Article
A Drowning Risk We Do Not Talk About Enough: Overseas-Born Australians
New analysis from Aquatots shows that overseas-born Australians are at a higher risk of drowning. With National Water Safety Day on December 1, 2025, we need to ask: Are we reaching the communities at the highest risk?
Key findings
- Over the last
20 years, people born overseas have often made up a
bigger share of drowning deaths than their share of the population. In the late 2010s, they were about
30% of the population but up to
40% of drowning deaths.
- In the five years before COVID
(2015-16 to 2019-20), overseas-born Australians drowned at a rate about
25% higher than the overall population. This occurred while the national drowning rate improved. It suggests that overseas-born communities did not benefit as much as those born in Australia.
- From
2005-06 to 2023-24, there were
1,627 drowning deaths among people born overseas - over
30% of all drowning deaths in that period.
- From 2013-14 to 2022-23, the average annual drowning rate was 1.04 deaths per 100,000 for Australian-born residents. For overseas-born residents, it was 1.30. For Nepal-born people, it was 2.48, and for China-born people, it was 1.98.
Australia loves water, but not everyone is equally safe. Our analysis of 20 years of drowning data shows a clear pattern. People born overseas are often carrying more than their share of the grief.
Chart 1
Chart 1 shows how the picture has changed over time.
In the mid-2000s, overseas-born residents were about a quarter of the population. They were also about a quarter of drowning deaths.
Over time, that changed. By the late 2010s, people born overseas made up roughly 30% of Australia’s population. But in some years, they accounted for around 40% of drowning deaths.
A five-year bracket analysis highlights this shift (2024-25 excluded, overseas-born drowning data is provisional):
- 2005-06 to 2009-10: overseas-born people were about 27% of drowning deaths.
- 2010-11 to 2014-15: overseas-born people’s share rose to about 29%.
- 2015-16 to 2019-20: it jumped to over 36%, more than one in three deaths.
- 2020-21 to 2023-24: the share sits at about 29%.
This raises an important question. Is this simply due to the growth of the overseas-born population, or are overseas-born Australians actually less safe in the water?
To answer this question, we look at deaths per 100,000 people per year, the crude annual drowning rate. For much of the last 20 years, the rate for people born overseas has sat above the rate for the population as a whole (see chart 2).
Chart 2
In the five years before COVID (2015–16 to 2019–20), the drowning rate for overseas-born Australians was about 25% higher than the national average. In some of those years, the ‘extra risk’ climbed close to 40%.
For most of the period, the risk ratio (shown by the yellow dashed line in Chart 2) is at or above 1.0. This means overseas-born Australians were as likely, and often more likely, to drown than the average Australian.
Since COVID, the two lines have moved closer together. Overall drowning has gone up, and the gap between overseas-born and Australian-born has narrowed. But the long-term story is clear; for many years, overseas-born Australians - including many culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities were more likely to die once they entered the water.
The CALD communities cover many different communities. We focused on three large migrant communities: people born in China, India, and Nepal.
In 2005, the Nepal-born population in Australia was about 3,800. By 2024, it was around 197,800, more than 50 times larger. Over the same period, the India-born population grew by more than fivefold, and the China-born population by more than threefold.
We used ten years of Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard data (2013-14 to 2022-23) and population figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We calculated average annual drowning rates per 100,000 people and compared different groups (see chart 3).
Chart 3
Two things stand out from chart 3:
- People born in Nepal and China seem to have a higher risk of drowning. This risk is greater than the average for those born overseas and for the Australian-born population.
- People born in India have a lower crude rate, but India and Nepal together still account for around seven drowning deaths a year on average.
Across this time period
(2013-14 to 2022-23), there were
933 drowning deaths
among people born overseas.
181
of these involved people born in
China, India, or Nepal, almost one in five overseas-born drowning deaths.
What this means for a drowning-free Australia
This study doesn’t explain all the reasons for the numbers. But it clearly shows that if Australia aims to reduce drowning deaths by half, CALD communities need to be included.
We know that overseas-born Australians face a higher drowning risk, it's time for specific action:
- Make swimming lessons more affordable and culturally safe.
- Offer water safety information in multiple languages.
- Listen to CALD communities about the barriers they face and the support they need.
