Royal Life Saving study reviews 20 years of drowning trends in Australia

A comprehensive new Royal Life Saving Australia study has found a significant reduction in drowning rates, particularly among young children, but highlights continuing challenges among migrant and regional populations, and locations including at rivers and beaches.

Published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the research uses data from nearly 5,700 unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 and offers clear guidance to inform an update to the Australian Water Safety Strategy, which is being released for consultation at the National Water Safety Summit in Sydney as of tomorrow and Friday (24th and 25th July).

The study shows that drowning deaths decreased by 24.1% over 20 years, with the greatest fall in drowning rates occurring in children aged 0-4 years (down 59.2%). Drowning rates fell in all age groups, except those aged 15-17 years. Drowning rates in people aged 65-years and older now represent 20.1% of drowning deaths over the study period (1.77 per 100,000 population), and have shown little change over 20 years.

Lead author of the study Lauren Miller, of Royal Life Saving Society - Australia and James Cook University, explained “Australia should be proud of the dramatic reduction in child drowning, which demonstrates the power of policy, education, and community action. But our progress has stalled in key areas - particularly among older Australians and males at rivers or beaches.”

Rivers and creeks were the leading location for drowning, representing 26.3% of cases and falling by 21.6%, followed by beaches (17.9%) which showed no change in drowning rates over the 20-year period. Those living in remote or disadvantaged communities face highest rates of drowning

ales are nearly four times as likely as females to drown (3.7 times). Alcohol consumption remains a major factor, present in 23.9% of drowning deaths, pre-existing medical conditions were present 36.0%, the majority recorded among older people.

This study highlights the need for a redoubling of water safety and drowning prevention efforts in a revitalised Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 to be launched in consultation draft at this week's National Water Safety Summit.

Miller added "our research shows drowning is not simply a childhood issue or limited to pools. It affects every Australian, in every part of the country. Investment in localised solutions, addressing alcohol and drug use, tackling disadvantage, and better data collection are essential if we're to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030”.

Authors cautioned that reduction reported in this study and somewhat tempered by interim data reported in the 2024 National Drowning Report, which reported that drowning has increased in post pandemic years.

Click here to view the study ‘An Analysis of unintentional fatal drowning in Australia 2002-2022: Progress, challenges and data to inform prevention’ as published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

The Journal is the official publication of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Image credit: pxhere.