Water safety among CALD communities – LOTE talks to the ABC
As the summer season approaches, the importance of water safety becomes increasingly critical. Tragically, there have already been 38 drowning deaths reported. In response to this, efforts are being ramped up to educate the Australian community about the importance of water safety.
The LOTE Agency’s Head of Communities and Strategy, Kwabena Ansah, recently spoke to the ABC about the initiatives being undertaken by swimming clubs and organizations such as Swimming NSW and Royal Life Saving Society. These organizations are making concerted efforts to reach out to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
The aim is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background, can feel safe around water. This involves not only teaching swimming skills but also educating individuals about potential hazards and emergency procedures.
In particular, these organizations are focusing on CALD communities, recognizing that language barriers and cultural differences can sometimes make it more challenging for these communities to access and understand water safety information. By providing resources and education in various languages and culturally appropriate formats, they hope to bridge this gap.
This is a crucial step towards ensuring that all members of the Australian community can enjoy the water safely this summer. It’s a reminder that water safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we all have a role to play in preventing further tragedies.