Recognizing these patterns and admitting the gaps is the first step to real progress. It’s key to a drowning-free nation where no family is left behind.
Methodology & Data Notes
Data Sources
- NATIONAL DROWNING REPORT, Royal Life Saving Australia, several years
- Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard
- 34090DO001_2024 Australia's population by country of birth 2024, Estimated resident population by country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024, Released at 11:30 am (Canberra time) 30 April 2025, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- A 10 YEAR NATIONAL STUDY OF OVERSEAS BORN DROWNING DEATHS, 2005/06 to 2014/15, Royal Life Saving Australia
- Drowning Among Multicultural Communities in Australia, AN UPDATE: 2013/14 TO 2022/23, Royal Life Saving Australia
Formula
- Crude drowning rate
(raw death count in the year/population of the year) * 100,000
- Risk Ratio
Overseas-born drowning rate/Australian-born drowning rate
A value above 1 means overseas-born Australians face higher drowning risk.
Note
- 'Overseas-born' is not the same as 'CALD', our analysis focuses on country of birth
- We used the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard to analyse the annual total drowning death counts. The dashboard reports 316 deaths for the 2023-24 period. National Drowning Report 2024, Royal Life Saving Australia shows 323. The difference does not affect any trend or conclusion in the analysis.
Using our work
Aquatots Research & Data Team's work is meant to be shared and used widely. You do not need to seek our permission to reuse our article, charts, data, you just need to provide credit - http://www.aquatots.com.au/a-drowning-risk-we-do-not-talk-about-enough:-overseas-born-australians
About Aquatots
At Aquatots we understand that each child is different and will make their own learn to swim journey. To help them on their way we offer fun and engaging classes with qualified instructors and a program with proven results.
If your child is starting their learn to swim journey at the age of three years or older you must understand that an aquatic environment is going to be a scary, unfamiliar environment for them to start with. You will, in the beginning be handing them over to a stranger as this is what their instructor will be until they build a rapport so expect an adjustment period. The Aquatots team is trained to encourage children to swim in their own time and children are never forced to perform skills they are not ready for. Our gentle guiding method is very successful with chidlren starting their swim progression in the pre school program. By allowing your child to explore and encouraging them to progress through gentle guidance we end up with comfortable, confident swimmers.
With our small group classes children get the individual attention that they need. Below are a few tips on how you can make your child's first class a success:
- Talk about the class with your child prior to their start date. If possible find out their instructors name so you can relay this information and create familiarity
- Wear your swimmers underneath but do not tell your child you have them (they may surprise you). If your child needs you in the water for the first few lessons to start their relationship with their instructor we welcome parents into the pre school classes
- Be attentive of your child in the class but try not to hover if they are making progress towards getting in on their own
- Turn up a bit before the class starts to be ready on time and not rushed. The more relaxed you can make the experience the more relaxed your child will be
- Bring a familiar toy from home they can show their instructor, this toy can be a water toy to take in the pool with them
- Be sure to praise your child for their efforts after each class no matter how small the progression may seem to you
A great way to get a fast progression toward becoming comfortable in and around an aquatic environment is more swimming time during the week. If you have the chance, attend the pool outside of your child's lesson time to practice and have a bit of fun. Use of the pool during public hours for the immediate family to the child enrolled is free of charge.
If your child is starting in the under three program there are also some things you can do to try and help your little one have a successful first class.
- Be aware your child will pick up quickly on how you are feeling, ensure you are relaxed and in the right frame of mind to attend the class calmly
- Smile often and praise your child for the efforts they are making, if you are having fun they will relax and have fun
- Turn up with enough time for you to get changed and allow your child to take in the surroundings
- Understand that your child may get tired quickly. Best to have a short happy lesson until your babies stamina builds up
- A fed, alert baby will always be a little happier and more willing than one that is tired and hungry
- Ensure you listen to your instructor, they are fully qualified and have years of experience with baby learn to swim classes
- If this is your child's first time in the water or in classes, sometimes it is best to have the primary carer in the water for the first few lessons until your baby is settled and comfortable
Always understand that there is someone there to help. The amazing team at Aquatots have been chosen beacause they are the best of the best and are always willing to go the extra mile. If you are unsure please ask, if you need help please ask, or if you have any questions please feel free to ask.
We look forward to making your child's time in and around the water a fun and enjoyable experience.
