Leading safety agencies Kidsafe Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, and Farmsafe Australia are encouraging families to organise safe play areas and actively supervise children around water.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of child deaths on farms.
According to the latest statistics from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s National Drowning Report, 26 per cent of toddler drownings, between ages 0 and 4 in 2022/23, occurred in inland waterways such as lakes, dams, rivers, and creeks.
The figure increased to 43 per cent in the 5–14 year age group.
Kidsafe Victoria General Manager Jason Chambers said farms had several potential hazards which were not commonly found in a suburban home, including bodies of water.
“Farms and regional properties often contain a number of different bodies of water such as dams, troughs, irrigation channels, water tanks, rivers and lakes, all which can pose a potential drowning hazard for children,” he said.
“Creating a safe play area that is away from water and other farm hazards, such as animals and machinery, is a great way to provide kids with a safe place to explore.”
In 2020, Shepparton mother Ash Napolitano experienced every parent’s nightmare when her 2-year-old son Hunter drowned in a dam on a Goulburn Valley farm
In honour of their son, the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program was established with Kidsafe Victoria to give children in need in the Goulburn Valley region free swimming lessons and water safety education.
Life Saving Victoria Manager of Research and Evaluation Dr Hannah Calverley highlighted the importance of teaching children how to swim and having an emergency plan.
“We urge all families to prioritise enrolling children in swim classes to learn water safety and to keep their first aid and CPR qualifications current,” she said.
Farmsafe Australia Chair Felicity Richards also noted the important role active adult supervision played in keeping children safe.
“Always keep children within arm’s reach and ensure they are never left alone near hazardous areas such as machinery, animals, or water sources. Being physically close allows you to respond instantly if a dangerous situation arises,” she said.
Farm water safety tips
Ensure children are always actively supervised by an adult when in or around water. For toddlers, this means having an adult within arm’s reach.
Set up a safe play area away from water hazards such as dams. The play area should be securely fenced, located close to the house, and equipped with shade, as well as a range of fun and engaging activities for children.
Enrol children in swimming lessons, and make sure that water storage areas such as wells and tanks are secularly covered.
For more information on farm safety and the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program, visit www.kidsafevic.com.au.
