Mildura Rural City Council is working with Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) to ensure residents from CALD backgrounds can safely enjoy our region's most valuable natural asset - the Murray River.
Sunraysia is celebrated for its cultural diversity with residents from more than 70 nationalities now calling the region home.
However this rich multiculturalism can sometimes mean newly-arrived residents may not be aware of the potential dangers of swimming in the Murray River, which combined with possible language barriers, can pose a risk to those looking to beat the heat in the river.
These risks are heightened at summer with the regular influx of backpackers and other overseas visitors.
In a bid to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are aware of these risks, Council is working with SMECC to raise awareness about river safety.
"Our teams have been working closing with SMECC to determine the nationalities we need to reach and develop material in these languages to get the water safety message across," Mildura Mayor Jason Modica said.
Material has so far been produced in Swahili, Malaysian, Arabic and Thai. Further translations are available on the Live Saving Victoria website at lsv.com.au
"This information has been shared with local backpacker accommodation venues, information boards, the Mildura Visitor Information and Booking Centre and other areas visitors or residents newly arrived in the district regularly attend," the Mayor said.
"We certainly aren't saying 'keep away from the river'. It's more about being aware of the potential dangers, highlighted by Royal Life Saving Australia, which lists the Murray River as among the top 10 drowning hot spots in the country.
"We want everyone to enjoy the Murray River safely, and education and awareness and are important tools in achieving this."
The material that has been distributed covers tips including never swim alone, always swim with your children if they are in the water, never dive in the river, and be aware of the possibility of strong river currents and deep holes near river or sand banks.
There are also tips on what to do if swimmers get into trouble, such as floating on their back and signalling for help.
