A Collective Commitment to Halving Drowning by 2030

Held in Sydney on 24–25 July to mark World Drowning Prevention Day, the National Water Safety Summit 2025 brought together over 230 delegates from across the water safety, health, education, and community sectors.

Presented by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council, the two-day event provided a vital platform to review national progress, strengthen strategic alignment, and chart a clear path forward to achieve the Australian Water Safety Strategy’s ambitious goal of halving drowning by 2030. With recent data indicating a concerning reversal of long-term downward trends, the Summit reaffirmed the importance of collective action.

"The National Water Safety Summit is a critical gathering that fosters collaboration and innovation to address our future drowning prevention priorities," said Michael Ilinsky, CEO of Royal Life Saving NSW. "The opportunity to come together, reflect and plan is vital if we are to support communities that continue to be overrepresented in our drowning statistics—particularly those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, regional and remote areas, and low socio-economic communities. The event has reinvigorated our purpose and ensures a contemporary, inclusive approach to our drowning prevention agenda."

The Summit stands as a powerful reminder that coordinated effort, evidence-based policy, and cross-sector engagement are essential to making Australian waterways safer for all.