Introduction
Rock fishing is undertaken by an estimated 1.5 million Australians and remains the third‑highest cause of coastal drowning nationally, with two‑thirds of fatalities occurring in NSW (Surf Life Saving Australia, 2026).

Analysis of rock-fishing drowning incidents from 2004-2025 shows that at least 32% of victims were not wearing a lifejacket (Surf Life Saving NSW, 2026). This project aimed to increase awareness of safe rock‑fishing practices, engage at‑risk migrant and multicultural communities, and improve lifejacket use among rock fishers.

Description
The project used a targeted, multi‑faceted approach to rock fishing safety education, guided by data and community feedback. Delivered in collaboration with 40 agencies, organisations and community groups across NSW, it combined coastal and in‑community safety sessions led by ambassadors with lived experience, scaffolded by early‑childhood and adult education classes to engage the community at all levels.

Lessons Learnt
From participant evaluation data:
- 95% reported learning new rock fishing safety information
- 95% felt more confident in how to stay safe while rock fishing
- 100% of those who had been rock fishing since attending a session reported wearing their new lifejacket.

Stakeholders and participants identified opportunities to strengthen future delivery, including:
- Facilitating more in-community and in-language programs to target harder-to-reach cohorts
- Expanding educational content across social media platforms such as WeChat and Little Red Book
- Partnering with major bait and tackle retailers to distribute safety materials and promote lifejacket use at point of purchase.

Conclusion
The success of this project delivered:
- 1,500 lifejackets into community
- Rock fishing safety education for more than 10,000 community members across all program activities
- A framework for holistic, collaborative drowning‑prevention initiatives targeting priority locations, activities and populations.

In January 2006, Drowning Prevention Auckland (DPA), Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR), and Auckland Council formed a collaborative programme to address the disproportionate number of fatal drownings among west coast rock-based fishers.

Alongside the installation of compliant signage and public rescue equipment at 19 high-risk sites, the programme has delivered sustained on-site engagement and annual research to inform targeted education for at-risk communities.

Between 2006 and 2025, 44 rock-based fishing fatalities were recorded in New Zealand. Auckland accounted for nearly half (45%, n=20), with Waikato and the rest of New Zealand each contributing 27% (n=12). In Auckland, 95% of fatalities were male (n=19), and all but four were of Asian ethnicity (WSNZ, 2025).

Recent research highlights persistent behavioural risk factors. Participation remains predominantly male (89%) with an overrepresentation of Asian fishers (55%). Observations show only 29% of fishers wear lifejackets, 40% wear appropriate clothing, and 21% fish alone. Alarmingly, 29% were observed fishing in dangerous conditions, and 60% engaged in other risky behaviours. Despite 58% acknowledging that being swept from rocks is likely to result in drowning, many continue to rely on experience or local knowledge to keep themselves safe.

This work directly aligns with summit priorities, addressing rock fishing as a high-risk activity and multicultural communities as a key population through targeted, culturally responsive interventions.

The programme has continuously adapted to changing demographics, behaviours, and environmental conditions. A significant expansion in 2024 enabled a year-round presence, while the 2025/26 season strengthened partnerships with fishing retailers to better reach target communities.

Since implementation, drowning fatalities have reduced to one per annum, despite increasing visitor numbers, demonstrating the effectiveness of a sustained, collaborative approach.

This presentation will explore the programme’s evolution, key challenges, and lessons learned, and outline future directions for reducing drowning risk among rock-based fishers.

Background
Rock-based fishing remains one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s highest risk coastal activities, with Auckland’s west coast experiencing a sustained pattern of fatalities and serious incidents. Many incidents occur at isolated, unsupervised locations where the first person able to respond is often another fisher. Funding has now been secured, and Drowning Prevention Auckland is developing the Rock Based Fishers Rescue Programme as a direct extension of the long standing Auckland West Coast Rock Based Fishing Safety Project. The programme responds to findings that identified the need for practical, community led rescue capability and safer fishing practices among fishers.

Description
Drowning Prevention Auckland is leading the development of the programme, with support from Surf Life Saving Northern Region, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, and fishing community partners. Designed around a “by fishers, for fishers” model, the programme will be delivered across high-risk west coast locations including Piha, Te Henga Bethells, Karekare, and Whatipū. Development work includes baseline research, curriculum design, culturally appropriate resources, pilot planning, and practical land-based rescue training. Course content will include safer fishing practices, recognising distress, raising the alarm, effective communication with emergency services, use of rescue equipment such as throw ropes and life rings, and avoiding unsafe water-entry rescues.

Lessons Learned
Findings from the Auckland West Coast Rock Based Fishing Safety Project show many fishers have witnessed people in difficulty, and some have already performed rescues. These insights are shaping the programme and reinforcing the importance of trust, cultural relevance, peer leadership, and training grounded in real west coast fishing environments.

