The council and Royal Life Saving NSW have teamed up to help overseas-born residents be more aware about water safety. The move follows a report, entitled ‘Priority Drowning Issues in NSW: Multicultural Populations’, released by Royal Life Saving NSW in which drownings in the Canterbury-Bankstown area had been reported as totalling 11 between 2013 and 2018.
According to Mayor Khal Asfour, the report’s findings showed a real need for initiatives focused on drowning prevention within multicultural communities to be introduced. Local suburbs such as Milperra are set on the Georges River and the mayor said the area is also among Australia’s most diverse culturally, which makes spreading the water safety message even more important, adding:
"We want to make sure everyone knows how to be safe, whether they live in CB City or visiting other areas, especially coastal spots where we are blessed with some of best beaches in the world."
He said while beautiful, the water can be a dangerous place. A number of water safety resources have been provided by Royal Life Saving NSW to help communicate and engage local community members such as a Cultural Competence Programme previously developed for swim teachers and lifeguards. Printing services have often been engaged to help spread safety messages such as this.
Mayor Asfour said Royal Life Saving NSW also assist in helping to subsidise council learn-to-swim programmes.