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Swimming Australia's announcement presents Deadly Little Dolphins (DLD) as a long-term talent pathway as well as a life-saving programme. It illustrates the connection between elite aspirations and safety by drawing attention to the overrepresentation of First Nations children in drowning statistics and the objective of producing an Indigenous Olympic swimmer by Brisbane 2032. A move away from one-size-fits-all programming is highlighted by the co-design approach with communities, clubs, and schools. This represents a significant turning point in swimming history: the shift from acknowledging injustice to organised, community-led action. It lays the groundwork for DLD's mission and goals.

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Swimming Australia - Deadly Little Dolphins To Improve Swim Safety And Pave The Way For First Nations BNE32 Success

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Deadly Little Dolphins is Swimming Australia’s national call to action to ensure that Aboriginal…

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By demonstrating how the programme is implemented, ABC's coverage of the Waiben (Thursday Island) pilot enhances the history of DLD. In addition to highlighting voices like Danny Morseu, an Indigenous Olympian who advocates for cultural fit, it describes practical considerations like school scheduling and distance. The article illustrates how grassroots pilots establish legitimacy by showcasing children's excitement and elders' acknowledgement. This historical example demonstrates how DLD was tested and developed in local contexts rather than just being announced at the federal level. This demonstrates how the program's core is intricately linked to Indigenous locations and viewpoints.

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At the northern tip of Australia, the search is on for the next First Nations Olympics champion

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Australia has historically lacked First Nations representation in the Olympic pool — but this program is looking to change that by Brisbane 2032.

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Deadly Little Dolphins aims to boost water safety for First Nations kids

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The way that DLD is viewed in community contexts is highlighted in this Indigenous-led media article. Drawing from remarks made by Cameron Costello, a resident of Quandamooka, who emphasises the importance of infrastructure and coaching support, it places a strong emphasis on both drowning prevention and the elite athlete pathway. By ensuring that the programme is not exclusively framed by outside institutions, the inclusion of Indigenous voices balances the historical record. The article highlights how Indigenous advocacy has influenced DLD since its inception by placing the programme within larger community aspirations for representation, safety, and access. Incorporating community voices into national sport narratives is a significant step forward.

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The need for DLD was contextualised by Royal Life Saving WA's data on the disproportionate drowning risks experienced by First Nations People. Key contributing factors include remoteness, systemic barriers, and lower swimming proficiency. By basing DLD on these figures, the programme is presented as an evidence-based solution to a crucial safety concern rather than as merely symbolic. This report's historical context, which grounds the initiative in decades of documented disparities in aquatic safety, highlights the initiative's legitimacy and urgency. The data strengthens the program's foundation by changing the narrative from one of aspiration to one of necessity.

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Royal Life Saving research has identified a number of communities at higher risk of drowning. Our safety advice is based on evidence-based information, targeted to each group, to provide culturally appropriate and practical steps on how to stay safe around water.

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According to an analysis by Royal Life Saving SA, systemic injustices still exist, with Aboriginal children under five having a nearly threefold higher risk of drowning than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Inequities are still ingrained in structural disadvantage, even though deaths have decreased by almost half in the past ten years. This framing demonstrates that risk is not just a result of a skill gap on an individual basis but is also socially produced. According to DLD, the evidence supports the necessity of initiatives that foster cultural belonging, safety, and trust. In order to lessen drowning disparities across generations, the report supports the sociocultural argument that customised and community-led approaches are required.

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Swimming is reframed in this Royal Life Saving report as a cultural connection to water rather than just a technical ability. It highlights how important water is to First Nations peoples on a spiritual, historical, and identity-based level; as a result, programmes need to incorporate language, stories, and ties to the land. The message is clear for DLD: Swimming lessons run the risk of disengaging students if cultural significance is not incorporated. This report demonstrates how cultural safety is a key factor in success rather than an "add-on." Programmes can promote pride and a sense of belonging by recognising Indigenous worldviews, making learning to swim an empowering rather than alienating experience.

