How do you teach water safety in communities where there may be no nearby pool, river or beach, and where swimming is not part of cultural history or lived experience?

That was one of the important questions explored at the Western Sydney Water Safety Fest, held in Granville in late March, where leading swimming and water safety organisations including Swim Australia, AUSTSWIM and Royal Life Saving Australia came together to share ideas, insights and practical solutions.

Organised by Impowerful, a not-for-profit committed to empowering individuals and communities, the event created space for swim schools, industry organisations and community leaders to discuss how water safety education can be made more inclusive, accessible and culturally relevant.

AUSTSWIM’s NSW & ACT State Manager, Charlene Easton, joined a panel discussion focused on cultural inclusion in swimming and water safety.

Charlene spoke about the importance of recognising that different communities have different relationships with water, and that successful programs must be shaped with communities, not simply delivered to them. She highlighted the value of co-design, alongside practical steps to remove barriers to participation, including funding support, visual aids to assist with language accessibility, and adult learn to swim opportunities that help build both confidence and capability.

She also reinforced the importance of creating stronger pathways for people from multicultural communities to become swim teachers, and of promoting swim teaching as a meaningful and viable career with opportunities for development and progression.

The event also featured live rescue demonstrations by swim schools from Macquarie University and Cumberland City Council, with audience participation helping bring key water safety messages to life in a practical and engaging way.

“This was the drop in the ocean that has had a rippling effect,” Charlene said. “Impowerful has been flooded with requests to host this in other areas.

The event was funded by Cumberland City Council, organised by Impowerful, and supported by Belgravia Leisure, Cumberland Council Swim Centres, the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence and CSmart Consulting.

 Pictured above: Nancy Shaw, Swim Australia; Charlene Easton, AUSTSWIM; and Nancy Ying, Royal Life Saving Australia.