Waverley Council has officially launched its biggest-ever summer safety campaign to educate locals, visitors and overseas tourists on the simple steps they can take to stay safe at Australia’s most famous beaches.
Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches are the busiest in the country, attracting up to 50,000 people a day at the height of summer. Despite these crowds, we were fatality free in 2024/25.
“Waverley Council sets the benchmark in safety measures and education,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said.
“Last year’s award-winning ‘Stay Safe This Summer’ campaign was hugely effective, resulting in less people swimming outside the flags and fewer rescues by our dedicated lifeguards. Building on that success, we are investing in an even bigger campaign this summer.”
New measures in this year’s summer safety campaign include:
- Multi-lingual safety messages to target visitors from China and India, in response to statistics finding the highest number of tourists who drown in Australia are from those countries.
- Advertisements at bus and train stations to educate people travelling to the beach.
- Geo-targeted advertising, including on audio streamers and across social media.
- Summer Safety branded coasters and cup holders distributed to local cafes.
- A custom commissioned ‘Swim Between the Flags’ mural on Bondi’s iconic seawall.
Waverley Council’s lifeguards have the longest patrol hours in Australia, between 6am and 7pm every day throughout summer. Last year, they performed 1700 rescues and carried out 38,000 preventative actions to ensure public safety and reduce the risk of accidents and drownings.
“We never want to see anyone drown at our beaches and that is why it is so important everyone knows the simple steps they can take to keep themselves safe,” Waverley Council lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins said.
WAVERLEY COUNCIL’S SUMMER SAFETY TIPS
Swim between the flags
Whether you’re dipping, swimming or bathing, stay between the red and yellow flags – that’s where it’s safest for you to be. Bonus points for getting in with a friend!
Only swim during patrol hours
Waverley Council has the longest patrol hours in Australia, between 6am and 7pm every day throughout summer, giving swimmers plenty of time to safely enjoy our ocean. Once the lifeguards leave the beach, it’s time for you to get out of the ocean.