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Enhancing Cultural Connection to Water for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples report

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The 2024 RLSA report examines how cultural differences impact water safety outcomes and names Indigenous peoples as one of several high-risk groups. It criticises popular programmes for failing to consider language, worldview, and trust factors that restrict participation. This data demonstrates that cultural relevance is crucial for DLD and that merely granting access to resources or instruction is insufficient. The report makes clear that swimming lessons need to be adaptable, locally specific, and led by community-trusted teachers. Socioculturally, it supports DLD's co-design methodology and serves as a reminder to stakeholders that cultural adaptation is essential to the program's long-term viability.

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The national record of drowning deaths in 2025, as reported by ABC, emphasises how urgent swimming instruction is. The discovery that national skills are declining exacerbates already-existing disparities, even though it is not Indigenous-specific. The already disproportionately high risk gap for First Nations children only gets wider if the rest of Australia loses confidence in water. This report shows that DLD is addressing a national crisis with a greater impact in Indigenous contexts rather than a specialised issue. Thus, the sociocultural challenge is multifaceted and urgent, necessitating programmes that simultaneously address culturally specific barriers and the general erosion of skills.

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Systemic obstacles for Asian and Black communities, such as cultural myths and invisibility in aquatic environments, are highlighted by research conducted in the UK by the Black Swimming Association. Swimming is still in high demand despite these obstacles, demonstrating that exclusion is structural rather than the result of a lack of interest. This case is instructive for DLD because it demonstrates how community-driven advocacy and research can change attitudes and involvement. The BSA serves as an example of the significance of using trusted role models, creating culturally affirming narratives, and amplifying lived experience. It demonstrates how a movement based on both research and narrative can change national discourse and create new chances for underrepresented groups.

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Our Research - The Black Swimming Association

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The advantages of long-term, systemic investment are highlighted in the BSA's 2025–2026 report. It demonstrates how regular collaborations with organisations such as Sport England and well-publicised advertising campaigns have produced broader benefits, ranging from enhanced abilities to local job openings. DLD has learned that infrastructure, visibility, and sustainability are more important than isolated pilots. The BSA shows that when swimming is integrated into the larger community, rather than just as a programme, success results. This realisation highlights the significance of integrating DLD into broader frameworks for community development, education, and health for Indigenous communities in Australia.

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The BSA 2025 - 2026 Impact Report - The Black Swimming Association

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The BSA is proud to announce the release of our first Impact Report, showcasing the groundbreaking work that we have accomplished over the last five years while also setting a path forward for ourselves, our partners, and most importantly, our community. The 2025 – 2026 Impact Report highlights our programmes, research projects and initiatives to […]

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This project shows how sustainable engagement can be achieved through swimming infrastructure that is designed with input from Indigenous communities. The project's creation of pools in isolated communities in Western Australia, local management, and seasonal adaptations led to increased participation rates and better safety results. The lesson for DLD is obvious: curriculum is important, but so is the physical environment. Culturally safe infrastructure promotes long-term community benefit, trust, and ownership. The example demonstrates the importance of structural and cultural alignment by demonstrating that programmes that involve Indigenous communities in their design, staffing, and delivery have a greater impact than those that are parachuted in without local adaptation.

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The BSA's #OurSwimStory project is framed as industry-pioneering research by independent analysis. The commentary draws attention to the extent of underrepresentation and invisibility by revealing that 80% of children and 95% of Black adults in the UK do not swim. These figures are comparable to Indigenous Australian contexts, where mainstream data collection frequently lacks participation. DLD has learned that thorough baseline research is necessary to support investment and encourage policy change. According to this source, communities are invisible without evidence, but with it, they can demand accountability and structural change in programmes related to aquatic sport and safety.

