Unusually strong seas on Australia’s eastern coastline over the summer have led to a dramatic increase in the coastal drowning rate and renewed calls for beachgoers to behave responsibly.

However, despite the increased number of deaths, SLSA has reiterated its support for an integrated solution to reducing coastal drowning deaths, rather than focusing on quick-fixes, such as the installation of more lifeguard towers.

Unusually strong seas on Australia’s eastern coastline over the summer have led to a dramatic increase in the coastal drowning rate and renewed calls for beachgoers to behave responsibly.

However, despite the increased number of deaths, SLSA has reiterated its support for an integrated solution to reducing coastal drowning deaths, rather than focusing on quick-fixes, such as the installation of more lifeguard towers.

Speaking during a visit to the central coast of NSW in January, where he met with local stakeholders, including local government representatives, SLSA CEO, Greg Nance said that it was important to adopt a holistic approach to beach safety, rather than focus on any one particular aspect.

“Despite the recent drowning deaths on the central coast and in other parts of the country, our overall record is second only to the United States,” he said. “This record is quite exceptional when you consider that Australia has more than 11,000 beaches around its 35,000km of coastline. With almost one hundred years of experience keeping Australias beaches safe, SLSA has developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the incidence of coastal drowning deaths,” he said.

The plan addresses the four parts of the drowning cycle (that is, the systemic failures which allow people to drown):

1. Lack of education on the potential risk posed by the hazard – through education (in-flight videos for new visitors to Australia, brochures at airports and hotels), the Telstra Beach to Bush program, and school surf safety programs.
2. Access to the hazard: through development of a comprehensive aquatic risk and safety auditing capability on the back of our ABSAMP data which maps and rates all 11,011 beaches.
   • through a standard signage and flag manual based on international and Australian standards;
   • through examining ways to provide additional surveillance in hazardous.
3. Lack of supervision at the hazard – through extension of lifesaving services with trained volunteers, SLSA support services and paid lifeguards all providing surveillance and rescue capability.
4. Lack of survival skills – through comprehensive junior (nipper) and school education programs.