Tragically, drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in children under 5 in Australia.
Many children will also experience non-fatal drownings, which can lead to debilitating life-long disabilities.
This is why water safety education is so important for all young children in Australia.
To help prevent drowning fatalities and injuries, Laurie Lawrence and the and the "Kids Alive - Do the Five" team have released an online resource which promotes water safety to young children and offers a professional development opportunity for Early Childhood Educators.
This is a free initiative and can be linked to the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards.
The online program presents lesson plans designed to showcase activity ideas and teaching strategies to be utilised by the educators.
By providing this much needed education during the early years, early learning services can help address this serious issue and children can develop an understanding of water safety which will last a lifetime.
You can access the online program here.
"I would like to thank you in advance for your contribution in educating Australian children. You are lifesavers!" - Laurie Lawrence, Creator and Spokesperson of Kids Alive Do The Five