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Drowning in Multicultural Communities
New arrivals may be unfamiliar with local conditions, hazards and safety practices around water.
Understanding the Context
People born overseas may have limited swimming skills, unfamiliarity with Australian waterways and reduced understanding of local hazards such as rips, sudden depth changes or strong currents. Language barriers can also make safety signs and warnings harder to interpret. New arrivals are often unaware of risks unique to Australia’s beaches, rivers and rock platforms, which increases incident likelihood.
Research and Statistics
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People born overseas account for around 34% of all drowning deaths in Australia.
Around 36% of drowning deaths in multicultural communities involve people who have lived in Australia for five years or less.
Approximately 29% of drowning deaths among overseas-born people occur at beaches.
Key Hazards
Swimming Skills
Lack of or poor swimming or survival skills, including difficulty floating or treading water.
Overconfidence
Overestimation of abilities when swimming, boating or recreating.
Underestimating Risk
Underestimation of the risk posed by conditions or water environments.
How to Stay Safe
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Check your Health
Check with your doctor if medical conditions may affect you in water.
Look After your Friends
Stay with friends around water and keep an eye on each other.
Learn CPR
Learn CPR so you can respond quickly in an emergency.
