, including the Cities of Swan, Stirling, and Wanneroo. A key strength of the program was the use of trusted community leaders to encourage participation. Community champions helped explain the importance of water safety and promoted programs in culturally appropriate ways.

CaLD communities were consulted, involved, and respected throughout program delivery. RLSSWA also strengthened their community connections through hosting three Multicultural Steering Committee meetings, participation in community events, and ongoing communication through newsletters, radio, and media.

Kimberley Program

Programs were developed with local schools and health educators to ensure they were culturally appropriate and inclusive. These provided safe spaces for children, youth, and families to learn essential skills. The pools also served as important community hubs.

No School, No Pool - Encouraging School Attendance

The No School, No Pool policy is a proven strategy used in remote communities to support school attendance and positive youth development. By linking access to the community pool with regular school participation, the policy provides a powerful, positive incentive that encourages children to engage in learning. It’s a community-driven approach that strengthens educational outcomes while building lifelong habits around responsibility, health and wellbeing. Delivered in partnership with local schools and community, the policy reinforces that education is vital, while still ensuring that all children can swim, connect and grow in a safe and supportive environment.

Balgo participation

Kalumburu participation

Impact and Outcomes

Across both metro and remote locations, the program delivered broader social benefits, including:

• Increased water safety knowledge and confidence
• Stronger family and community connections
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Greater community leadership

Metro CaLD program

One of the most significant outcomes for this project was strengthening the relationships RLSSWA has with the multicultural community. The organisation continues to run its Multicultural Steering Committee and consults regularly with this group to ensure their activities are tailored to the needs of these communities. In recognition of this work, RLSSWA received the WA Multicultural Award – Community Organisation in 2022.

The impact of the program on community champions was significant. For example, a leader in the South Sudanese community first joined the program fearful of water and lacking basic skills. Her motivation to learn was driven by concern for her children’s safety. As her confidence grew, she became an advocate for swimming and water safety within her community, particularly in relation to emergency situations.

Next steps

The project achieved strong outcomes, but gaps remain in other regional, remote, and CaLD communities. RLSSWA continues to promote inclusive practices, expand partnerships, and advocate for sustained investment so more Western Australians can develop essential water safety skills.