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The successful UNSW program, working in partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW, will now be available to other universities, as well as community and migrant groups.
Foreigners and locals alike flock to Australia’s beaches in droves once summer arrives. But overseas visitors to Australia are much more likely to die in the water than locals, with long term data showing more than one third of drowning deaths victims were born overseas.
UNSW Sydney has been at the forefront of this issue, developing the Beach Ocean Safe (BOS) program to help overseas students and other migrants who are unfamiliar with Australian beach conditions.
Now, the BOS program will be made available across the state to other universities, as well as migrant and community groups who want to help people in their community stay safe in the water.
UNSW Water Safety Officer Oliver Jackson said the program helped participants build skills and confidence to enjoy Australia’s beaches safely.
“Many international students who come to Australia have never been to the beach, aren’t confident in the ocean, or lack familiarity with basic water safety. But it’s also about more than just swimming – it’s an opportunity to connect with an important part of Australian culture and feel a sense of belonging in our beautiful coastal environment,” Mr Jackson said.
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The program includes theory and practical sessions with trained surf life savers and teaches a range of skills. These include reading beach signs, how to enter the water and move through the wave zone, identifying rips, waves and tides, and basic first aid including CPR.
Since it was first piloted by UNSW, Coogee SLSC and SLS NSW in March 2023, the BOS program has taught more than 65 international students from over 15 countries how to stay safe on Australian beaches.
Student Divyam Goyal grew up in inland India and said she was scared and fearful of the ocean when she arrived in Australia.
“Undertaking the BOS program alleviated my fear of going in the ocean,” Ms Goyal said.
“It changed my life experience as I always wanted to experience the Australian beach culture by swimming in the ocean. Since doing BOS, I have gained confidence, I’m able to swim and enjoy the waters off the coast and I’m now also a proud and active surf life saver at Coogee Beach, thanks to the support of UNSW and my swim mentors, Oliver Jackson and Madhav Raman.”
Coogee Surf Life Saving's Doug Hawkins taking the class on day one of the program in the pool. Photo: Harsha Dwarakacharla
UNSW student Ipsita Pal and other participants making a splash. Photo: Glenn Duffus
Forty students from several universities participated in the Beach Ocean Safety program at Coogee Beach. Photo: Glenn Duffus
Western Sydney University student Rand Wahaib lends a helping hand to UNSW College's Salem Basamh. Photo: Glenn Duffus
The Beach Ocean Safe program has been life-changing for Indian student Divyam Goyal, who after completing the program went on to become a surf life saver at Coogee. Photo: Si Chen/UNSW
The students, with Coogee Surf Life Saving volunteers, were jubilant at the completion of the three day course that will enable them to enjoy Aussie beach culture. Photo: Glenn Duffus
Driven by the success of the program, Mr Jackson and colleagues established the Water Safety for International Students Community of Practice (WSIS CoP), bringing together educational institutions, community organisations and government agencies to work together to expand accessible beach safety education and training across New South Wales.
The group launched its joint program at Coogee Beach over the weekend. Forty students from several universities participated in a three-day event, which was run with Surf Life Saving and sponsored by Study NSW.
The group also launched the Beach Ocean Safe (BOS) Program Toolkit, which includes training materials, safety guidelines, and educational resources to equip surf clubs, educational providers and community organisations with the necessary tools and resources to successfully implement the BOS program anywhere in NSW. Groups simply contact their local SLSC to arrange a course.
Mr Oliver said the weekend’s event was hugely successful. “This marks a historic moment in the collaboration of NSW’s educational providers and Surf Life Saving, all working together to ensure international students and migrants stay safe on Australia’s beaches,” he said.
Find out more about the Beach Ocean Safe Program.