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New project to identify barriers to participation in swimming - NCSEM-EM

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The Black Swimming Association has launched #OurSwimStory - a research project to explore barriers that Black and Asian communities to participating in swimming

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According to Swimming Australia, DLD is "designed for community by community," a principle that embeds true co-ownership and goes beyond consultation. This dedication reflects a growing understanding that Indigenous perspectives are essential to the design of successful programmes and are not optional extras. For DLD, co-design entails incorporating Indigenous perspectives into governance, curriculum, and success metrics. As a result, authority is transferred from external standards to outcomes determined by the community. The source is significant because it demonstrates how integration is ingrained in the program's philosophy and provides a model of cultural safety and shared responsibility that has the potential to transform how sport is delivered in Australia.

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Deadly Little Dolphins to improve First Nations water safety

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Deadly Little Dolphins is Swimming Australia’s national call to action to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have access to learn to swim to improve their swimming and water safety skills.

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The report emphasises that water is a spiritual and cultural space in addition to being a safety hazard. Programmes can foster feelings of pride and belonging by incorporating Indigenous custodianship, stories, and language into swimming instruction. Instead of depending exclusively on Western technical models, DLD must align instruction with Indigenous knowledge systems. Here, integration is transformative: lessons can enhance cultural identity and water safety at the same time. This method shows how retention and impact are increased when cultural meaning is respected. For First Nations communities, it effectively transforms swimming from a cultural compromise to an act of cultural affirmation.

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Cultural water access for Aboriginal people

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Access to water empowers Aboriginal people’s spiritual, cultural, environmental and social connections.

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Indigenous participation is highlighted by Royal Life Saving WA as leaders, educators, and decision-makers in addition to swimmers. The organisation gives communities the ability to take charge of aquatic programmes by establishing training and employment pathways. This illustrates for DLD that workforce development must be incorporated into integration beyond curriculum. By hiring Indigenous teachers, programmes are guaranteed to be dependable, relatable, and long-lasting while also fostering local leadership potential. This viewpoint demonstrates that structural change in programme delivery and governance—rather than merely participation—is necessary for true integration. It is an appeal for the long-term aquatic sport system to incorporate Indigenous agency.

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The Remote Pools initiative again demonstrates integration in practice, showing how Indigenous perspectives shaped facility design, program scheduling, and staffing. The project was successful because it empowered local staff and respected community priorities. For DLD, the lesson is that integration should be operationalised in delivery: programs must be flexible to local context, family involvement, and Indigenous employment. This shows how respecting Indigenous knowledge leads to programs that are not only culturally appropriate but also more effective and sustainable. It reinforces the principle that integration must move from aspiration to practice in every layer of program delivery.

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The National Closing the Gap Framework links Indigenous outcomes to goals for education, health, and child development. A lot of them are not on schedule. Funding logic, evaluation scope, and cross-government commitment are strengthened when DLD is in line with CTG targets (such as child wellbeing and educational outcomes). It enables partnerships (health, education, and transportation) and supports ongoing programme funding by situating DLD within systemic reform as opposed to discrete sports policy.

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According to AIHW, First Nations peoples' social and emotional well-being is enhanced by physical activity in a cultural setting. As a result, DLD supports outcomes related to overall well-being in addition to water safety. This framework encourages multifaceted assessment and argues for funding for culturally relevant sport and health initiatives. It supports DLD's positioning as a community-led, health-promoting initiative.

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Canberra's Ngadyung programme has been offering free Swim & Survive lessons to Indigenous families for many years. Since 2007, more than 500 participants have demonstrated that community programmes can function sustainably with regular delivery, institutional support, and cultural alignment. It offers a model of comparison for the scalability of DLD outside of pilots.

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The National Drowning Report from RLSA emphasises the need for more in-depth qualitative research in First Nations contexts and advocates for community-based partnerships to enhance outcomes. It supports DLD's approach, which focuses on collaboration, local assessment, and co-design. It also demonstrates that to maintain drowning reductions and increase participation, current strategies need to become more community-attuned, even with advancements.

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The Australian Water Safety Strategy, developed in partnership with Australia’s leading water safety organisations, sets out the activities of the Australian water safety community in their work towards a reduction of drowning.

