A new water safety video aims to prevent international student drownings in Australia this summer.
The new video was funded by Study NSW and developed in partnership with NSW Police, Surf Life Saving NSW, Royal Life Saving NSW and Northern Beaches Council.
The trailer for the new water safety video.
The video is subtitled in eight different languages and encourages international students to enrol in swimming lessons and familiarise themselves with water safety when swimming in the ocean, rock pools, rivers and pools or rock fishing.
Nepalese international student Manisha Gautam, is one of six international students who shares her experience on the video to help prevent international student drownings.
Her boyfriend – also an international student from Nepal – drowned in January 2019 in Bents Basin, a popular campsite and swimming spot on the Nepean River, west of Sydney.
Manisha stresses the importance of water safety education.
He was trying to save his friends. He didn’t have any idea about safety procedures and measures. With so many peoples’ help they couldn’t save him.
It’s such a loss for the whole family and friends. It gives me a different idea about the importance of educating ourselves’ in water safety.
Manuella Sella, an international student from Brazil, said:
I think it is important for international students to adapt to the water culture in Australia because it is very different from where we are from. And this means there are also different dangers and types of risks
Superintendent Rohan Cramsie of NSW Police said:
We want international students to safely enjoy the water in NSW. Drownings are extremely tragic due to their preventable nature. Understanding water safety and learning to swim can be the difference between life and death.
Learn about water safety in Australia
The new water safety videos are included in a short online water safety course for international students developed by Study Guard in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia.
The course is free for the first 50 international students who enrol online.
Stay safe this summer…
Source: Fairfield City Champion