Royal Life Saving NSW and Primary Comms Group were very pleased to bring together almost 30 Members of Parliament and four of Australia’s elite swimmers last week, to record important summer water safety messages as part of the What’s Your Plan? digital campaign.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of drowning prevention and encourage communities across New South Wales to make water safety a priority as summer approaches.
The MPs were in good form, delivering sharp messages to camera, supported by our Olympic champions Olivia Wunsch and William Yang and Paralympic stars Tim Hodge and Beau Matthews, helping share practical reminders that can save lives.
The key messages they kept reinforcing was to always supervise children around water, know your swimming abilities and limits, wear appropriate safety equipment, looking out for mates, avoiding alcohol and drugs around water, and never go out alone.
The need for these messages is clear. The latest National Drowning Report recorded 109 drowning deaths in New South Wales during 2025–26, the highest number of any state or territory. Tragically, a further eight fatalities have occurred since the beginning of spring, reinforcing the importance of continued community awareness and action.
Drowning is preventable, and everyone has a role to play. By sharing consistent, practical water safety advice, we can help individuals and families make safer decisions around rivers, lakes, dams, swimming pools and other aquatic environments this summer.
The campaign provides an opportunity to engage directly with Members of Parliament about Royal Life Saving NSW’s election platform and the need for stronger, coordinated action on drowning prevention.
Engaging with elected representatives helps ensure drowning prevention remains part of the public conversation and highlights the importance of sustained investment in programs that build water safety knowledge and skills.
The campaign is a timely reminder that enjoying the water starts with preparation.
So, before you walk out the door and long before you think about dipping a toe in the water – what’s your plan to stay safe this summer?
Follow Royal Life Saving NSW’s campaign via their socials for practical water safety reminders.