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- SwimAus. (2023). Swimming Australia - Deadly Little Dolphins To Improve Swim Safety And Pave The Way For First Nations BNE32 Success. Swimming Australia. https://www.swimming.org.au/articles/deadly-little-dolphins-to-improve-swim-safety-and-pave-the-way-for-first-nations-bne32-success

‌- Holmes, T. (2023, April 5). At the northern tip of Australia, the search is on for the next First Nations Olympics champion. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-06/deadly-little-dolphins-program-in-search-for-first-nations-champ/102190392

‌- Clarke, R. (2023, April 8). Deadly Little Dolphins aims to boost water safety for First Nations kids. National Indigenous Times. https://nit.com.au/08-04-2023/5542/deadly-dolphins

‌- Communities. (2025). Communities. Royal Life Saving - Western Australia. https://doi.org/10.62977/90043

- And, A. (2020). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Royal Life Saving Society - Australia. https://doi.org/10.62977/37989

- T.O, C. (2025). Enhancing Cultural Connection to Water for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples report. Royal Life Saving Society - Australia. https://doi.org/10.62977/109979

- SLS. (2025, August 26). Tragic Surge in Drowning Deaths Prompts Urgent Call for Action Ahead Of Summer. https://sls.com.au/national-drowning-report-2025/

- BSA. (2025, August 29). Our Research - The Black Swimming Association. The Black Swimming Association. https://thebsa.co.uk/our-research/

- media, B. (2025, August 29). The BSA 2025 - 2026 Impact Report - The Black Swimming Association. The Black Swimming Association. https://thebsa.co.uk/news/the-bsa-2025-2026-impact-report/

- Hope, E. (2022, March 15). New project to identify barriers to participation in swimming - NCSEM-EM. NCSEM-EM. https://www.ncsem-em.org.uk/2022/03/15/barriers-to-participation-in-swimming/

- Indigenous. (2023). Deadly Little Dolphins to improve First Nations water safety. Indigenous. https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news/deadly-little-dolphins-to-improve-first-nations-water-safety

- NSW Water. (2024, January 22). Cultural water access for Aboriginal people. Water. https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/aboriginal-water-program/cultural-water-access-for-aboriginal-people

- Royal Life Saving WA. (2025). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Royal Life Saving - Western Australia. https://doi.org/10.62977/93455

- ANON. (2022). The Remote Pools Project. Ymca.org.au. https://www.remotepoolsproject.ymca.org.au

- AU leisure. (2023). Swimming Australia’s Deadly Little Dolphins initiative to strengthen swimming skills for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - Australasian Leisure Management. Ausleisure.com.au. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/swimming-australias-deadly-little-dolphins-initiative-to-strengthen-swimming-skills-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-children/

- Royal Life Saving Australia. (2020, November 10). Australian Water Safety Strategy. Royal Life Saving. https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/australian-water-safety/australian-water-safety-strategy

- RSA AU. (2008). Drowning deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/38842/RLS_AboriginalReport2020_FINAL_LR.pdf

- RSA AU. (2013). Drowning Among Multicultural Communities in Australia. https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/84843/RLS_MulticulturalReport24_FINAL_July2024.pdf

AUS GOV. (2017). MODULE TO THE NATIONAL WATER INITIATIVE (NWI) POLICY GUIDELINES FOR WATER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT ENGAGING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN WATER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT (2017) A MODULE TO SUPPORT WATER PLANNERS AND MANAGERS DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NATIONAL WATER INITIATIVE CONSISTENT, INCLUSIVE WATER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT INDIGENOUS SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL AND CUSTOMARY OBJECTIVES. Acknowledgement of traditional owners and country. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/water/indigenous-engagement.pdf

- weswim. (2018). ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE Drowning data for Indigenous Australians. https://www.weswim.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/38752/rlssa-ndr-2019-print-Key-Issues-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-People.pdf

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OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. Chatgpt.com; OpenAI. https://chatgpt.com

Used for clipping research, used as a stepping ladder, planning out this assessment, all words are written by me, Jesse Greenhalgh and have not plagiarised.