Beach safety programs for international students on offer this summer

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TRANSCRIPT
On a beach in Sydney Slinh Pham is having a great time with her friends in the water.
As an international student at the University of New South Wales, Ms Pham has heard of Australia’s beach culture, but isn’t sure if it’s safe enough for her to explore.
But now, after participating in a swimming program held by her university, Ms Pham is confident that she’s ready to give it a go.
“I can’t tell you how crucial this program is for us international students, because I know that for us, a lot of students, we came here not familiar with the beach, especially the Australian beaches, which can be very powerful. If we came here empty handed, I think it would have been so dangerous, so I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”
It’s the Beach Ocean Safe Program at the University of New South Wales and it’s for all students who aren’t familiar with Sydney’s beaches.
The program runs for three weeks, with three full-day sessions covering sign reading at the beach, basic first aid, safe rock fishing and swimming in beach conditions.
Ms Pham says she’s been learning a lot from the sessions.
“So for the last two, three days, we have been learning a lot, so how to get comfortable in the water, and we learn how to float, which is like first thing that we will have to do, just to survive. And then we also learn how to check water, to read the wave pattern, and everything, and first aid, and, everything just has been so good, we are learning so much.”
Western Sydney University has also launched a learn to swim program, to help its students prepare for their beach experience.
Water safety has become a vital issue for Australia, after the country recorded high numbers of drowning deaths in the past few years.
According to a report by Royal Life Saving Australia in August, there were over 300 drowning deaths in the past 12 months, with 25 per cent of those who died born overseas.
Mike Anderson is the Multicultural Community Education Project Officer at Surf Life Saving.
He says swimming safety programs, like the ones held by universities, are important for new arrivals and international students, not just in terms of safety, but also for their experience of Australia.
“It’s essential that they are given that practical knowledge, and the opportunity is more broader than just water safety. It’s social cohesion, it’s making sure they fit in, it’s giving them the opportunity to perhaps do something they’d never get the opportunity to do, whether it’s life guarding, or surf life saving, but also that Australian culture you know, rowing up by the ocean. They are in a wonderful position to enjoy that as Australians.”
Past research from several sources, has identified multicultural communities at higher risk of drowning, prompting water safety advocates across the country to launch swimming classes for migrant communities.
Madhav Raman is the Engagement Officer at U-N-S-W.
He says many students know how to swim in a pool, but not necessarily at the beach.
He says specific program can address this challenge.
“If you see all these students here today they are, they are beaming with smiles, there is so much joy in there and they are having a great time, and they are having a great time. And they are learning so much and they are going to take this knowledge and share this with their friends and their families. That’s what we want. We want everyone to feel inclusive at the beach and we want them to feel safe while they are having fun but also feel safe.”
The team at the UNSW has also launched a toolkit about water safety, that can be used across Australia.
Oliver Jackson is the university’s water safety officer.
He says the toolkit can be used to help many different organisations run water safety programs for international students.
“The toolkit, it runs everything you need to know, so it includes things like resources, pre-program surveys, funding, who to contact, how to get resources, anything you would need to know to deliver this program successfully.”