As Australians prepare for another hot summer, concerning new data reveals significant inequalities in drowning risk, with rates almost three times higher in regional areas and twice as high in the most disadvantaged communities.
Kids Alive is calling for greater access to swimming lessons and water safety education, warning that declining swimming skills and unequal access to lessons are putting more children at risk.
Former Olympic swim coach and founder of Kids Alive Lawrie Lawrence is urging parents to be vigilant in starting swimming lessons early for their children through their Swim into Summer program which offers free swimming lessons and resources ahead of the hotter months.
He says building swimming confidence early is a vital resource to keeping kids safe around water.
