World Conference on Drowning Prevention

NOW AVAILABLE 📣 The #WCDP2023 Closing Statement outlines a call for #GlobalStrategy and mobilising local action. It also includes highlights from the plenary and concurrent sessions. We share a special thank you with the many delegates who had a role in drafting this statement, especially those who participated in the conference call-to-action activity. In the time between now and WCDP2025, we encourage everyone to increase collaboration, create new knowledge, reach further into the communities most vulnerable to drowning, form new partnerships - especially with those not yet engaged in #DrowningPrevention, and capitalise on this exciting time to be committed to eliminating drowning. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Surf Life Saving Australia

It has been nine months since we gathered in Perth for the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2023. The WCDP2023 Conference Statement outlined a call for global strategy and mobilising local action, with the three main takeaways: 1. Drowning prevention is multidisciplinary, multisectoral and bigger than any organisation or individual – seize opportunities to collaborate, grow, and continue to expand collective impact. 2. Drowning prevention is increasingly an issue of equity, meaning the need for diverse voices is clear – prioritise those most affected, historically marginalised, and excluded; seek out different perspectives and work to create opportunities for new and inclusive forms of leadership. 3. The drowning burden is disproportionately borne by those under 25 years of age – future drowning prevention efforts must place children, adolescents, and young people at the centre of decision making; include, listen, and centre youth in all aspects of drowning prevention. Since the conference, there has been many developments including World Drowning Prevention Day, the WHO World Injury and Violence Prevention Conference (Delhi 2024) and preparations for the Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, expected in December 2024. Useful links from WCDP2023 are shared below: Closing Statement https://bit.ly/4gcA1Rn Abstract Booklet https://bit.ly/4gg5phR Presentations https://bit.ly/3XmLsxj As conference organisers, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, we are now handing over to the Conference Organisers for WCDP2025. Be sure to watch this space as exciting news will be shared in the coming days and weeks for WCDP2025.

The #WCDP2023 Conference Statement is now live and we welcome your feedback. In addition to reinforcing the highlights from the plenary and concurrent sessions, the conference statement outlines a call for global strategy and mobilising local action. The conference statement leaves you with ideas to ponder between now and WCDP 2025. To review the conference statement and provide feedback, visit: tinyurl.com/ms46ud23 📣 Note: the feedback form will close on the 18th February 2024. #WaterSafety #DrowningPrevention

Photos from the final day of #WCDP2023 are now live - view them here: https://lnkd.in/ePA255Qb 📸 Be sure to tag yourself and share!

Photos from day 2 of #WCDP are now live - take a look here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gWqy-vP3

A look back at #WCDP2023…🎥 We thank all 750 delegates who gathered in Perth, Australia to make the conference the great success it was. It is your commitment to Shaping Global Strategy and Mobilising for Action that allows us to make a difference. Event photos will be shared on our Facebook page over the next few days, stay tuned. #WaterSafety #DrowningPrevention Royal Life Saving Society – Australia Surf Life Saving Australia

Couldn’t make #WCDP2023? Do you want to recap on the plenary session takeaways? 👀 Take a look at the graphic recording visuals here: tinyurl.com/38ajda57 A special thanks to the talented Peta Roebuck of Tuna Blue for capturing all the details.

The #WCDP2023 photos from day 1 are now live. From the opening plenary to a range of insightful sessions and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Welcome Reception. You can view the action here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK3qREye Be sure to tag and share! 

World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2023 concluded with 750 friends, from 50 countries, all on stage and sharing in the joy, diversity, depth and relief for a conference week rich with opportunity. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia thanks everyone for making #WCDP2023 special in so many ways. Read more: tinyurl.com/wmmts2mu

*Trigger warning* - Non-fatal drowning (and immense gratitude) Attending the World Conference on Drowning Prevention, including pre-conference workshops has been an emotional journey. Following the non-fatal drowning of my son Samuel in 2006, in 2007 I came to the water safety-drowning prevention community with many questions. One of them was “where are the children like Samuel in the data, literature and narrative around drowning and drowning prevention”. A question because when trying to understand our circumstances children like Samuel were invisible. I will be forever grateful for Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, their leadership, and their embracing of our questions. Justin Scarr, Dr Amy Peden, Richard Franklin where at the forefront of leading research efforts to answer our questions. Producing ground breaking research like the ”13 year National Study of Non-Fatal Drowning in Australia” and inspiring and mentoring others. Winston Churchill Trust (Australia) for my research journey, and Dr Justin Sempsrott for sharing our story internationally. Ongoing advocacy and passionate researchers have continued to draw people to researching this issue. To see multiple research papers presented and a new Non-Fatal Drowning classification system (representing researchers from World Health Organization and multiple countries) launched at this conference makes me confident that children like Samuel, and every other non-fatal drowning survivor will no longer be hidden. Better understanding of their experiences (and the flow on effects) significantly change the understanding of the full burden of drowning, and forever change the cost-benefit ratio of drowning prevention campaigns and measures. Words can never express the gratitude I feel on behalf of Samuel, my family, and every fatal or non-fatal drowning victim and their families and communities. All I can say is THANK YOU to everyone who contributes to the research, practice and advocacy in drowning prevention. Keep up the amazing work, you may never see the people it impacts, but your efforts are invaluable. #drowningprevention #research #advocacy #gratitude