Jungdranung Remote Community School students take the plunge with the Kimberley River Safety Program

Safety is usually not front of mind for bush kids as they swing from ropes or jump from rocks into the cool waters of a remote East Kimberley river.

“It’s pretty wild,” Royal Life Saving Society WA instructor Steve Waterman said.

“They jump off high rocks, jump off trees, swing off ropes . . . It is all about fun, there is no time to check for hazards.”

That is why the Warmun Community Pool manager has been conducting the Kimberley River Safety Program for the past three years at remote communities across the region.

Recently it was the turn of Jungdranung Remote Community School, (Glen Hill Station) 230km south of Kununurra, to undertake the river safety program.

The children are taught how to be mindful of dangers such as crocodiles or venomous snakes and how to check for hazards such as using a stick to determine the depth of the water.

“We also discuss the ‘aqua code’,” Mr Waterman said.

“When you go to the creek or river always go with someone “big” like a brother, sister, mum or dad; ever go alone. If you get into trouble in the water, turn over, float on your back and yell out for help. If a friend is in trouble, always try for a reach rescue first. If you can’t reach, try a throw rescue.”

The students got the chance to practise rescues at the creek using ropes, pool noodles, branches and sticks to help pull each other to safety.

Mr Waterman has delivered the safety program at four remote communities across the East Kimberley including Frog Hollow and Woolah (Doon Doon) community.

He began the program after hearing about a teenage boy from Warmun who almost drowned when he was swept away in fast-flowing waters in Turkey Creek during the 2019 wet season.

He was rescued 2km downstream where he was found clinging to a branch.

According to research by the Royal Life Saving Society, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are 1.7 times more likely to drown than non-Aboriginal Australians.

The Kimberley has the second-highest drowning rate in WA. There were 20 drowning deaths and 31 hospital admissions for near-drownings between July 2009 and July 2019.

Mr Waterman said for many remote communities the swimming spots were the main source of fun for children.

“It’s the only thing they have got. When we go out there we try to teach them to have fun safely.”