Published 31 January 2025

Royal Life Saving Australia is extremely concerned by the rise in drowning deaths this summer. Declining swimming abilities, changes in demographics and leisure patterns, means long-term investments into drowning prevention measures are urgently needed to reverse this troubling trend.

Two-thirds of the way through summer, the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll shows that 77 people have fatally drowned across Australia since 1 December.

Royal Life Saving fears this number will exceed 110 deaths before the end of summer, a 10% increase on last year, given continued forecast hot weather and further flooding expected across Northern Australia.

More than 38 people have drowned in January, an average of more than one person drowning every day. Regional areas have seen a higher number (46) of drowning deaths than in cities.

Tragically, 11 children (≤17 years) have drowned this summer, and at least four people have drowned while attempting to rescue children in trouble in the water. In all these cases, the children survived.

Royal Life Saving Chief Executive Officer Dr Justin Scarr said: “The tragic, underlying issue is that swimming rates are at historic lows. As a nation, I fear we’ve lost our herd immunity to drowning, as conservative estimates show that more than 50% of the population can’t swim.”

Concern for declining swimming skills in children has been flagged for years, but urgent and coordinated action is needed now. Thousands of children, many now teenagers, missed lessons due to the pandemic. Increased migration, especially from nations where learning to swim is rare, means many teenagers and young adults can’t swim or know what to do in an emergency, putting themselves at risk of drowning.

Additionally, regional communities experience higher rates of drowning compared to those living in major cities, due to greater exposure to natural waters, reduced access to safe places to swim, and being the most affected by funding pressures for local swimming pools.

Dr Justin Scarr said “The unfolding tragedy of this summer can’t be wasted. Significant investment in long term, upstream drowning prevention is needed. Royal Life Saving is calling for a focus on four actions to combat drowning:

1. Nationally co-ordinated investments to boost the swimming and lifesaving skills of children and young people, especially those aged 10-14 years who can’t yet swim 50m and float for 2mins.
2. Large scale grant programs for refugee and migrant communities, delivered at local pools in partnership with community groups, to build swimming and water safety skills and aid in community cohesion.
3. Expansion of Royal Life Saving’s approach to facilitating local water safety planning and coordination, as outlined in the Australian Water Safety Strategy, so that communities affected by repeated drowning tragedies can unite to identify and implement localised, comprehensive and multisectoral solutions.
4. Strategic, structured and long-term investment in building and refurbishing community swimming pools and learn to swim centres, to meet the changing needs of communities in our growing cities and regional areas, and to ensure that those most likely to miss out have access to a safe place to swim.

“Investment in community swimming pools has always been a key part of Australia’s approach to water safety and drowning prevention. More is needed to meet the medium-term impacts of ageing pools, changing community demographics, and population growth in our outer metropolitan suburbs and regional areas,” Dr Scarr said.

With a month left of summer, Royal Life Saving is reminding Australian’s that drowning prevention starts with you. To stay safe around the water, be prepared and make sure to:

• Always supervise children around water
• Avoid alcohol around water
• Wear a lifejacket when boating, paddling and fishing
• Check the conditions and be prepared to change your plans
• Avoid going alone
• Choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags