Over 200 participants attended daily water safety sessions held online during National Water Safety Week (November 29 – December 3).
Participants included students from AMEP classes, primary schools and individual community members.
The sessions were organised by the South East Sydney Multicultural Water Safety Committee, which includes water safety organisations, local councils, and community organisations, who come together to work towards reducing drowning among multicultural communities.
NSW Settlement Partnership member organisations, Gymea Community Aid and Information Service (GCAIS) and Advance Diversity Services (ADS), are key members of the committee.
Throughout the week, there were session on beach safety by Surf Life Saving NSW & Sutherland Shire Council Lifeguards, Pool, Rivers & Lakes by Royal Lifesaving Australia, Boating Safety by NSW Maritime, Rock Fishing by The Department of Primary Industries & Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW and CPR & First Aid by Royal Lifesaving Australia.
The aim of the sessions was to teach people to be safe so that they could enjoy water activities with their friends and families. There are many beautiful beaches, rivers, lakes and pools around Sydney, but they can be dangerous if people are not careful.
Organisers provided water safety messaging, videos, live streaming to a beach, interactive presentations, quizzes, and prizes.
Resources in language can be found on Surf Lifesaving NSW Beach Safety Hub. You can view and explore this hub here.
In addition, Surf Lifesaving NSW, in partnership with the South East Sydney Multicultural Water Safety Committee, is recruiting volunteers to visit beaches in the area during February and March next year, in order to talk to beachgoers about water safety.
Information sessions and training are being run in December 2021 and January 2022. For more information, contact Jenny Grey from GCAIS, at (02) 9524 9559.