City of Newcastle overcomes language barriers to keep beachgoers safe in the surf
A rise in beach rescues among non-English speaking residents and visitors has prompted City of Newcastle to provide translations of vital water safety information.
The messaging is now available in nine different languages, aiming to better inform people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds about the dangers of swimming at our beaches and ocean baths.
City of Newcastle's Executive Manager Community and Recreation Lynn Duffy said studies have shown people who were born overseas represent a disproportionately high number of drowning deaths in Australia.
"As a vibrant, coastal city set alongside six stunning beaches, Newcastle has become an attractive destination for international tourists, while also being home to a thriving, multicultural community with diverse backgrounds and experiences," Ms Duffy said.
"Heading to the beach is way of life for most Novocastrians, but it's important to be aware of the risks presented by the ocean and what we can do to minimise them, especially for people who might not have had many experiences in this kind of environment.
“Royal Life Saving’s 10-year research study showed that one in three people who drown in Australia are born overseas, with most migrant drownings occurring within their first five years of moving to Australia.
“Our multilingual safety information will help ensure everyone can enjoy our beautiful coastline safely, making our wonderful lifestyle more accessible to those for whom English is not their first language."
Beachgoers can scan QR codes that have been installed on every City of Newcastle water safety sign from Merewether to Stockton Beach and at Merewether and Newcastle Ocean Baths.
The code takes users to a webpage to view beach safety advice such as swim between the flags, as well as interpretations of signs including high surf and strong currents, which have been translated into Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Punjabi, Dari and Swahili.
City of Newcastle's Aquatic Operations and Education Specialist Chris Griffin said a range of factors led to the roll out of the multilingual safety information.
"Our lifeguards noticed an increase in rescues involving people who didn't speak English and weren't familiar with the risks of going to the beach," Mr Griffin said.
"During our annual Water Safety Education Program, which reaches more than 13,000 children across Newcastle, we also received feedback from migrant families who said they'd like the information to be available in their first language. We've had similar feedback from international students at the University of Newcastle regarding beach safety signs.
"We spoke to other Councils about how they've developed similar programs and consulted with community planners at City of Newcastle who work with new citizens, to help determine which languages would provide the most benefit.
"We'll monitor the QR codes to learn which languages are being used the most to see if there's more we can do within those communities. We're also hoping to add even more languages in the future."
Vietnamese TAFE student Huu Quoc Viet Bui said safety messages in multiple languages will help prevent accidents by ensuring international visitors understand important warnings and guidelines.
"I am a beach lover so I cannot live without it. It is one of the places I come after my classes. It makes me feel relaxed having some fresh air after a busy day," Mr Bui said.
"There are some different things between beaches in Newcastle and Vietnam such as facilities, culture and marine life.
"There are dangers we need to know about at the beaches as a visitor here such as strong waves and hidden hazards.”
The translated guides can be found here: https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/explore/beaches/beach-safety