Conclusion
The Rock Based Fishers Rescue Programme is being developed as a practical, scalable drowning prevention initiative. By combining safer fishing behaviours with land-based rescue capability, it aims to reduce risk before, during, and after an incident, with future potential for wider replication.

Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) has developed and implemented two evidence-based decision support tools, the Lifesaving Services Calculator and the Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) Calculator, to guide the provision of lifesaving services and safety infrastructure across Queensland’s diverse coastal environments. These calculators apply a consistent, risk-based framework that considers factors such as beach hazard ratings. By translating complex and dynamic risk profiles into objective outputs, the tools support proportionate and defensible decisions regarding lifesaving personnel levels and the staged deployment of PRE at both patrolled and unpatrolled beaches.
SLSQ integrates these calculators into broader aquatic risk assessments and coastal safety planning processes. This approach enables a structured and evidence-based method for determining where lifesaving services and infrastructure are most required. The model supports land managers in meeting their duty of care obligations by providing clear, data-driven recommendations. It also incorporates complementary risk controls, including signage, emergency markers, and the enhancement of bystander rescue capability, ensuring a holistic approach to coastal safety.
The implementation of these tools has highlighted the importance of a consistent and transparent methodology when assessing coastal risk across varied environments. Key lessons include the value of using data to support decision-making, the need to consider both patrolled and unpatrolled locations, and the benefit of integrating multiple risk controls rather than relying solely on frontline services. Additionally, the approach has reinforced the importance of collaboration between SLSQ, land managers, and other stakeholders to ensure effective and coordinated safety outcomes.
Importantly, these two tools strongly align with the Midpoint Update of the AWSS 2030 with the three clearly defined National Imperatives: Swimming and water safety skills for all, localising water safety efforts, and aligning policies and partnerships for change. SLSQ are demonstrating how a scalable, risk-based methodology can strengthen drowning prevention outcomes while improving transparency and inter-agency collaboration.

Background: Australia’s coastline attracts an estimated 630 million individual visits each year. Coastal environments are dynamic with hidden hazards such that most coastal drowning deaths occur at beaches and rock platforms away from lifesaving services. Bystanders are therefore often the only immediate responders if someone gets into difficulty in the water. Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) enables members of the public to assist a person in distress by providing flotation or, where appropriate, to perform a rescue.

Description: PRE is a recognised drowning prevention measure; however, it is frequently installed reactively with limited evidence guiding equipment selection or suitability for bystander rescue. Historically, the absence of national standards has resulted in limited guidance for coastal managers and emergency services to plan, approve, and maintain PRE. Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), the peak coastal safety body in Australia, is leading a two year project to develop a national guideline for the placement, maintenance, and use of PRE along the Australian coast.

Lessons learned: Phase one identified different locations and approaches to PRE implementation, including equipment only, communications only, and hybrid models, as well as differences in monitoring and maintenance practices across states. The project highlighted the need for a structured, risk based decision making tool to guide whether PRE should be installed, where it should be located, and which equipment is most appropriate. Engagement with international counterparts has identified opportunities to contribute to the development of PRE standards.

Conclusions: Findings from phase one , alongside the risk based decision making tool will inform a national PRE guideline, incorporating best practice recommendations to support consistent and effective PRE installation, management and monitoring, collectively enabling communities and contributing to reduced drowning risk along Australia’s coastline.

Every year in Australia, an average of 5 people fatally drown while attempting to rescue someone else in distress. These fatalities primarily occur away from lifesaving services, and without the use of flotation devices to assist in the rescue. The significant investment that would be required to increase lifesaving services coverage to all beaches is unrealistic, and other options need to be explored. Providing flotation is a key to interrupt the drowning process. The effectiveness of Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) has been demonstrated in Hawaii, but there is little research into the suitability and efficacy of PRE types at Australian surf beach environments. This study tested which of three common PRE types were best for contact-based surf beach rescues, in terms of effectiveness, intuitiveness, and ease of use. Testing was carried out at Cronulla Beach, with 23 members of the public participating (primarily recruited from ocean swimming clubs). Participants conducted simulated rescue scenarios with each of the three different PRE types, with data collected on physical exertion, usage, rescue duration and outcome, supported by pre- and post-rescue surveys by participants. Minimal differences were recorded for exertion metrics, but respondents reported strong PRE type preferences. Angel rings were the least popular, while rescue tubes and rescue buoys were equally preferred. Among participants with rescue experience, rescue tubes ranked slightly more preferred than the rescue buoys. These results will help inform landowners and managers when providing PRE at surf beach environments. Angel rings should not be considered in beach environments, while tubes and buoys can be considered situation dependent. At Surf Life Saving Clubs, rescue tubes may be preferable due to the higher presence of trained lifesavers, however in remote areas, rescue buoys may be better employed, due to increased durability and being more intuitive to use by untrained bystanders.