The 2008 Australian Water Safety Conference, which was opened by Noeline Brown, Ambassador for Ageing on 15 May and concluded on 16 May at the Crowne Plaza, Darling Harbour Sydney, was heralded a success by a range of Australian and International water safety experts who were eager to contribute and collaborate to the draft Australian Water Safety Strategy 2008-2011.

“The AWSC has identified three key drivers which will form the basis of the strategy to reduce drowning deaths by 50 per cent by 2020.

“We must take a life stage perspective, target high risk locations and meet several significant drowning challenges such as those faced by the indigenous or culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia,” Australian Water Safety Council Convenor, Rob Bradley said.

“The Australian Water Safety Council have set an ambitious target to reduce drowning deaths in Australia by 50 per cent by 2020, the necessary approach was detailed in the draft Australian Water Safety Strategy 2008-2011 released at the conference, with the final strategy to be formally launched in July.

“After an encouraging 20 per cent decrease in drowning deaths between 2000-04, a number of disturbing upwards trends have emerged recently, in particular in the under fives group. To hear from the parents who had either lost a child to drowning or continues to care for a child who suffers serious medical conditions due to a near drowning, puts a face to the sometimes cold statistics.

“The International keynote speaker Dr Michael Linnan, Technical Director, The Alliance for Safe Children spoke of the horrendous plight suffered by many of our Asian neighbours, due to an obvious lack of expertise and resources in the area of water safety, that are often taken for granted here in Australia.

“It is essential that we make available whatever necessary to help these countries,” Bradley added.

Australian Water Safety Council – Member Organisations:

AUSTSWIM, Royal Life Saving Society Australia, Surf Life Saving Australia, Swimming Australia, Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport, Farmsafe Australia, Kidsafe Australia, Australian National Sportfishing Association, Aquatic and Recreation Institute, Surfing Australia, Australia and New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group, Australian Local Government Association, Australian Swimming Teachers and Coaches Association.

The 2008 Australian Water Safety Conference was supported by The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Photograph: Rob Bradley, Michael Linnan and Noeline Brown