ALGA News attended the launch of the National Drowning Report 2024, by Assistant Federal Minister Matt Thistlethwaite (pictured), on 20 August at Parliament House in Canberra, which found there were 323 drowning deaths over the past year.
While some progress has been made including for children aged under five, the National Drowning Report 2024 showed a 16% increase in drownings on the 10-year average. Drowning deaths for children 5-14 increased 30 per cent and for people over 65 increased 26 per cent.
This increase is an issue of concern for all levels of government, including councils.
As a member of the Australian Water Safety Council, ALGA works closely with Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia to improve water safety and drowning prevention across Australia.
We are committed to working with all organisations and partners to improve water safety and to help reduce drowning deaths in Australia, especially around waterways and pools managed by local government.
