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
Top Tips Below
Aquatots tips for race day, it's essential to focus on creating a supportive and enjoyable environment while also encouraging good sportsmanship. Please remember to bring your child’s Sea Dragon cap, healthy snacks for the day and lots of water.
Here are some tips:
- Encourage Early Arrival: Ensure children arrive early to settle nerves and warm up properly. Familiarize them with the pool area and race setup. Time to write numbers on children’s arms
- Provide Ample Warm-Up Time: Allow sufficient time for warm-up exercises and practice laps to prepare their bodies for the race. A great time to check goggles are fitted ready for diving.
- Emphasise Fun: Remind children that the main goal is to have fun and do their best. Encourage a positive attitude regardless of the outcome.
- Stay Hydrated: Remind children to drink water regularly to stay hydrated throughout the event.
- Offer Encouragement: Cheer for all participants equally and offer words of encouragement. Celebrate their efforts, regardless of finishing position.
- Emphasise Sportsmanship: Teach children the importance of good sportsmanship. Congratulate opponents on their performances and encourage teamwork and camaraderie.
- Provide Supportive Environment: Ensure parents and spectators create a supportive atmosphere, cheering positively for all participants.
- Celebrate Achievements: Recognise and celebrate each child's achievements, whether it's a personal best time or finishing the race.
- Keep it Safe: Prioritise safety by ensuring proper supervision and adherence to pool rules at all times.
- Reflect and Learn: After the event, reflect on the experience with the children. Discuss what went well and areas for improvement, fostering a growth mindset.
If you are a parent enjoying race day with your child, it is important that you are relaxed and understand we work as a team.
- Timekeeper duty: Timekeeper duty is required, and a roster will be emailed before the event, please ensure you are ready to take your shift.
- Listen to the coach: The coaches are there to assist your child with their racing tactics and tips, ensure you listen and encourage your child to take the advice on board.
- Healthy Snacks: Provide healthy snacks for the day, it is best to have small amounts throughout the day on race day of healthy food that will give energy for the race. Try not to eat within 45 minutes of a race.
- Keep an eye on the claims board: Assist your child by having their race numbers and what stroke they are swimming for that race on their arm. Help your child keep an eye on the claims board, just before their event is claimed they will need to see their coach and then head to the marshalling area. No parents in the marshalling area.
- The marshalling area: Once in the marshalling area a coach or the event organisers will be there to assist your child so, please ensure you relax and sit with the team on the sidelines (this will avoid your nerves rubbing off on your child before their race as well)
- Race feedback: No matter what the result your child has done and amazing job just giving it a go. Your child’s coach will give feedback on the race which will assist with emotions and developing their racing skills.
- Dealing with emotions: Emotions will be high, and it is important that you allow your child to work through them to become the best athlete they can be. You can assist them by being there for support and letting them know it’s ok to feel the way they do.
And last of all support each other. We are a team and these opportunities to give the sport of swimming a go are a great place to shape the way your child will view swim racing for the rest of their life. Let’s make it a positive experience for everyone involved.
